The Broncos keep winning in ways that don’t always make immediate sense, and that’s exactly what makes them such a tough read heading into Week 9. Sean Payton’s team came into the week with the NFL’s 30th-ranked offense and 25th-ranked defense in yards, yet the results keep stacking up.
Denver is 6-2, five of its six wins have come by seven points or fewer, and Bo Nix has already made a habit of delivering late when the game tightens up. Since that lopsided 31-10 loss at Kansas City in Week 1, the Broncos have won four straight and six of seven.
Carolina arrives in a much shakier spot. The Panthers opened with a 59-37 home loss to the Chicago Bears, then steadied themselves by winning three of four and scoring enough to keep games moving.
But the last two weeks have been rough: a 43-13 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers followed by a 27-19 defeat to the Green Bay Packers. Bryce Young has taken the brunt of it, getting sacked 11 times and turning it over four times across those two losses, and now he draws a Denver pass rush that has been one of the league’s most disruptive units.
That pressure is one of the biggest reasons this matchup has real intrigue. The Broncos have led the league in sacks in each of the last two seasons, piling up 63 QB traps in 2024 and 68 the year before.
This year, Vance Joseph’s defense has already brought down opposing quarterbacks 23 times in eight games, tied for fourth in the NFL. Young has been sacked 23 times himself, which makes the trench battle a glaring storyline.
The Panthers are also dealing with a new voice on defense. This will be the debut for defensive line coach Todd Wash as Carolina’s interim defensive coordinator after taking over for Ejiro Evero.
History has tilted Denver’s way, too. Including the Broncos’ 24-10 win over Ron Rivera’s Panthers in Super Bowl 50 at Levi’s Stadium, Denver owns a 7-2 edge in the all-time series, which dates back to 1997.
This is the third meeting in five years between the teams. Carolina lost 28-14 in Denver in 2024, and the Broncos’ last trip to Charlotte ended in a 23-10 defeat in 2022.
There’s also a strange split inside Denver’s own numbers. Payton’s team has scored 17 offensive touchdowns and allowed 17 offensive touchdowns, and its plus-7 scoring differential is modest for a 6-2 club. But the Broncos have been at their sharpest when the game is on the line, piling up 99 points across the first three quarters combined and then adding 73 points in the fourth quarter and overtime.
For Carolina, the first half has been the tell. In the Panthers’ three wins, they’ve outscored opponents 46-26 before halftime and either led or were tied at the break. In their four losses, they’ve been outscored 94-43 in the first 30 minutes and have trailed at halftime every time.
The ground game gives the Panthers at least one path to lean on. Chuba Hubbard was limited a year ago, when injuries pushed him behind Rico Dowdle and he finished with 134 carries for 511 yards and one touchdown in 15 regular-season games, six of them starts.
This season, he’s been far more productive, running for 540 yards and five touchdowns on 118 carries in seven games. Denver, meanwhile, is allowing 127.9 rushing yards per game.
In Other News...
Broncos Face A Trade Deadline Choice That Could Define Their Ceiling
The Broncos are heading toward the 2026 NFL trade deadline with a roster that still looks like it needs a finishing touch, even after the progress they have made. Running back and tight end remain the clearest spots where help could matter, and that is why the conversation around Denver has started to turn from simple depth concerns to bigger questions about how aggressive the team should be if it wants to raise its ceiling.
There are already names circulating as possible fits for that kind of move, along with a separate idea that Denver could use the deadline to reshuffle its own roster in the process. It is the sort of decision that can shape not just the stretch run, but the way the Broncos are judged if they decide to stand pat, spend future assets, or make a bold swing before the market closes. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Trade Buzz Just Shifted To Bo Nixs Protection
With the NFL trade deadline approaching, the Broncos conversation has started to tilt away from splashy skill-position ideas and toward something more practical: keeping Bo Nix upright. Denver has been linked to potential deadline targets, and while Jonathan Taylor has been mentioned as a notable option, ESPN also floated a more line-focused possibility in Philadelphia guard Landon Dickerson, a name that immediately shifts the discussion to protection and stability up front.
The Broncos have no official indication they are moving in that direction, but the fit is easy to understand for a team sitting in a strong position in the division. If Denver decides to make a real push, the front office may have to weigh whether the best use of resources is adding another playmaker or fortifying the offensive line around its rookie quarterback, where one upgrade could ripple through the entire offense. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Suddenly Have An Intriguing Backfield Gamble To Consider
Denvers running back room has been thin enough this season that any available name with draft pedigree is going to draw attention, and Kendre Miller suddenly fits that description. The Saints moved on from the 2023 third-round pick, putting him on waivers and opening the door for teams in need of backfield help to take a look. For the Broncos, who have dealt with injuries and uneven production at the position all year, it is the kind of roster wrinkle that can quickly turn into a real personnel decision.
There is at least a plausible fit here because Denver has been searching for more stability in the backfield, and Millers availability creates a chance to add another young runner without waiting for the offseason. Whether the Broncos try to claim him or explore a trade, the interest makes sense on paper. The bigger question is how aggressive they want to be, and whether they see him as a depth piece, a developmental swing, or something more in a season where every healthy option matters. [Read more 🡒]