The Denver Broncos (6-2) will face the Carolina Panthers (3-4) in Week 9, looking for their fifth straight victory. Despite the Panthers' record, they currently lead the NFC South division and should not be overlooked.
The Broncos have to travel across the country for an early kickoff, a spot that is notoriously challenging for West Coast teams. The Panthers will also be coming off some extra rest after having played their last game on a Thursday night to begin Week 8.
It's an interesting matchup, but one that the Broncos should get the best of. Let's check with the experts and see how they feel about it.
Broncos vs. Panthers Week 9 expert picks
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports: Broncos 26, Panthers 20
"The Panthers have been beat up the past two games, leading to the firing of defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero", Prisco wrote for CBS. "They
are reeling on defense. The Broncos won a tough one last week against the Chiefs thanks to late-game magic by Bo Nix. This time, it's a lot easier against a bad Panthers defense and struggling offensive line."
Bill Bender, The Sporting News: Broncos 28, Panthers 20
"Is this a trap spot for the Broncos after the comeback victory against Kansas City? It's a chance to turn up the heat on Carolina quarterback Bryce Young. Denver has 23 sacks, and running back Jonah Coleman is becoming a factor in the running game. The Broncos will extend their winning streak to five games."
Gennaro Filice, NFL.com: Panthers 24, Broncos 23
"Riding a four-game win streak, Denver has shot to the top of the AFC West", Filice wrote for NFL.com. "And yet, there are still plenty of reasons to doubt these Broncos. The offense, quite frankly, is boring. (Well, until Bo Nix decides to put together a game-winning drive.) And the defense, while solid in some of the advanced statistics, just hasn’t been the shutdown unit of the past two seasons, ranking 20th against the pass, 25th against the run and 25th on third down. Yes, Denver’s a perfect 4-0 at home, compiling an impressive collection of victories (over the Jaguars, Rams, Seahawks and Chiefs). But this week’s game is in Charlotte. And away from Mile High, the Broncos have been rather unremarkable, beating the also-rans (Chargers, Cardinals) and losing to the contenders (Chiefs, 49ers). Which brings us to the Panthers: Are they an also-ran or a contender? Honestly, it’s kind of hard to say. Despite being below .500, they currently sit atop a dull NFC South. And while they opened October with an impressive win over the Lions, they closed the month with one-sided defeats to the Buccaneers and Packers. Consequently, this feels like a midseason hinge game, especially with Carolina set to hit the road in three of the next four weeks. Now, it’s possible Denver’s pass rush just overwhelms Carolina’s battered offensive line. And the firing of DC Ejiro Evero could either spark or spike the Panthers’ defense. But with Carolina having a few extra days to recuperate and regroup following last week’s appearance on Thursday Night Football, I envision Dave Canales rallying his plucky team to a narrow home win over a Broncos squad that currently feels far closer to 6-3 than 7-2."
Each of Filice's cohorts, Jeremy Bergman, Brooke Cersosimo, Bobby Kownack and Dan Parr, all picked the Broncos.
Jeremy Cluff, Arizona Republic: Panthers 23, Broncos 20
"The Broncos are riding high after beating the Chiefs, but the Panthers had a mini-bye to regroup after their loss to the Packers. Bryce Young and Carolina will bounce back at home to get the upset."
This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: NFL picks: Who the experts predict to win in the Broncos-Panthers game
