DENVER (AP) — Bo Nix threw three touchdown passes and ran for another and Denver's defense throttled Bryce Young in the Broncos' 28-14 win Sunday over the injury-riddled Carolina Panthers. In the best game yet of his rookie season, the Broncos quarterback threw for 284 yards. He found Nate Adkins from 3 yards and Adam Trautman from 19 yards in the second quarter as the Broncos (5-3) built a 21-7 halftime lead.
The Panthers (1-7), who listed a whopping 22 players on their injury report and lost two more players Sunday, lost for the fifth consecutive time. Young was 24 for 37 for 224 yards with two TDs and two interceptions. He wasn't the only Carolina player off target — the Broncos made it 28-7 after a failed fake punt by the Panthers from their 24 in the third quarter.
Safety Sam Franklin Jr. was wide open but punter Johnny Hekker airmailed the attempt on fourth-and-6 and the Broncos took over. Four plays later, Nix side-armed a 9-yard TD pass to running back Jaleel McLaughlin.
Patrick Surtain II, who allowed Carolina's first-drive touchdown, intercepted Young at the Denver 11 on the Panthers' next drive. Courtland Sutton caught eight of Nix's passes for 100 yards, his first 100-yard game since Week 2 of the 2022 season against Houston. However, he fumbled at the 1 on his final reception just before the two-minute warning when Trevin Wallace punched it out and Shy Tuttle recovered his second fumble of the game.
Young was terrific in the two-minute drill, driving Carolina.