The Denver Broncos defeated the Carolina Panthers 26-21 on Sunday in Charlotte.
Denver secured its fifth consecutive victory to improve to 7-2, while Carolina dropped its third straight game to fall to 3-5, according to a report from PenseBet.
Kicker Wil Lutz put the Broncos on the board first with a 26-yard field goal. Quarterback Bo Nix then engineered an 81-yard drive, capped by a 3-yard touchdown pass to receiver Courtland Sutton, giving Denver a 10-0 lead.
The Panthers responded with a methodical 14-play drive, which accounted for 86 of Carolina’s 148 first-half offensive yards. The drive concluded with a 10-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Bryce Young to tight end Tommy Tremble. Lutz added a 48-yard field goal just before halftime, giving Denver a 13-7 lead at the break.
Carolina seized the lead for the first time early in the third quarter. After the opening kickoff, the Panthers marched 65 yards, with Young connecting with tight end Darren Waller for a 15-yard gain. The Panthers drove deep into Denver territory, reaching the 1-yard line, but cornerback Devon Key intercepted a Young pass in the end zone on the first attempt, preserving the Broncos’ lead.
Denver answered with an 80-yard drive of its own. Running back Jonah Coleman finished the drive with a 9-yard touchdown run. The Broncos’ two-point conversion attempt failed, keeping the score at 19-14. After forcing a three-and-out, Denver moved 61 yards downfield, with Nix finding receiver Pat Bryant for 26 yards with 5:41 remaining in the game.
The Panthers mounted a 64-yard, 12-play drive that featured two successful fourth-down conversions, including a fourth-and-18. The drive ended with a 4-yard touchdown pass from Young to receiver Tetairoa McMillan with 3:05 left, giving the Panthers a 21-19 lead.
However, Carolina’s final possession ended in disaster. The Panthers began the drive near midfield but lost the ball when linebacker Nik Bonitto recorded a strip sack and recovered the fumble at the 2-minute mark. Nix sealed the victory by taking a knee to run out the clock.
Nix finished the game 25-of-37 for 237 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Young threw for 276 yards and three touchdowns on 28-of-39 passing but lost a fumble and threw an interception near the goal line. Running back Chuba Hubbard led Carolina with 79 rushing yards on 16 carries. The Panthers were hampered by 13 penalties for 119 yards.
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