2 weeks Ago
Three takeaways from the Broncos' 28-14 win over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday at Empower Field at Mile High: 1. If the season ended today..
. Broncos Country would be cool with it. The Broncos (5-3) rose up to the No.
5 seed in the AFC tournament after thumping the sad-sack Panthers. The NFL’s second-longest playoff drought would be over, and the Broncos would be a playoff team for the first time since 2015. (Only the New York Jets’ run of 13 straight seasons is longer than Denver’s eight.
) More will be known about the Broncos after back-to-back trips to Baltimore and Kansas City. But at the midpoint of Sean Payton’s second season? Not too shabby. 2.
It came against the NFL’s 31st-ranked defense (out of 32), but Bo Nix delivered his finest game as a professional quarterback. Nix opened the game completing 15 of 17 passes for 177 yards, two touchdowns and a 149.3 passer rating.
He finished it 27 of 36 for a career-high 277 yards and a 124.2 rating. The rookie looked like he was back at Oregon, comfortable as can be in the pocket or on the run.
Talk about a confidence boost before road games against Super Bowl contenders. 3. The Broncos defense is a menace.
Ja’Quan McMillian made a highlight-reel interception in the end zone. Patrick Surtain had his third interception of the season. Nik Bonitto extended his sack streak to six straight games, tying Von Miller for the third-longest streak in team annals.
As Jim Croce would say, the Broncos 'D' is meaner than a junkyard dog. Yes, All-Pro quarterbacks Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes are a different matter than Carolina's Bryce Young. But a defense this consistent, complete and confident wins games you’re not supposed to win.
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