The Carolina Panthers scored two touchdowns against the Broncos defense on Sunday afternoon at Empower Field — on their first and last possessions of the game.
In between those two trips to the end zone?
Denver forced five punts and recorded two turnovers en route to a 28-14 victory that moved the team to 5-3 ahead of the season’s mid-point.
It was the latest show of dominance for a Broncos defense that’s building a reputation for making in-game adjustments and shutting opponents down in the second half of games.
Outside of Denver’s season-opening loss to the Seahawks, when it gave up 17 points over the last two quarters, the defense has allowed 31 points (4.4 per game) in the second half of its seven other matchups.
“We just know when to lock in and make adjustments on the sideline,” outside linebacker Nik Bonitto said. “(Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph) is good at those types of things.”
Denver’s defense coming out of halftime has been remarkable. Since Week 1, the Broncos have given up six total points in the third quarter and haven’t allowed a single touchdown. Just one opponent has scored in that frame in five of their last six games: a field goal from the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 6.
The Broncos have recorded 20 sacks and 74 pressures in the second half. And their 13 sacks and 43 pressures in the fourth quarter are the most in the league, according to Next Gen Stats.
On Sunday, Denver had two sacks and 12 pressures in the second half.
“It’s just a thing we talk about throughout the week,” Broncos cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian said. “First, we want to stop the run and then put them into passing downs. We’ve got a pretty good secondary and the guys up front know the quarterback. We’re working together to get sacks. We’re holding the receivers up enough time for them to get the sacks.”
Even in losses to the Steelers and Chargers, Denver’s second-half defense remained solid. After Denver allowed 20 points and 246 yards in the first half to the latter, the Chargers recorded a field goal and 104 yards to close out the game.
Turnovers have been a key component of that success. The Broncos have generated four interceptions in the second half, including two against the Panthers. Surtain picked off quarterback Bryce Young with three minutes to go in the third. Then when Carolina was threatening to score in the middle of the fourth, nickel cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian turned his body to secure a pass intended for wide receiver Jalen Coker near the goal line.
“We have built on our communication, and that has (created) success and turnovers,” Surtain said. “There’s a lot left in the tank, and that’s the best thing about this defense.”
Despite the Broncos shutting down the Panthers for the majority of the game, Bonitto said the team didn’t play to its standards during the closing minutes of the fourth quarter. After wide receiver Courtland Sutton fumbled at the goal line, the Panthers marched down the field on a 10-play, 98-yard scoring drive, which ended with Young finding Coker for a 15-yard touchdown pass.
That kept alive a slightly concerning trend that’s seen Denver allow a touchdown in the fourth quarter in three of its last four games. Even though each score came when the game was already out of reach, the team knows closing games will be much more important as the schedule gets tougher.
“Everybody loves winning, but we want to be dominant every time we step on the field and from beginning to end,” Bonitto said. “So not being able to finish the way we wanted to kind of put a little bad taste in our mouths with the win.”
Want more Broncos news? Sign up for the Broncos Insider to get all our NFL analysis.
Link to original article