DENVER (AP) — A first-rate defense and a streak of good fortune are stoking Denver's resurgence, which the Broncos trust can send them back to the sort of relevance they've lacked since beating Carolina in Super Bowl 50 more than eight years ago. The Broncos (4-3) host the Panthers (1-6) Sunday riding a hot streak. They've won four of five games while facing one opponent after another missing key players.
The Buccaneers were without Antoine Winfield Jr. and Vita Vea; the Raiders were minus Davante Adams pre-trade; and the Saints’ long list of sidelined stars included Derek Carr, Taysom Hill and Chris Olave. The Broncos beat all three of those teams — by an average of 19.
3 points. The Panthers reinstalled Bryce Young, the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2023, at quarterback on Wednesday following Andy Dalton's car crash in Charlotte a day earlier that left him with a sprained thumb.
“I’m fired up for him to have another opportunity and just get in there and play some football,” Panthers coach Dave Canales said of Young, who was benched two games into the season after starting 0-2, giving him a 2-16 mark in the NFL. So, the Broncos might be catching another big break Sunday. Or maybe not.
“He's an elite processor, the ball's out very fast,” Denver defensive coordinator Vance Joseph said. “He's a first (overall) pick for a reason, right? I mean, that wasn't one team. That was a league grade.
So, he's got talent. That's not his problem.” The issue, as it is with D.
