Mile High Report
Beating the Panthers 28-14, Denver wasn’t the first team to score but once it started, it didn’t stop.
On national Tight End Day, it was definitely tight end day in Denver as Adam Trautman and Nate Atkins were big contributors to the Broncos’ scoring efforts. Trautman was the second-leading receiver and the two tight ends each scored a TD.
But Courtland Sutton would not have another game of zero targets, logging 100 yards receiving and one 28-yard pass.
While the Panthers scored first, it was practically all Broncos after that, and it was almost entirely done through the air.
The Panthers struck first with a 12-play touchdown drive starting at the Broncos’ 49-yard line thanks to a fumble by Lil’ Jordan Humphrey on the fourth play of the Broncos first drive.
Broncos’ offense started off on the ground with a short run from Javonte Williams and then a first down from Jaleel McLaughlin. But a fumble by Humphrey midfield prevented a score on the first drive.
Bryce Young, getting a second chance as starting QB while Andy Dalton nurses a thumb injury, led a solid drive that overcame a holding call that put them behind the 20 for 1st-and-goal. Two plays later, Young fired a laser to rookie wideout Xavier Legette for an easy six.
On the Broncos’ second drive, a 23-yard pass to Courtland Sutton got the Broncos moving the ball but an incomplete pass on 2nd-and-5 followed by a 13-yard sack took the Broncos out of field goal range and they had to punt.
The bright side was that special teams — on an athletic 1-2-3 punch - downed the ball at the one, and the defense forced a three-and-out that led to a punt from the back of the end zone for the Panthers.
Third time was a charm for the Bo Nix and the offense. Starting from their 45-yard line, Nix closed out the quarter with a play-action to Adam Trautman that turned into a 38-yard gain and put the Broncos inside the red zone, just like that.
A series of short passes got the Broncos to 1st-and-goal, but it was 3rd-and-goal before play-action to tight end Nate Atkins on Tight End Day gave the Broncos a tying touchdown.
The defense went to work on the Panthers’ next series, helped by a holding call that led to a punt after four plays.
The Broncos’ fourth drive started on their own 8 thanks to a penalty, but then it was mostly the Sutton-Trautman show as a 37-yard pass to Sutton then a 17-yard play to Trautman set up a 19-yard one-handed touchdown catch from Trautman.
The Panthers offense had a few solid gains, including an 11-yard pass play to Moore
With under five minutes in the half, Carolina went for 4th-and-2 and Pat Surtain made them regret it with a tackle behind the line of scrimmage.
Nix and the offense took over at the 48-yard line of the Panthers and immediately...
