Cat Scratch Reader
The Carolina Panthers lost by three scores, but that is somehow still probably a flattering score line.
The Bryce Young led Carolina Panthers went cold after a first drive touchdown and lost in convincing fashion to the Denver Broncos, 28-14.
It’s a long one. Buckle up.
The Broncos received the opening kickoff, but they didn’t keep it for long. Shy Tuttle worked down the field after a short completion to Lil’Jordan Humphrey, punched the ball out, and fell on it to give the Panthers possession. Some short passes and good runs by both backs worked the Panthers onto the doorstep of the endzone. A holding penalty almost took them out of range for a touchdown, but a good pickup on a screen to Chuba Hubbard got the Panthers to the six yard line. Bryce Young found Xavier Legette in the end zone on a quick slant against Patrick Surtain to put the Panthers up 7-0.
The Broncos held onto the ball on their second drive and moved the ball into field goal range, but the defense would stop them there. Jaycee Horn broke up a second down pass intended for Cortland Sutton, then A’Shawn Robinson and Jadeveon Clowney combined to sack Bo Nix out of field goal range.
The punt was downed at the two yard line, and the Panthers offense played it safe and was unable to pick up a first down before punting it back. The first quarter ended after a 38 yard pass from Nix to a wide open Adam Trautman coming across the middle.
The second quarter started with the Broncos in the redzone. It took a handful of short passes to get there, but they eventually broke through for a touchdown on 3rd and goal.
A second down holding call on Jalen Coker backed the Panthers up to 2nd and 18. The Panthers were forced to punt again after two short, unproductive passes. The Broncos went to the air with their possession, and they were far more productive. They quickly and easily marched down the field to set up a pass from Nix to Trautman, who made a one handed grab to put the Broncos up 14-7.
The Panthers picked up a first down through the air on the first play of the next drive but quickly bogged down around midfield. They went for it on a 4th and 2. They ran a sort of speed option, but Young got caught up in traffic and turned it into a sort of swing pass to Miles Sanders, who had no shot to pick up the first down. Nix shredded the Panthers defense again, and after a couple of stands on first and second down, the defense finally broke on a third down quarterback sneak.
The Panthers had a disastrous attempt at a late score. Xavier Legette dropped a well thrown pass after apparently losing in the sun. Brady Christensen got called for a phantom false start. Then, on third and...
