Bo Nix threw two touchdown passes, Sean Payton won a challenge that officials ruled he had made before the next snap, and Nik Bonitto’s strip-sack with 1:24 left sealed a 26-21 win for the Denver Broncos over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, November 8, at Bank of America Stadium.
Denver heads into its bye at 7-2, alone atop the AFC West, with its fifth straight win and its 16th straight victory in games decided by eight points or fewer. “When those things keep falling your way, that’s not by accident,” Payton said. Carolina falls to 3-5 with its third straight loss but is still tied with New Orleans for first place in the NFC South.
Denver attacks a depleted secondary
Carolina played without its top four cornerbacks, and Denver went deep on its first two snaps. Wil Lutz kicked a 26-yard field goal, and Nix found Courtland Sutton for a 3-yard touchdown late in the first quarter for a 10-0 lead. Marco Wilson and Corey Thornton, both promoted from the practice squad this week, combined for five defensive pass interference penalties. Bryce Young got Carolina on the board with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Tommy Tremble late in the second quarter, and Lutz answered with a 48-yarder with four seconds left for a 13-7 halftime lead.
The challenge that changed it
Young hit Darren Waller over the middle for a 15-yard touchdown early in the third quarter, giving Carolina its only lead at 14-13. Late in the period the Panthers had first-and-goal at the Denver 1. A Young pass toward the corner was ruled incomplete, and Carolina ran its second-down play. Officials then stepped in and determined that Payton had thrown his challenge flag before that snap. On review, safety Devon Key was ruled to have caught the ball after it deflected off Tremble’s hand, and Denver took over at its 20. “I’ve never seen someone run a play full through and then get a challenge for a previous play,” Tremble said. We covered how the league explained the late challenge separately.
The Broncos turned the swing into points, driving 80 yards in 14 plays for rookie Jonah Coleman’s 9-yard touchdown run with 10:17 left. The two-point pass failed, but on the next possession Nix found a wide-open Pat Bryant down the seam for a 26-yard touchdown and a 26-14 lead.
Bonitto closes it
Carolina did not go quietly. Young converted a fourth-and-18 with a 25-yard completion and hit Tetairoa McMillan for a 4-yard touchdown with 3:05 left. Denver nearly gave it back when Coleman could not handle a pitchout for an 18-yard loss, forcing a punt. But on Carolina’s final drive, Bonitto beat left tackle Rasheed Walker around the edge, knocked the ball loose and recovered it himself. Nix converted a third-down sneak to run out the clock. “I knew this could be one of my last rushes, so I set up a little jab inside,” Bonitto said.
The numbers
- Bo Nix: 25 of 37 for 237 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
- Jonah Coleman: 17 carries for 57 yards and a touchdown, plus four catches for 31 yards.
- Denver receivers: Bryant had four catches for 56 yards and a touchdown; Sutton five for 45 and a touchdown.
- Bryce Young: 28 of 39 for 276 yards, three touchdowns and one interception, sacked three times and lost the late fumble.
- Darren Waller: eight catches for 90 yards and a touchdown. Chuba Hubbard ran for 79 yards on 16 carries.
- Penalties: Carolina was flagged 13 times for 119 yards.
- Team totals: Carolina outgained Denver 353-312 and was 3 for 3 on fourth down, but turned it over twice.
What it means
“I think we’re just comfortable in that moment, when things get close at the end of the game,” Nix said. Young put the final fumble on himself: “If the ball is in my hands we need to have it the next play. I take accountability for that.” Denver lost receiver Jaylen Waddle and cornerback Riley Moss to concussions in the first half.
What comes next
Denver has its bye in Week 10 and hosts the Las Vegas Raiders on November 22. Carolina visits New Orleans on Sunday, November 15, with first place in the NFC South at stake.
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