After one-score losses to the Las Vegas Raiders and Tennessee Titans in back-to-back weeks, the Denver Broncos will look to bounce back against the Carolina Panthers in Week 12.
During the all-time series, the Broncos hold a commanding 6-1 lead over the Panthers. Both teams head into Sunday’s matchup with abysmal records (3-7 and 3-8), and Carolina fired their head coach earlier in the 2022 season.
The last time these two teams played was during the 2020 season. Denver quarterback Drew Lock had one of his best games as a pro, going 21-of-27 passing for 280 yards and four touchdowns in a 32-27 Broncos win. KJ Hamler caught two touchdowns and the Denver defense held off a Teddy Bridgewater-led Panthers charge to preserve the victory.
Of course, the most memorable game between these two teams was Super Bowl 50 in San Francisco. The “No-Fly Zone” defense smothered former Carolina quarterback Cam Newton, with then-Broncos linebacker Von Miller forcing two sack-fumbles and eventually winning the game’s MVP award. Current Denver kicker Brandon McManus is the only remaining player from that special team left with the franchise.
Since that time, both teams have been looking for signs of life. In the years following the 2015 title game, Denver has failed to win more than 10 games, desperately seeking a franchise quarterback to follow in the footsteps of Peyton Manning. Meanwhile, the Panthers have only made one other playoff appearance in that time (2017).
My, how those times have changed.
