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How the Denver Broncos can beat the Carolina Panthers
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- How the Denver Broncos can beat the Carolina Panthers
Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Denver Broncos sit atop the AFC West with a 6-2 record. On Sunday, the Broncos will battle the Carolina Panthers who are 3-4 and in first place of the NFC South for their Week 9 matchup. Denver has momentum entering the game being winners of four in a row, whilst Carolina has dropped back-to-back games. Here are three ways I think the Broncos can earn their seventh victory of the season.
Ride the running attack and give Jonah Coleman more opportunities
Last season, Denver had an effective running game in the first half of the season. Unfortunately, it tapered off greatly after J.K. Dobbins was injured. This year, Denver has experienced the opposite. It's been a relatively slow start for them establishing the run, but injuries have played a part in that this year too.
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While Denver's current stable of backs isn't completely 100-percent health-wise, I think there is a huge opportunity here to revitalize their run game on Sunday. Why? Because the Panthers have one of the worst run defenses in the National Football League.
It's clearly a giant weakness for the Carolina. They are allowing nearly 5 yards per carry. Moreover, they've been dreadful in four of seven games with respect to rushing yards. They gave up 291 on the ground to the Chicago Bears, 258 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 157 to the Atlanta Falcons, and 132 to the Cleveland Browns.
I'd love to see a healthy dose of Jonah Coleman in this game. The rookie running back has looked good in his limited opportunities and deserves a majority of the carriers moving forward. It's a road game, so dictating the pace of it will be essential, and enforcing a consistent rushing attack is key to that.
Whether or not the Broncos will be buyers at the trade deadline remains to be seen. However, the more opportunities Coleman gets, the easier the evaluation process for him as a player gets. And in turn, would help answer whether or not the franchise needs to trade off quality draft capital to add to the room prior to November 10th.
Nov 1, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Broncos running back Jonah Coleman (20) on the field prior to a game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Rev up the pass rush and rattle Bryce Young
Believe it or not, the Panthers enter Sunday's matchup as a Top 10 offense in the National Football League. Quarterback Bryce Young has played a big part in that. He has thrown for 1,921 yards, 13 touchdowns, and has just 5 interceptions thus far in his fourth season leading their offense.
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Young sported a few hot games to start the season. However, he has struggled recently. The former top-pick has 3 interceptions and just 2 touchdowns in their back-to-back losses. His accuracy has also experienced a big drop-off—completing less than 57-percent of passes the past three games.
In 2025, Young was one of the least sacked quarterbacks in the NFL with just 27. In seven games, he has already been sacked 23 times. The crazy part? Eleven of those have come in the past two games alone. Knowing that, this seems like a prime week for Denver's defensive trenches to rev up the pass rush. If they can rattle and get after Young early and often, they'll have a great shot at winning.
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - OCTOBER 25: Bryce Young #9 of the Carolina Panthers looks on before a football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Bank of America Stadium on October 25, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Broncos have to start converting on third down
The Broncos are a 6-2 football team despite struggling in many key areas. One major issue for them since Week 1 has been their inability to convert on third down. The Broncos are now dead last in the NFL with under a 30-percent conversion rate.
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It's true Denver has faced some really good defenses. However, that isn't an excuse for their poor play in this regard. This is arguably the biggest area the Broncos have to improve upon as they gear up for Sunday's matchup—as well as the second half stretch of the season after their bye week.
The Panthers have a bottom 5 third down defense in the NFL. Opposing teams are converting 46-percent of third downs against them each week. Head Coach Sean Payton, quarterback Bo Nix, and the rest of the offense need to find a way to sustain drives and move the field on third down.
Last season, Courtland Sutton was the go-to guy if Denver needed to move the chains. Perhaps this weekend the Broncos make the savvy veteran their main target in the passing attack when they need a big play. He has been clutch through his career in that aspect. If not, who on offense can step up and be that player?
DENVER, CO - NOVEMBER 1: Bo Nix #10 of the Denver Broncos celebrates a catch by Courtland Sutton #14 during the first quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs at Empower Field at Mile High on November 1, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images
