Rookie Bo Nix has 3 TD passes in leading the Broncos to a 28-14 win over the Panthers

DENVER -- Bo Nix threw 3 touchdown passes and ran for different and Denver's defense throttled Bryce Young successful nan Broncos' 28-14 triumph Sunday complete nan injury-riddled Carolina Panthers.

In nan champion crippled yet of his rookie season, nan Broncos backmost threw for 284 yards. He recovered Nate Adkins from 3 yards and Adam Trautman from 19 yards successful nan 2nd 4th arsenic nan Broncos (5-3) built a 21-7 halftime lead.

The Panthers (1-7), who listed a whopping 22 players connected their wounded study and mislaid 2 much players Sunday, mislaid for nan 5th consecutive time.

Young was 24 for 37 for 224 yards pinch 2 TDs and 2 interceptions.

He wasn't nan only Carolina subordinate disconnected target — nan Broncos made it 28-7 aft a grounded clone punt by nan Panthers from their 24 successful nan 3rd quarter. Safety Sam Franklin Jr. was wide unfastened but punter Johnny Hekker airmailed nan effort connected fourth-and-6 and nan Broncos took over.

Four plays later, Nix side-armed a 9-yard TD walk to moving backmost Jaleel McLaughlin.

Patrick Surtain II, who allowed Carolina's first-drive touchdown, intercepted Young astatine nan Denver 11 connected nan Panthers' adjacent drive.

Courtland Sutton caught 8 of Nix's passes for 100 yards, his first 100-yard crippled since Week 2 of nan 2022 play against Houston. However, he fumbled astatine nan 1 connected his last reception conscionable earlier nan two-minute informing erstwhile Trevin Wallace punched it retired and Shy Tuttle recovered his 2nd fumble of nan game.

Young was terrific successful nan two-minute drill, driving Carolina 98 yards successful 10 plays pinch nan payoff a 15-yard touchdown propulsion to Jalen Coker pinch 18 seconds left.

Benched aft Week 2, Young returned arsenic nan Panthers' starting QB erstwhile Andy Dalton sprained his correct thumb successful an car mishap connected Tuesday. Dalton didn't believe each week because he couldn't grip nan shot properly, truthful rookie Jack Plummer served arsenic Young's backup Sunday.

Things started disconnected good for Young, nan No. 1 wide prime successful nan 2023 NFL draft.

After Tuttle recovered Lil’Jordan Humphrey’s fumble astatine midfield connected nan game’s opening drive, Young drove nan Panthers to a 7-0 lead connected rookie Xavier Legette’s 6-yard touchdown drawback against Surtain, who returned from a concussion he sustained 2 weeks ago.

Not only was that Young’s first touchdown propulsion of nan season, but it besides marked nan first opening-drive TD of his career.

The Panthers only managed 1 first down nan remainder of nan half, however, and nan Broncos began to predominate successful each phases.

Nik Bonitto had a sack for nan sixth consecutive game, nan Broncos' longest specified streak since Von Miller's six-game tally successful 2018, and Ja'Quan McMillian intercepted Young successful nan extremity area midway done nan 4th quarter.

Young, who fell to 2-17 successful his profession and 0-3 this season, was without starting wide receivers Diontae Johnson and Adam Thielen. Johnson, who has been nan taxable of waste and acquisition rumors, was ruled retired aft missing believe each week pinch a rib injury. Thielen has missed nan past 5 games pinch a hamstring injury.

Panthers: TE Feleipe Franks sustained a concussion connected punt sum and OLB D.J. Johnson sprained his correct ankle. Both were ruled retired astatine halftime.

Broncos: TE Lucas Kroll near pinch a enarthrosis wounded successful nan 4th fourth but returned.

Panthers: Host nan New Orleans Saints connected Sunday.

Broncos: Visit nan Baltimore Ravens connected Sunday.

___

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL