The Denver Broncos improved to 5-3 on Sunday with a convincing 28-14 win over the Carolina Panthers, who dropped to 1-7.
With the win, Bo Nix now holds the franchise record for the most wins by a rookie quarterback (five), passing John Elway (four) and Drew Lock (four). Nix previously broke the franchise record for the most completions by a rookie just six games into his career.
Nix had a historic day, but the game got off to a shaky start for the Broncos.
Denver’s offense got the ball first but Carolina took over near midfield after Broncos wide receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey lost a fumble on the third snap of the game. The Panthers took advantage of that turnover as Bryce Young led a 10-play, 49-yard drive that ended with a six-yard touchdown pass to Xavier Legette to take an early 7-0 lead.
On their next drive, the Broncos drove down to Carolina’s 28-yard line before Nix took a 13-yard sack that knocked Denver out of field goal range on third down. Riley Dixon and Co. then pinned the Panthers at their own one-yard line. Carolina promptly went three-and-out and the Broncos got the ball back at its 45-yard line.
Nix then led a seven-play, 55-yard drive that ended with a three-yard touchdown pass to tight end/fullback Nate Adkins to tie the game at 7-7.
One series later, Nix and the offense went 92 yards on seven plays on a drive that was capped off by Nix’s 19-yard touchdown pass to tight end Adam Trautman to make it 14-7.
Following that score, Denver took over near midfield after Pat Surtain tackled Panthers running back Miles Sanders short of the line to gain on fourth down. The Broncos then went 48 yards and Nix scored on a one-yard QB sneak to extend the lead to 21-7 ahead of halftime.
In the second half, the Panthers turned it over on downs at their own 24-yard line after a fake punt fell incomplete when punter Johnny Hekker was unable to connect with gunner Sam Franklin. Denver took advantage of that field position four plays later when Nix threw a nine-yard touchdown pass to running back Jaleel McLaughlin to make it 28-7.
Later in the third quarter, Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain intercepted a Young pass, but Denver wasn’t able to capitalize off that turnover.
In the fourth quarter, Broncos kicker Wil Lutz lined up for a 60-yard field goal attempt, but the team ran a fake to tight end Lucas Krull. The fake failed as Krull was tackled five yards short of the line to gain.
Later in the fourth quarter, Denver cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian picked off a Young pass in the end zone, essentially sealing the game.
The Broncos attempted to pour it on late in the game with a trick play that featured wide receiver Courtland Sutton throwing a deep pass to fullback Michael Burton. Sutton completed the pass but Denver turned it over three plays later when Sutton lost a fumble on his eighth catch of the game.
The Panthers scored a garbage time touchdown late in the fourth when Young threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to receiver Jalen Coker. That made it 28-14, which ended up being the final score after Carolina failed to recover an onside kick.
Nix finished the game 28-of-37 passing for 284 yards with three touchdowns and no turnovers, good for a 124.2 passer rating. Nix also rushed four times for five yards and a score.
On the injury front, Krull left in the fourth quarter with a shoulder injury, but he later returned to the game. Surtain also suffered an ankle injury in the fourth quarter.
Up next for the Broncos is back-to-back road games against the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas city Chiefs (view the full schedule here).
