It is rarely pretty, but the Broncos keep finding ways to win.
The Broncos were outgained by the Panthers 353 to 303, went 2-for-4 in the red zone, including a red-zone interception. They still won their fifth consecutive game, beating Carolina 26-21 to move to 7-2. The Panthers are 3-5.
The Panthers led 14-13 into the fourth quarter, but the Broncos outscored them 13-0 before Carolina gave itself a chance for a comeback on Tetairoa McMillan’s 4-yard touchdown reception. The Broncos got the ball back with 2:59 left with a chance to run out the time, but on second down, Bo Nix’s pitch to Jonah Coleman was fumbled backward for a 12-yard loss.
That gave Carolina a chance to win it with 1:49 remaining.
The Panthers got 20 yards to the Denver 36 before Nik Bonitto had a strip-sack of Bryce Young that the edge rusher recovered with 1:18 left.
That gave Nix his 17th consecutive win in one-score games, the longest streak in the NFL since 1950.
Nix was 25-of-37 for 237 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Courtland Sutton caught a 3-yard score and Pat Bryant had a 26-yard touchdown reception. Coleman ran for a 9-yard touchdown.
Bryant caught four passes for 56 yards and Coleman had 17 runs for 57 yards.
The Panthers had 13 penalties for 119 yards, had two turnovers and Ryan Fitzgerald missed a 43-yard field goal.
Young was 28-of-39 for 276 yards with three touchdowns and an interception. Chuba Hubbard had 16 carries for 79 yards and Darren Waller had eight catches for 90 yards and a touchdown.