The Carolina Panthers had a chance to steady things in Week 9, but instead they kept tripping over the same problems and walked out with another loss.
Denver left with a 26-21 win, and the difference was hard to miss: the Panthers spent too much of the afternoon beating themselves. Carolina piled up 13 penalties for 119 yards and gave away two turnovers, including one on a first-and-goal from the Broncos’ 1-yard line and another when quarterback Bryce Young was strip-sacked late in the fourth quarter.
That late turnover slammed the door on Carolina’s final push. The Panthers had the ball at their own 44-yard line with 1:49 left, trailing 26-21.
Young hit Tetairoa McMillan for 20 yards to keep hope alive, but Broncos linebacker Nik Bonitto got to Young for the strip-sack. Denver recovered, then closed it out with a 1-yard quarterback sneak to run out the clock.
The Broncos also owned the fourth quarter, just as they so often do. Entering the final 15 minutes down a point, Denver outscored Carolina 13-7 to finish the job. Bo Nix was a big reason why, taking advantage of the Panthers’ thinning depth at cornerback and completing 25 of 37 passes for 237 yards and two touchdowns.
There were still bright spots for Carolina on offense. Bryce Young finished 28 of 39 for 276 yards with three touchdowns and an interception. Darren Waller was a steady target with seven catches for 90 yards and a score, while Chuba Hubbard added 16 carries for 79 rushing yards and four receptions for 17 yards.
The loss drops the Panthers to 3-5, and they’ll head back on the road in Week 10 for an NFC South matchup with the New Orleans Saints.
In Other News...
Bryce Young Did Not Hide His Frustration After Panthers Controversy
The Panthers Week 9 loss to the Broncos did not sit well with Bryce Young, who made clear afterward that the sequence around Sean Paytons challenge left a bad taste. Denvers coach successfully overturned an initial incomplete pass ruling into an interception, and Dave Canales later confirmed the challenge flag had come before the next snap, turning a routine-looking play into a major swing in a 26-21 game Carolina had a chance to control.
Youngs frustration was rooted in more than just the call itself. The interception helped set up Broncos touchdowns that proved costly in the final margin, and for a Panthers team still searching for consistency, it was another reminder of how thin the line can be when a game turns on officiating and momentum at the same time. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Loss Just Reopened A Brutal Replay Controversy
A late-game replay decision in Carolinas loss to Denver has quickly turned into the kind of officiating debate that lingers long after the final whistle. Broncos coach Sean Payton was allowed to challenge a play after officials reviewed whether his red flag had come out before the next snap, and NFL vice president of instant replay Mark Butterworth said the challenge was permitted because the flag was thrown in time.
Now the issue is back under a harsher spotlight, because video evidence has surfaced that appears to challenge that explanation. The reversal that followed the review had a direct impact on the games outcome, and for the Panthers, it has reopened an old frustration about how much control replay can have when a critical moment is left to interpretation. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Left Furious After Bizarre Officiating Swung Week 9 Loss
A frustrating Week 9 loss to the Broncos left the Panthers with plenty to gripe about beyond the final score, as a pair of officiating decisions swung momentum at key moments. Carolina had reason to believe a defensive pass interference penalty should have been called earlier in the game, and the missed flag helped set the tone for a night in which the Panthers kept running into traffic they could not clear.
The most jarring sequence came on a review that ultimately wiped out a potential scoring chance, with the officials allowing the full play to unfold before confirming the interception. Later, in the fourth quarter, another missed offsides call played into a Panthers turnover, adding to the sense that Carolina was fighting both Denver and the whistle all evening. [Read more 🡒]