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How it Happened: Broncos dominate Panthers to improve to 5-3

Next up: Denver takes on the Ravens in Baltimore at 11 a.m. Sunday

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Adam Trautman (82) of the Denver Broncos hauls in a one-handed touchdown grab during the second quarter against the Carolina Panthers at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
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Joe Nguyen of The Denver PostParker Gabriel - Staff portraits in The Denver Post studio on October 6, 2022. (Photo by Eric Lutzens/The Denver Post)DENVER, CO - APRIL 19: Denver Post sports reporter Ryan McFadden before the first quarter between the Denver Nuggets and the Minnesota Timberwolves at Ball Arena in Denver on Wednesday, April 19, 2023. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)Denver Post sports columnist Troy Renck photographed at studio of Denver Post in Denver on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)DENVER, CO - AUGUST 1: Matt Schubert - Staff portraits at the Denver Post studio. (Photo by Eric Lutzens/The Denver Post)
By | jnguyen@denverpost.com | The Denver Post, | pgabriel@denverpost.com | The Denver Post, | The Denver Post, | trenck@denverpost.com and | The Denver Post
PUBLISHED: | UPDATED:
Getting your player ready...

Stick here for live updates and analysis as the Broncos take on the Panthers at Empower Field at Mile High.

Live updates

FINAL | Broncos 28, Panthers 14

Rubber, meet road.

The Broncos hadn’t even finished off a decisive, 28-14 win against Carolina on Sunday and coach Sean Payton already had his mind in the future.

He couldn’t put this win, Denver’s fifth in the past six games, to bed fast enough.

Payton knew what this game against the Panthers was: The next one on the schedule. A game his team absolutely should win. A chance to get his young quarterback into rhythm. Read Parker Gabriel’s full game analysis here.

MORE BRONCOS COVERAGE

Fourth-quarter updates

Back (5:38 p.m.): Denver has won five of six and is now 5-3 on the season. Jaycee Horn was yelling at Sean Payton after the game. The Broncos are so back. — Gabriel

Touchdown, Panthers (5:26 p.m.): Too little, too late. — Nguyen

Turnover (5:17 p.m.): Like how they started the game, the Broncos fumbled the ball and lost it. Bo Nix connected with Courtland Sutton who was stripped of the ball near the end zone. Panthers ball. — Nguyen

Courtland Sutton! (5:14 p.m.): Already a big day for the Broncos receiver, he just completed a pass — a 28-yard pass to Michael Burton. — Nguyen

Sean Payton rubbing the Panthers nose in it. Fake field goal. Wide receiver pass. #Broncos reveling in their new prosperity. — Renck

Another pick (5:06 p.m.): Ja’Quan McMillian picked off Bryce Young in the end zone. Denver ball. — Nguyen

Fake field goal?! (4:55 p.m.): Sean Payton has reached the “put the fake FG on tape” portion of the proceedings today. — Gabriel

What. A. Catch. (4:53 p.m.): Devaughn Vele making the spectacular look easy with that catch to give the Broncos a first down. — Nguyen

Odds look good (4:52 p.m.): For those who pay attention to such things, the line by kickoff had risen to 13 points in favor of the Broncos. Barring a disaster, that’s looking pretty safe right now. — Schubert

Casa Bonitto (4:49 p.m.): That’s six games in a row now the Nik Bonitto has logged a sack. — Schubert

Nik Bonitto’s six-game sack streak is tied for the third longest by a Bronco since sacks became an official stat in 1982. — Gabriel

Third-quarter updates

Picked (4:38 p.m.): Pat Surtain II intercepted a Bryce Young that literally landed in his lap. His third pick of the year and 10th of his career.

Surtain is the 27th player to nab at-least 10 interceptions in a Broncos uniform. — Nguyen

Zach Allen watch (4:37 p.m.): Might be worth monitoring Zach Allen’s workload the rest of the afternoon. Was slow to get up earlier this drive and got a couple plays’ break before coming back in to the game. — Gabriel

Huge gains for Carolina (4:35 p.m.): Bryce Young connected with Jalen Coker for a 29-yard pass. Zach Allen gets dinged for a roughing the passer penalty. — Nguyen

Touchdown, Broncos (4:27 p.m.): Bo Nix connects with Jaleel McLaughlin who tiptoed into the end zone. Broncos 28, Panthers 7 with 6:49 to go. — Nguyen

Bo Nix had five TD passes in his first seven pro games and has three in less than three quarters this afternoon. — Gabriel

Fake punt throw (4:24 p.m.): Panthers punter Johnny Hekker attempted to throw on fourth down. It didn’t work. Denver gets the ball on the Carolina 23. — Nguyen

That throw was LOL funny. Dude was wide open. Sad part is that it’s hard to tell difference between the punter and Bryce Young. Panthers are in a bad way. — Renck

The Carolina Panthers provide some comedy with Johnny Hekker’s errant throw on a fake punt. The sort of throw you’d probably see in the south parking lot tailgate on a given Sunday outside of Empower Field. — Schubert

Just missed (4:17 p.m.): Bo Nix just misses connecting with former Oregon teammate Troy Franklin for a deep pass. Franklin should’ve had that. — Nguyen

Third-down conversion (4:15 p.m.): Bo Nix converts on third down with his legs. Denver is 9 of 10 today on third-down conversions. — Nguyen

Stout (4:12 p.m.): Broncos defense has given up just one first down since Carolina’s opening drive of the game. — Gabriel

Three-and-out (4:10 p.m.): The Broncos defense picked up where they left off in the first half. Denver will start at their own 21 after the punt. — Nguyen

Sacked (4:08 p.m.): Jonathon Cooper sacks Bryce Young for a 3-yard loss. — Nguyen

Halftime analysis — Broncos 21, Panthers 7

Parker Gabriel, beat writer: Sean Payton said recently that he turned to Bo Nix on the sideline when they were down 23-0 to the Chargers and said, “We don’t have any — I’m not going to use a college team because I don’t want to (offend anybody) — but we don’t have Such-and-Such university on our schedule.”

Halftime score today: Broncos 21, Such-and-Such University 7

Ryan McFadden, beat writer: Yes, it’s the Panthers. But that shouldn’t take away from how well Nix played in the first half. Outside of the sack in the first quarter, you gotta admire how well he has operated the offense. Glad to see Sean Payton taking advantage of the matchup to give Nix more opportunities to throw the ball down the field.

Troy Renck, sports columnist: Broncos lead 21-7 at half. Nix: 21 of 27 for 220, 2 TDs. Sutton: 7-93. Trautman career-best 85 yards on four catches. McLaughlin: 3 rushes for 22 yards. Most impressive passing offense of the season. It is against terrible, undermanned D, but it is the get-right game Nix needs through air.

Second-quarter updates

Nostalgia (3:44 p.m.): Sean Payton apparently misses the NFC South.

Broncos dominated Tampa Bay and New Orleans and now they’re rolling against Carolina. — Gabriel

Touchdown, Broncos (3:42 p.m.): Bo Nix with the half-swan dive TD. And the Broncos are now covering. — Schubert

Expert analysis: The Panthers are bad. — Gabriel

Ten plays for 48 yards on that drive for Denver. Broncos 21, Panthers 7 with 1:12 to go in the first half. — Nguyen

Nearly a TD (3:41 p.m.): Bo Nix tried taking it in himself, but was about a foot short. — Nguyen

Happy Tight Ends Day (3:39 p.m.): Adam Trautman is close to doubling his career-best game (58 yards at Philly in 2021) and we’re not even done with the first half. — Schubert

Third-down conversion (3:32 p.m.): Broncos go with a pitch play to Jaleel McLaughlin on third-and-8 and easily convert it into a first down. Yup, it’s that kind of day for the Broncos offense. — Schubert

Broncos offense is having fun out there. — McFadden

Sutton’s day (3:31 p.m.): Sutton has set season high with 93 yards receiving. Had 68 vs. Tampa Bay. If Nix can lead him as he has today, there are a lot of extra yards out there. — Renck

Missed chance (3:29 p.m.): Bo Nix aired it out deep to Lil’Jordan Humphrey. It hit his hand, but Humphrey couldn’t pull it in. It would’ve been 21-7 Broncos right there. — Nguyen

Fourth-down attempt (3:26 p.m.): Carolina tried going for it on fourth-and-2. Pat Surtain II makes the crucial tackle. Denver ball at the Carolina 48 with 4:41 to go in the first half. — Nguyen

Tight-end production (3:21 p.m.):

Broncos TEs the first seven games: 17 catches (32 targets) for 136 yards and 0 TDs.

Broncos TEs today: 4 catches (4 targets) for 76 yards and 2 TDs. — Gabriel

Touchdown, Broncos (3:18 p.m.): Bo Nix to Adam Trautman for a 19-yard, one-handed touchdown to cap off a seven-play, 92-yard drive. Broncos 14, Panthers 7 with 3:06 to go in the first half. — Nguyen

We’ve got two touchdown grabs for the Broncos tight ends this afternoon. Which is two more than they had the previous seven weeks. — Schubert

When Adam Trautman’s making one-handed grabs in the end zone, you know it must be National Tight End Day.

Bo Nix: 15/17 for 177 and two TDs. 10.4 per attempt and a 149.3 rating. — Gabriel

Who needs a tight end (Broncos maybe?). Adam Trautman with quite possibly the best catch of his career, a one-handed snag for the score. They came in with 136 yards receiving as a group and no TDs. They have four catches for 76 yards and two scores today. — Renck

Adam Trautman has 73 receiving yards, a career high. — McFadden

And another one (3:15 p.m.): Five catches for 77 yards for Courtland Sutton after the 37-yard gain. — Nguyen

Cardio Courtland is having a day. After no targets vs. Saints, he is having a big performance. Has 5 catches for 77 yards on six targets. Also. Nix is hitting some receivers in stride. That has been missing in passing game all season. — Renck

Another Sutton catch (3:14 p.m.): Make that four catches for Courtland Sutton today, totaling 40 yards. — Nguyen

Third-down numbers (3:07 p.m.): Broncos are already 4/5 on third down today. They’d only converted more times than that once this season (5/18 in Week 1) and entered today No. 31 in the NFL at 26.4% conversions. — Gabriel

Touchdown, Broncos (3:02 p.m.): Bo Nix to Nate Adkins for 3-yard touchdown. Seven plays for 55 yards on that drive. Broncos 7, Panthers 7 with 12:29 to go in the first half. — Nguyen

Who needs a tight end (Broncos do) when you have combo of Trautman and Adkins? Nix makes nice play on rollout to his left. Fires dart to Adkins for score. One of Nix’s better throws given lack of space and the left rollout. It is 7-all with 12:29 left in the half. — Renck

Happy Tight Ends Day for the Broncos:

  • Trautman with a 38-yard reception
  • Nate Adkin catches a 3-yard TD pass

— McFadden

First down (2:59 p.m.): That’s a heck of a catch by Vele for a first down. — Gabriel

Another Sutton catch (2:58 p.m.): Make that three for Courtland Sutton now. — Nguyen

First-quarter analysis — Panthers 7, Broncos 0

Parker Gabriel, beat writer: It’s probably not going to happen, but if the Broncos keep playing like this, it could happen.

Ryan McFadden, beat writer: Man, that was boring.

Troy Renck, sports columnist: Who needs David Njoku (the Broncos do) when you have Adam Trautman. Nix hits Trautman on 38-yard crosser. Easily the longest catch by a tight end this season. Krull leads team with 61 yards…. First quarter was a mess for Broncos. Turnover, missed tackles, knocked out of FG range with sack. You are no longer a bad team when you can beat bad teams. Need to show can handle a little prosperity.

First-quarter updates

Roll out (2:54 p.m.): On the rollout, Bo Nix completed a big 38-yard catch-and-run to Adam Trautman. Denver will be in the red zone to start the second quarter. — Nguyen

Defensive stop (2:53 p.m.): Young’s third down pass is incomplete. Great response by the defense after giving up a touchdown to start the game. — McFadden

Huge sack (2:46 p.m.): Bo Nix got sacked for a 13-yard loss. It pushed Denver out of field-goal range. — Nguyen

Broncos knocked out of field goal range as Nix sacked. Had time on the play. Didn’t look like anyone was open. On previous play he had Sutton and threw behind him. — Renck

One step forward and two back from Nix on that drive. Had good feet, stood in against a rusher and delivered a dart to Courtland Sutton for 23 yards. But then he threw behind Sutton on a crosser and took the worst sack he’s taken so far during his rookie season on third down. — Gabriel

Big gain (2:44 p.m.): A 23-yard strike from Bo Nix to Courtland Sutton. Nix is 5 for 5 for 36 yards to start the game. — Nguyen

Sutton sighting (2:42 p.m.): Courtland Sutton with a target and catch for a first down.

Last week at New Orleans was the first game of his career he wasn’t targeted. — Gabriel

Touchdown, Panthers (2:36 p.m.): Carolina capped off a 10-play, 49-yard drive with a 6-yard touchdown pass from Bryce Young to Xavier Legette. Panthers 7, Broncos 0 with 7:12 to go in the first quarter. — Nguyen

The Broncos didn’t tackle, didn’t stop the run and let Bryce Young get comfortable. Then Pat Surtain II got beat on a slant by Xavier Legette for a 6-yard TD. Other than that… — Gabriel

Bryce Young fires TD pass on first drive. He entered the game 0-11 on the road in his career with 5 TDs and 8 picks. Embarrassing start for Broncos. Fumble, and allow TD on first drive that featured roughly four missed tackles. — Renck

Young was 5 for 5 for 39 yards and a touchdown on Carolina’s first drive. — McFadden

Turnover (2:28 p.m.): After a nice start to their drive, the Broncos turned the ball over after Lil’Jordan Humphrey fumbled. Panthers ball. — Nguyen

Lil’Jordan Humphrey fumbles on his first reception. Carolina recovers to give the offense solid field position. — McFadden

Coin toss (2:26 p.m.): Panthers win the toss and defers. Denver will start with the ball. — Gabriel

Pre-game updates

Captains (2:25 p.m.): Good to see Josey Jewell as a game day captain for Panthers. apody Barton has replaced him well. But Jewell did good work for Denver for several forgettable seasons. — Renck

Josh Reynolds (1:45 p.m.): Broncos WR Josh Reynolds is here. Not a big surprise given he was in attendance at practice all week. In sweats with the other guys that are inactive or on IR. — Gabriel

Odds-on favorites (1:42 p.m.): If you told me during the summer that the Broncos would be 12.5-point favorites in a game, I would say that’s crazy. But here we are. — McFadden

Sideline guests (1:35 p.m.): All the luminaries are here today. Peyton Manning’s on the sideline talking with a couple Panthers staffers. Broncos owners Greg Penner and Carrie Walton Penner (with an aircast on her foot and a pair of crutches) are talking with limited shareholder and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. — Gabriel

Locke’s replacement (12:59 p.m.): With Locke inactive, safety Devon Key should be in line to start for the Broncos. He had a fair amount of first team reps during training camp when Brandon Jones was injured. — McFadden

Broncos inactives (12:56 p.m.):

  • S P.J. Locke (thumb)
  • OL Alex Palczewski (ankle)
  • QB Zach Wilson (3rd QB)
  • TE Greg Dulcich
  • DL Eni Uwazurike
  • OLB Dondrea Tillman
  • CB Kris Abrams-Draine

— Gabriel

Locke injury update (12:47 p.m.): Broncos safety P.J. Locke dropped out of practice Wednesday and missed the last two days of practice with a thumb injury. Just came out of the tunnel in tennis shoes with a pretty sizable cast on his left hand/wrist area. — Gabriel

Good afternoon from Empower Field (12:08 p.m.): It’s yet another picture perfect day for football here. That snow in the forecast for the coming week feels a long way off today. The Broncos are two-score favorites against Carolina, which is off to a horrendous start this season. The Denver defense is among the NFL’s best and is expected to tee off against Carolina QB Bryce Young, who is forced back into the lineup for Andy Dalton after being benched earlier in the season. So, are there any surprises in store today? Or is this one as clean-cut as it looks? — Gabriel

Scouting report (9:23 a.m.): Check out how the Broncos match up with the Panthers in Ryan McFadden’s scouting report.

Game predictions

Parker Gabriel, beat writer: Broncos 31, Panthers 13

Every once in a while a game comes up at the right time and under the right circumstances to make it feel like a no-brainer. This is one of those. Denver’s not infallible by any stretch, but itap played well on defense and special teams most of the season, and the run game has ramped up in recent weeks. Even two of those three should be enough to cruise past what has been, by the numbers, easily the worst team in the NFL. The Broncos better, too, because the schedule gets rugged in November.

Ryan McFadden, beat writer: Broncos 34, Panthers 13

The Broncos enter Sunday as heavy favorites, but that doesn’t mean Carolina should be overlooked. Denver should treat this game with the same intensity and enthusiasm as last week’s victory over the Saints. Given the next three weeks feature matchups against the Ravens, Chiefs and Falcons, Denver needs to punch the Panthers in the mouth early and not give them an ounce of momentum. The Broncos have shown the ability to take care of weaker opponents. Expect them to do so at home.

Troy Renck, columnist: Broncos 34, Panthers 14

For the past seven years, the Broncos have served as a get-right game for needy opponents. Finally, the roles have reversed. As bad as the Saints were, Carolina is worse. This game represents an opportunity for Denver to create momentum with a passing game it will need against Baltimore and Kansas City. Time for the Broncos to show they are legit. Creating a home-field advantage and beating bad teams remain necessary steps. Keep pounding them into submission. With Sean Payton boasting a 49-17 record in October, that is exactly what will happen.

Sean Keeler, columnist: Broncos 23, Panthers 13

Trap game? Probably. But this isn’t about winning for Carolina. Oh, no. Itap a chance to show Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders, up close, just how badly they need one of them. Or both. Fun fact: The previous eight times a Sean Payton team won by 17 or more points on the road, they went 7-1 the very next game and averaged 27 points per tilt in the process. Itap a TCB (Taking Care of Business) day for the orange and blue. And business is looking up.

Broncos-Panthers NFL Week 8: Must-reads

The secret ingredient powering Zach Allen’s breakout season and DzԳDz’ dominant pass rush

Zach Allen and John Franklin-Myers are powering one of the most disruptive defenses in the league. The Broncos are second in the NFL in sacks and lead the league in total pressures. They’ve rattled quarterbacks from rookie Spencer Rattler to 20-year veteran Aaron Rodgers.

Allen, in his sixth season overall and second with the Broncos, is playing the best football of his life. There are all kinds of reasons for his ascendance individually and for the collective overhaul of a group that lacked punch in 2023 and now hands it out in bunches.

But Allen has a secret weapon. Itap the reason he and Franklin-Myers found themselves in Texas in the first place. Or, better put, he is the reason, Parker Gabriel reports. Read the full story.

DzԳDz’ Josh Reynolds “pretty shaken up” after shooting last week, coach Sean Payton says

Broncos head coach Sean Payton said Friday that receiver Josh Reynolds is doing OK but “pretty shaken up” after being shot last week.

“He’s fortunate,” Payton told reporters after Denver’s Friday practice. “Obviously the league and the local authorities are handling that. I’ve had a chance to talk with him. He was pretty shaken up, and I’ll leave it at that.”

Reynolds was shot last Friday in Denver. 9News, citing court documents, reported that Reynolds and another man were shot at in their car after they were followed out of a strip club. Reynolds was hit twice, in the left arm and the back of the head, and another man was shot in the back, according to the TV station’s report. Parker Gabriel reports. Read the full story.

Renck: Broncos QB Bo Nix must continue to use legs if Denver wants to make playoff run

It is time for the Broncos to stop running from the truth.

Bo Nix is quick. Not by quarterback standards. By any standard. He cannot pass through a school zone without getting a ticket. He has eclipsed 20 mph on multiple runs, whether a scramble or designed.

As we reach the midway point of the season Sunday, coach Sean Payton needs to lean into the movie that is playing on the Mile High Jumbotron, “Fast & Curious.” Read Troy Renck’s full column.

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