The Broncos beat the Panthers 26-21 for their fifth straight win, and Chris Harris Jr. and Emmanuel Sanders break down Sean Payton's game-saving challenge, Jonah Coleman's rise and a defense that keeps closing out one-score games.
Key takeaways from the Broncos' win over the Panthers
Sean Payton's challenge on a goal-line pass turned a Carolina goal-line pass into a Broncos interception, and Harris said Denver "easily could have a L" without it.
Emmanuel Sanders loved the aggressive start, with deep shots to Courtland Sutton and Troy Franklin on the first two plays.
Sanders says Sean Payton told him last year that Jonah Coleman is "the guy," and he now expects Coleman to take on a bigger workload.
Chris Harris Jr. wants Jahdae Barron to get a look at safety to get his tackling on the field more.
Denver has won five straight and 16 straight one-score games heading into the bye.
Broncos vs. Panthers by the numbers
Stat | Detail |
|---|---|
Final score | Broncos 26, Panthers 21 |
Division | First in the AFC West |
Win streak | Five straight wins |
One-score games | 16 straight wins in one-score games |
Jonah Coleman | Rushing TD, about 10 to 15 carries a game (Sanders' estimate) |
Courtland Sutton | 1 receiving TD |
Ja'Quan McMillian | 4 tackles, 1 sack, pass breakups |
Goal-line interception | Awarded after Sean Payton's challenge |
Nik Bonitto | Strip-sacks off the edge |
Next game | Bye week, then the Las Vegas Raiders |
Watch the full Mile High Salute
On the Mile High Salute from The Matchup, former Broncos Chris Harris Jr. and Emmanuel Sanders react to Denver's 26-21 win over the Carolina Panthers. They break down the Broncos' aggressive start, Sean Payton's challenge that flipped the game, Jahdae Barron's role, why Payton told Sanders that Jonah Coleman is "the guy," and how Courtland Sutton set up his touchdown.
0:30 Broncos beat the Panthers 26-21
1:35 Bryce Young and the Broncos' aggressive start
2:58 Sean Payton's challenge that saved the game
4:01 Ja'Quan McMillian, Jahdae Barron and the secondary
5:00 Jonah Coleman: "That's the guy"
7:07 Five straight wins and a one-score record
7:38 Breaking down Courtland Sutton's touchdown
Broncos beat the Panthers 26-21 (0:30 to 1:35)
The Broncos went to Carolina and won 26-21, and Harris said he expected a dogfight. He praised Panthers receiver Tetairoa McMillan, who scored on Patrick Surtain II, and said Jonah Coleman impressed him most on the Denver side.
Harris said Bo Nix did a solid job, Pat Bryant was getting open, Courtland Sutton looked better and the defense kept getting sacks and turnovers. Denver now sits first in the division going into the bye, with a big game against the Raiders after that.
Bryce Young and the Broncos' aggressive start (1:35 to 2:58)
Before getting to Denver, Sanders gave credit to Bryce Young. "He's good for the NFL," he said, adding that he enjoys watching him play despite his size.
What got Sanders most excited was the first two plays. Payton called a go route to Courtland Sutton for a 50-50 ball that Sutton caught but couldn't get two feet in bounds, then went deep to Troy Franklin and drew a pass interference call.
"I was excited to see Sean Payton come out and be aggressive and have Bo Nix be aggressive," Sanders said. As a receiver, he said going deep early puts defenders on their heels and opens up comebacks, digs and slants. His message to Nix: "Let it rip. But just be smart with the football."
Sean Payton's challenge that saved the game (2:58 to 4:01)
Carolina was down by one and inside the Denver 3-yard line when Bryce Young threw toward his tight end. The play looked over and both teams had moved on, but Payton's challenge turned it into a Broncos interception.
Harris said he didn't think it was an interception based on the defender's reaction, and gave credit to Payton and whoever made the call in the booth. "The Broncos easily could have a L right now if it wasn't for that challenge," he said, adding that it's why you always have to be around the ball.
Ja'Quan McMillian, Jahdae Barron and the secondary (4:01 to 5:00)
Harris saluted Ja'Quan McMillian for four tackles, a sack and a couple of pass breakups as he keeps climbing the record books for sacks by an undrafted player.
He also praised Jahdae Barron as "a tackling machine," but said finding him a spot is tricky with McMillian and Riley Moss set to hit free agency. His suggestion: give Barron a shot at safety. "He is a solid tackler, so give him some more of that safety role," Harris said, since cracking the starting lineup at corner will be tough.
Jonah Coleman: "That's the guy" (5:00 to 7:07)
Last episode, the hosts talked about bringing in Jonathan Taylor. After watching Jonah Coleman, Sanders isn't sure Denver needs him, though he noted playoff football hits different.
Sanders said the best backs make the first defender miss, and Coleman does it constantly. He also shared a story from training camp last year: "He pointed at Jonah Coleman and told me, 'That's the guy. That's the guy,'" Sanders said of Payton.
"He's physical. He's hard to bring down," Sanders said. Coleman is getting about 10 to 15 carries a game right now, and Sanders wouldn't be surprised if he becomes the bell-cow back with 20 carries a game. He also wants Denver to keep feeding RJ Harvey in the passing game, and said Nik Bonitto's strip-sacks have him looking like Von Miller.
Five straight wins and a one-score record (7:07 to 7:38)
Sanders said the offense is trending in the right direction and the defense is playing at a championship level. The Broncos have won five straight and 16 straight one-score games, the longest such streak in NFL history.
"You don't want to start the season here. You just want to just keep on climbing," Sanders said.
Breaking down Courtland Sutton's touchdown (7:38 to 9:48)
Harris asked Sanders to break down Sutton's touchdown release. Sanders said Sutton went outside, got the defender to flip his hips and came back inside on the slant, comparing it to how Ja'Marr Chase treated AJ Terrell.
Harris explained it from the cornerback's side: stay square as long as possible so you don't lock your hips, play the slant and the back shoulder, and make the quarterback hit a perfect pylon throw. "It's just good to see Courtland get in the end zone, spinning that thing and being excited," Sanders said.
Broncos vs. Panthers questions answered
What was Sean Payton's challenge in Broncos vs. Panthers?
With Carolina down by one near the Denver goal line, a Bryce Young pass looked like it was over. Sean Payton challenged, the play was ruled a Broncos interception, and Chris Harris Jr. said Denver could have lost without it.
Is Jonah Coleman the Broncos' lead running back?
Emmanuel Sanders says Sean Payton told him last year that Jonah Coleman is "the guy." Coleman gets about 10 to 15 carries a game now, and Sanders expects that to grow.
When do the Broncos play next?
The Broncos have a bye after beating the Panthers, then face the Las Vegas Raiders in what the hosts called another big game.
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