DENVER, COLORADO - OCTOBER 27: Bo Nix #10 of the Denver Broncos warms up before the game against the Carolina Panthers at Empower Field At Mile High on October 27, 2024 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)Photo: Justin Edmonds / Getty Images Sport / Getty Images
Broncos beat the Panthers 28-14 to improve to 5-3. Below is the recap and postgame interviews:
Panthers won the toss and deferred to the 2nd half.
Broncos offense started with the ball at their own 30 yard and quickly got a first down on the ground. On the first pass of the game, Bo Nix hit Lil'Jordan Humphrey over the middle and as he fought for extra yards near midfield he fumbled the ball and the Panthers took over at the Broncos 49 yard line.
Bryce Young, returning to action since being benched early in the year, executed a perfect drive going 5-5 and hitting Xavier Leggette for a 7 yard touchdown to take an early 7-0 lead with 7:12 remaining in the 1st quarter.
Now in an early hole, the Broncos offense went back to work and got another initial first down on quick screen to Courtland Sutton who would help get the next first down on a 23 yard hookup into Panthers territory but on 3rd and 5 from the 28 yard line, Bo Nix took a 13 yard sack and the Broncos were forced to punt. Riley Dixon pinned the Panthers inside their 1 yard line with 1:54 remaining in the 1st quarter.
Panthers quickly went 3 and out and punted it right back to the Broncos offense who would start their 3rd drive of the day. On the final play of the 1st quarter, Bo Nix booted to the right and found a wide open Adam Trautman for a 38 yard gain to get the Broncos immediately into the Red Zone. A few plays later on 3rd and goal from the 3 yard line, Bo Nix booted to his left on play action and found Nate Adkins in the front left of the end zone and Denver tied the game up at 7 12:29 remaining in the 2 quarter.
Carolina started from their own 30 yard line for their 3rd drive of the afternoon but a holding penalty had them quickly go 3 and out again. After a holding penalty on the punt return, the Broncos would start from deep inside their own territory at their own 8 yard line with 9:57 remaining in the 1st half.
Bo Nix had arguably his best drive of the season as the Broncos quickly went 92 yards on 7 plays and the rookie QB found Adam Trautman over the middle for a 19 yard touchdown to take the lead 14-7 with 6:51 remaining in the 2nd quarter.
The Panthers offense got a quick 1st down but the drive stalled at midfield when they went for it on 4th and 2, giving the Broncos the ball inside Carolina territory at the 48 yard line. Bo Nix went quickly back to work hitting Courtland Sutton and Adam Trautman for gains inside the Red Zone. A key 3rd and 8 run from Jaleel McLaughlin aided the drive. On 3rd and goal from the 1 yard line, Bo Nix leaned the ball over the goal line to extend the Broncos lead 21-7 with 1:12 remaining in the 1st half.
Carolina took the ball out of halftime and couldn't manage much as Jonathon Cooper sacked Bryce Young on 2nd down and the 3rd and long pass fell incomplete. Denver started their first drive of the 3rd quarter at their own 21 yard line.
The Broncos got an initial 1st down but on 3rd and 2, Nix threw a beautiful deep ball down the left sideline that went right through the hands of rookie Troy Franklin and Denver punted it right back to Carolina, who would start their drive at the 20 with 10:25 remaining in the 3rd quarter.
The Panthers tried a fake punt from their own 24 yard line and were unsuccessful. Bo Nix and the Broncos offense made them pay, after 4 plays, Nix found Jaleel McLaughlin in the right flat and he scampered into the right side of the end zone to extend the lead 28-7 with 6:49 remaining in the 3rd quarter.
Bryce Young converted an impressive deep pass to Jalen Coker for 29 yards while Zach Allen got flagged for a roughing the passer penalty put the Panthers inside Broncos territory at the 30 yard line. On 4th and 5, Bryce Young overthrew his intended receiver and Pat Surtain came up with his 3rd interception of the season, getting the ball back to Denver at their own 39 yard line with 2:53 remaining in the 3rd quarter.
After a quick 3 and out as a result of Bo Nix being sacked on 2nd down, the Broncos punted it back to Carolina who started inside their 10 yard line with less than a minute remaining in the 3rd quarter. Carolina gained 7 yards before punting back to Denver who started their next drive at their own 33 yard line 14:11 remaining in the game. Nik Bonitto got a sack for his 6th straight game.
Denver got an initial 1st down on an impressive catch by Devaughn Vele for 16 yards and the Broncos were quickly into Carolina territory. The drive stalled at the Panthers 37 yard line and the Broncos attempted a fake FG instead of trying a 60 yarder but came up short, turning the ball over on downs.
Bryce Young got a big completion to Jalen Coker that got the Panthers into Denver territory but a couple plays later, Ja'Quan McMillian came with an acrobatic interception in the front of the left side of the end zone to end the threat.
The Broncos moved the ball all the way down to the 1 yard line where Courtland Sutton fumbled the ball on his way into the end zone. The Panthers would add a meaningless Jalen Coker touchdown but in the end, the Broncos beat the Panthers 28-14 to improve to 5-3.
Our next broadcast is on Sunday, November 3rd as the Broncos travel to Baltimore to play the Ravens. Coverage on KOA starts at 7am.
Below are the postgame interviews with Sean Payton, Bo Nix, Nate Adkins