Broncos Use ‘Key’ Second-Half Interception To Edge Panthers In 26-21 Thriller

The Denver Broncos played their usual brand of cardiac football against the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte on Sunday, as they mounted an early lead then got behind, but their defense came through again with a big interception to turn things around and give Denver a 26-21 win. 

The Broncos dominated the scoring early as they posted a 10-point lead in the first quarter. The touchdown came on an impressive 81-yard, 10-play drive, with the score coming on a 3-yard toss from quarterback Bo Nix to receiver Courtland Sutton. 

But the Panthers rebounded with a touchdown drive of their own as quarterback Bryce Young got going, and he finished an 86-yard, 14-play drive with a 10-yard touchdown pass to tight end Tommy Tremble. That made it 10-7, but the Broncos added a 48-yard field goal from Wil Lutz late in the second quarter to make it 13-7 at the half. 

Carolina scored the only touchdown of the third quarter, though, to take a 14-13 lead. The drive was a quick one, covering 65 yards in just six plays, with Young hitting tight end Darren Waller with a 15-yard strike to put Denver behind for the first time. 

The big play of the game happened later in the third quarter with the Panthers driving and in position to extend their lead and take control of the game. A pass from Young to Tremble in the end zone appeared to hit the ground, but safety Devon Key grabbed the ball when the tight end inadvertently flipped it up in the air, and the Key interception turned the tide for Denver. 

The Broncos didn’t waste the momentum from the turnover. They drove the field to take the lead, with running back Jonah Coleman finishing the drive with a nine-yard touchdown run, and a failed two-point conversion made it 19-14. 

Denver pulled away with another touchdown on a 26-yard strike from Nix to receiver Pat Bryant to make it 26-14, but the Panthers weren’t done. They countered again with a TD of their own as Young hit receiver Tetairoa McMillan from 4-yards out to tighten the margin to 26-21. 

The Broncos nearly fumbled away the game after that, as an errant toss from Nix to Coleman on a running play resulted in a fumble and a huge loss to give Carolina one last shot at a score. But the Denver defense rose up once again with a sack and a fumble by Young that resulted in a recovery by linebacker Nik Bonitto to put the game away for the Broncos.

The win upped Denver's record to 7-2 and kept them in first place in the AFC West, but the Broncos also lost both receiver Jaylen Waddle and cornerback Riley Moss due to concussions.