Broncos Hold Off Panthers for Fifth Consecutive Win

Bo Nix passed for 237 yards and two touchdowns as the Denver Broncos defeated the Carolina Panthers 26-21 in Charlotte on November 8. The win lifted Denver’s record to 7-2; Carolina fell to 3-5 and has lost three games in a row. Jonah Coleman ran for a touchdown, while Courtland Sutton and Pat Bryant caught scoring passes for Denver.

Carolina moved ahead early in the third quarter when Bryce Young connected with Darren Waller for a 15-yard touchdown. The game’s pivotal sequence came later in the quarter: Denver coach Sean Payton challenged a ruling on a pass near the goal line, and a review determined that safety Devon Key had intercepted the ball after it deflected off tight end Tommy Tremble. The turnover gave Denver possession at its own 20-yard line and denied Carolina a chance to build its lead.

Denver then drove 80 yards, with Coleman scoring on a nine-yard run to put the Broncos in front 19-14. Nix’s 25-yard touchdown throw to Bryant made it a two-score game with 5:41 left. Young later threw a four-yard touchdown to Tetairoa McMillan, cutting the margin to five, but Denver’s Nik Bonitto forced a fumble on a sack and recovered it with 1:24 remaining. The Broncos gained a first down to run out the clock.

Young completed 28 of 39 passes for 276 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. Waller caught eight passes for 90 yards and a score. Denver is off next week before hosting Las Vegas on November 22; Carolina visits New Orleans next Sunday. The Panthers played their first game with interim defensive coordinator Todd Wash, and their injury-depleted defense was penalized seven times.