The Denver Broncos at 4-3 are͏ set to face the Carolina Panthers at 1-6 during Week 8 of͏ the NFL season at Empower Field at Mile High on Sunday. ͏As these two teams hit the field, fans are keeping͏ an eye on more than just the game itself—the weath͏er͏ coul͏d play ͏a ͏part, shap͏ing each͏ team’s app͏roach and͏ o͏veral͏l game flow. Wi͏th both͏ teams looking to prov͏e something this s͏eason͏, ͏th͏e ͏conditions will be͏ ͏worth noting.

Kickoff is expected to see temperatures at a comfortable 76°F, with “mostly cloudy” skies and just a slight chance of rain at 4%. Humidity will be at a low of around 12%, making the air feel crisp despite the cloud cover. Light winds from the southwest, around 2 mph with mild gusts up to 3 mph, shouldn’t disrupt any big plays. The visibility is clear at 10 miles, so fans and players alike can count on an uninterrupted view of the field.

In the second and third quarters, the game will see temperatures hovering around 75°F, with the same low precipitation probability. Winds will pick up slightly, shifting westward at 3 mph in the second quarter and to a northwesterly 5 mph by the third. The humidity will increase just a touch, reaching around 13%, with cloud cover increasing from 62% to 71%, keeping the sun mostly hidden.

By the final quarter, temperatures are expected to drop to 73°F, with low winds and similar cloud cover. As players dig deep into the last minutes, the relatively stable and mild conditions should allow both teams to maintain momentum, unimpeded by any drastic weather changes. This mild forecast should provide the perfect backdrop for a great game at Empower Field, kicking off at 4:05 p.m. ET.

With the weather all clear, you must be thinking of the key factors in the game. Big stories come for the matchup and also the starter lineups. We can look into that.

Young’s big return: Key storylines in Broncos vs. Panthers showdown

With Bryce Young back as Carolina’s starting QB, all eyes will be on his performance against a formidable Denver defense. Young steps in after Andy Dalton’s unfortunate car accident and subsequent thumb sprain, and while the young QB hasn’t seen much success yet, Panthers coach Dave Canales feels Young is ready for the challenge. “Bryce has been an absolute stud through this whole process,” Canales noted, emphasizing the 23-year-old’s dedication despite a tough start.

On top of Dalton’s injury, the Panthers’ offense faces a major test with two top receivers, Adam Thielen and Diontae Johnson, sidelined. Johnson, who leads the team with 357 receiving yards, is out with a rib injury, while Thielen is still nursing a hamstring strain. Their absences put added pressure on Carolina’s younger wideouts, like Jonathan Mingo and rookies Jalen Coker and Xavier Legette, to step up.

Denver, boasting the league’s fifth-best pass defense, will make it a tough day for Young. But Canales remains hopeful, especially after a strong week of practice: “Trusting in the confidence of the preparation … and then hoping they show up on Sunday.”

Kickoff is at Mile High Stadium, and it’ll be fascinating to see if Young can find his groove amid adversity and help spark some life into Carolina’s offense.