Broncos Escape With 21-20 Win Over Panthers

By ESPN

Cam Newton will get a few extra days to recover from his latest beating by Von Miller and crew. At least he won't have to seethe for seven months.

Denver's dominant defense came up big against Newton again, and the Broncos escaped with a 21-20 victory over the Carolina Panthers on Thursday night when Graham Gano missed a 50-yard field goal with four seconds remaining.

The Broncos collected three sacks and hit Newton eight more times, not counting the abuse he took on his 11 runs.

"We wanted to make sure we got to him," safety T.J. Ward said. "Every time he ran we tried to put helmet and shoulder pads on him. If you're not going to slide, we're going to put something on you. We saw him limping throughout the game, so that running stuff, you can't do that all game."

A few of the hits were of the helmet-to-helmet variety, but none resulted in any penalty yardage.

Miller hit him high when DeMarcus Ware was taking him down, and linebacker Brandon Marshall hit him in the face just as he released a pass. Safety Darian Stewart was flagged for leveling him in the final minute, but because Newton was whistled for intentional grounding on the play, the penalties were offsetting.

"It's not my job to question the officials," Newton said after emerging from the trainer's room. "I really like this officiating crew, so it wasn't something I know they did intentionally. But it's not fun getting hit in the head."

A wobbled Newton appeared to have done just enough to get a measure of revenge for that bludgeoning in Super Bowl 50, when Miller stripped the ball and the Lombardi Trophy from his grasp.

Newton put the Panthers on the cusp of victory with a 16-yard pass to Kelvin Benjamin at the Denver 37 in the closing seconds, and another short pass to Ted Ginn Jr. put Gano well within his range.

Gano, whose practice kick hugged the right upright after Denver had called timeout, missed wide left moments later.

"I was going to drill it, no doubt in my mind," Gano said. "But this happens. It's not going to define my season."

Newton, the NFL's reigning MVP, was 18-of-33 for 194 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

Sunday, September 11 Schedule (All Times Central)

Green Bay at Jacksonville, noon

Buffalo at Baltimore, noon

Chicago at Houston, noon

Cleveland at Philadelphia, noon

Tampa Bay at Atlanta, noon

Minnesota at Tennessee, noon

Cincinnati at New York Jets, noon

Oakland at New Orleans, noon

San Diego at Kansas City, noon

Miami at Seattle, 3:05 p.m.

Detroit at Indianapolis, 3:25 p.m.

New York Giants at Dallas, 3:25 p.m.

New England at Arizona, 7:30 p.m.