At the end of the first quarter, the Denver Broncos had a big shot play called to Jaylen Waddle, but he was molly whopped and had the ball knocked loose. A penalty on the play gave them 15 yards, though. They started the second quarter facing a third and long.
Bo Nix, on third and 11, dumped it off short to Jonah Coleman for a five yard gain to put them into their first punt of the game.
The Carolina Panthers began their next drive with back to back 10+ yard gains. One pass and one run. Alex Singleton
was then called with a 15-yard unnecessary roughness to get them into Broncos’ territory for the first time in the game. Riley Moss then had the easiest interception of his life, but dropped it.
Denver’s defense would stiffen and force the field goal attempt to make it a one score game again, but he’d push it wide right to keep it a 10 point lead for the Broncos.
After a short quarterback keeper run on first down, Nix checked it down to Coleman on second down who turned it up field for nine yards and a first down. Two plays later Nix hit Adam Trautman to setup a third and five where he hit Pat Bryant on a slant over the middle for a 12 yard gain into Panthers territory.
Courtland Sutton drew yet another defensive pass interference to move the Broncos into field goal range. Two plays later, Nix went for another deep shot to the end zone but a cornerback in the flat jumped to intercept the ball to end Denver’s drive.
Nix had gone 180 pass attempts without an interception until that play.
On the Panthers ensuing possession, Riley Moss was injured on a play where he took a knee straight through the face mask. He was helped off the field and into the medical tent and then immediately into the locker room.
Bryce Young and the Panthers converted on a third and 17 to kickstart their drive that seemed to be on the cusp of ending. They would convert the drive into points to cut the lead to three with just 1:27 left in the first half.
Broncos 10, Panthers 7.
A bad kickoff by Carolina gave the Broncos the ball at their own 40 yard line with no timeouts.
Nix and the offense started with a quick screen pass to Coleman for six yards, then he pumped faked and hit Courtland Sutton for a first down to the Panthers 45-yard line. A short pass to Evan Engram for five got them into fringe field goal range, then found a wide open Sutton for a chunk gain to the 30.
Getting points was the goal and getting points is what they got.
Broncos 13, Panthers 7.
