It is rarely pretty, but the Broncos keep finding ways to win.
The Broncos were outgained by the Panthers 353 to 303, went 2-for-4 in the red zone, including a red-zone interception. They still won their fifth consecutive game, beating Carolina 26-21 to move to 7-2. The Panthers are 3-5.
The Panthers led 14-13 into the fourth quarter, but the Broncos outscored them 13-0 before Carolina gave itself a chance for a comeback on Tetairoa McMillan’s 4-yard touchdown reception. The Broncos got the ball back with 2:59 left with a chance to run out the time, but on second down, Bo Nix’s pitch to Jonah Coleman was fumbled backward for a 12-yard loss.
That gave Carolina a chance to win it with 1:49 remaining.
The Panthers got 20 yards to the Denver 36 before Nik Bonitto had a strip-sack of Bryce Young that the edge rusher recovered with 1:18 left.
That gave Nix his 17th consecutive win in one-score games, the longest streak in the NFL since 1950.
Nix was 25-of-37 for 237 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Courtland Sutton caught a 3-yard score and Pat Bryant had a 26-yard touchdown reception. Coleman ran for a 9-yard touchdown.
Bryant caught four passes for 56 yards and Coleman had 17 runs for 57 yards.
The Panthers had 13 penalties for 119 yards, had two turnovers and Ryan Fitzgerald missed a 43-yard field goal.
Young was 28-of-39 for 276 yards with three touchdowns and an interception. Chuba Hubbard had 16 carries for 79 yards and Darren Waller had eight catches for 90 yards and a touchdown.
The Panthers lead the Broncos 14-13 after the first drive of the second half.
With an early 10-0 lead, it appeared Denver was on its way to a blowout. The Panthers, though, have scored 14 of the past 17 points.
Darren Waller caught a 15-yard touchdown pass from Bryce Young on third-and-9 with 11:30 left in the third quarter.
The Panthers took the second half kickoff 65 yards in six plays.
Waller had a 21-yard reception in the drive, and Broncos defenders Ja’Quan McMillian and Dondrea Tillman had 5-yard penalties for defensive holding and illegal use of hands, respectively.
The Broncos will play the second half without cornerback Riley Moss and wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, who are in concussion protocol.
The Broncos lead the Panthers 13-7 at halftime.
They could lead by more if not for Corey Thornton’s red-zone interception of Bo Nix in the second quarter. The Panthers were at the Carolina 19 when Nix tried to hit Courtland Sutton.
Denver went 47 yards in nine plays on its opening drive. The Broncos had first-and-goal from the 4 before a 1-yard run, an incompletion, a false start and an incompletion. They settled for Wil Lutz’s chip-shot 26-yard field goal.
The Broncos reached the end zone on their second possession, a 10-play, 81-yard drive that ended with Nix’s 3-yard touchdown pass to Sutton.
They ended the half with Lutz’s 48-yard field goal, which was set up by Ryan Fitzgerald’s kickoff out of bounds.
The Panthers could be even closer if not for Fitzgerald’s miss on a 43-yard field goal.
The Broncos have outgained the Panthers 159 to 148, with Nix going 15-of-23 for 125 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Evan Engram has three catches for 29 yards and J.K. Dobbins has three carries for 15 yards.
Bryce Young is 11-for-16 for 97 yards and a touchdown, a 10-yard throw to Tommy Tremble. Darren Waller has four catches for 39 yards and Chuba Hubbard has eight carries for 47 yards.
Broncos cornerback Riley Moss took a knee to the head from Trevor Etienne with 5:38 remaining in the second quarter. He appeared to have a fencing response, but walked under his own power to the training room to be evaluated for a concussion.
Broncos wide receiver Jaylen Waddle is also being evaluated for a concussion.
The Broncos entered Sunday without an opening-drive touchdown since last December against the Raiders. They still don’t have one, but they do lead the Panthers 10-0.
Denver went 47 yards in nine plays on its opening drive. The Broncos had first-and-goal from the 4 before a 1-yard run, an incompletion, a false start and an incompletion. They settled for Wil Lutz’s chip-shot 26-yard field goal.
The Broncos reached the end zone on their second possession, a 10-play, 81-yard drive that ended with Bo Nix’s 3-yard touchdown pass to Courtland Sutton.
The Broncos have outgained the Panthers 96-15.
Nix is 6-of-11 for 63 yards.
Deshaun Watson cleared concussion protocol on Saturday, but the Browns kept him listed as questionable to play against the Saints in New Orleans on Sunday.
Head coach Todd Monken announced on Friday that Shedeur Sanders would start under any circumstances and the Browns announced on Sunday morning that Watson is inactive. Dillon Gabriel will serve as the backup to Sanders with rookie Taylen Green serving as the emergency third quarterback.
Watson should be ready to go for the Browns’ Week 10 game against the Texans, although a big day for Sanders could lead to Monken having to make a decision about which way to go in the team’s final game before their bye week.
Browns at Saints
Browns: QB Deshaun Watson, QB Taylen Green, LB Justin Jefferson, CB Noah Igbinoghene, C Parker Brailsford≤ DT Maliek Collins
Saints: QB Zach Wilson, S Mike Reid, RB C.J. Donaldson, DL Christen Miller, LB Jaylan Ford, OL Mason Murphy, DL John Ridgeway
Broncos at Panthers
Broncos: QB Sam Ehlinger, S Talanoa Hufanga, WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey, S Brandon Jones, CB Kris Abrams-Draine, OL Kage Casey, TE Dallen Bentley
Panthers: LB Jaelan Phillips, QB Haynes King, CB Will Lee, RB AJ Dillon, LB Bobby Okereke, G Damien Lewis, DT TeRah Edwards
Cowboys at Colts
Cowboys: LB DeMarvion Overshown, WR George Pickens, WR KaVontae Turpin, CB Joey Porter Jr., LB Tyrus Wheat, OL Ajani Cornelius, TE Luke Schoonmaker.
Colts: S A.J. Haulcy, CB Justin Walley, TE Pharaoh Brown, LB Akeem Davis-Gaiters, OL Charlie Heck, TE Will Mallory, QB Riley Leonard
Jets at Chiefs
Jets: WR Garrett Wilson, WR Tim Patrick, CB Nahshon Wright, LB Joseph Ossai, LB Trevon Wallace, OL Kohl Levao, OL Blake Freeland
Chiefs: CB Mansoor Delane, QB Garrett Nussmeier, FB Ben VanSumeren, DE Jack Pyburn, OT Diego Pounds, DT Peter Woods
Lions at Dolphins
Lions: CB D.J. Reed, DE DJ Wonnum, C Cade Mays, RB Jacob Saylors, TE Jordan Meeks, DL Mekhi Wingo, DE Ahmed Hassanein
Dolphins: RB Jaylen Wright, WR Jalen Tolbert, TE Justin Joly, G Christian Haynes, OL Chukwuebuka Godrick, CB Marcellas Dial, CB Reese Taylor
Giants at Eagles
Giants: RB Cam Skattebo, CB Colton Hood, CB Nikko Reed, OL Marcus Mbow, TE Thomas Fidone, OL Josh Sills, DT C.J. Okoye
Eagles: WR DeVonta Smith, LB Jihaad Campbell, WR Dontayvion Wicks, CB Jonathan Jones, DB Michael Carter, WR Britain Covey
Rams at Commanders
Rams: CB Trent McDuffie, QB Ty Simpson, LS Joe Cardona, LB Darryl Peterson, OL Bill Murray, OL Keagan Trost, LB Desjuan Johnson
Commanders: WR Treylon Burks, QB Athan Kaliakmanis, CB Fabian Moreau, CB Isaac Yiadom, G Tanoa Togiai
