CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) Bo Nix threw for 237 yards and two touchdowns and the Denver Broncos took advantage of the coach’s challenge to beat the Carolina Panthers 26-21 Sunday for their fifth straight victory.
Jonah Coleman ran for 57 yards and a score and Courtland Sutton and Pat Bryant each caught TD passes for the Broncos.
Denver (7-2) got a late defensive stop as Nik Bonitto performed a strip-sack on Bryce Young and recovered the ball near midfield with 1:24 left. The Broncos picked up a first down to seal the victory.
Young finished 28 of 39 for 276 yards with three touchdown passes and an interception for Carolina. He was sacked three times after being sacked six times in a loss last week to Green Bay.
Darren Waller had eight catches for 90 yards and a touchdown for the Panthers (3-5), who have lost three straight.
The Panthers took the lead early in the third quarter when Young found Waller over the middle for a 15-yard touchdown pass.
The turning point came late in the third quarter when Broncos coach Sean Payton won a key challenge.
With Carolina facing a first-and-goal at the Denver 1, Young threw a pass toward the corner of the end zone that was initially ruled incomplete. After the Panthers ran a second play, officials intervened and said Payton threw the challenge red flag before the snap.
After review, officials ruled that Denver safety Devon Key caught a ball that deflected off tight end Tommy Tremble’s hand before it hit the ground. The interception gave the Broncos the ball at their own 20 and ended Carolina’s momentum and a chance to go up eight.
Denver took advantage, driving 80 yards in 14 plays to take a 19-14 lead on a 9-yard touchdown run by Jonah Coleman with 10:17 left. Denver’s 2-point conversion pass failed.
Nix made it a two-possession game when he connected with a wide-open Bryant on a 25-yard touchdown pass with 5:41 left.
Young cut the lead to five with a 4-yard TD pass to Tetairoa McMillan with 3:05 left and would have another chance after the Broncos lost 18 yards on a misplayed throw from Nix to Coleman and were forced to punt with two minutes left.
But Bonitto’s sack-fumble proved to be the play of the game.
The Panthers played their first game under interim defensive coordinator Todd Wash, who replaced Ejiro Evero last week. But its defense, playing without its top four cornerbacks due to injuries, was flagged seven times, including five for pass interference.
Denver: Wide receiver Jaylen Waddle and cornerback Riley Moss suffered concussions in the first half and were ruled out for the rest of the game.
Caroline: No injuries have been reported.
Denver: goodbye next week. Welcome Las Vegas on November 22.
Caroline: in New Orleans on Sunday.
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