SportsDirect Inc. staff
Nov 11, 2012
Broncos 36, Panthers 14: Peyton Manning threw for 301 yards and a touchdown to tie Hall of Famer Dan Marino for second place on the all-time list and Tony Carter returned an interception for a score as the AFC West-leading Broncos helped coach John Fox beat his former team.
Trindon Holliday, who returned a kickoff a franchise-record 105 yards last week, returned a punt 76 yards for a score as Denver (6-3) rattled off 29 consecutive points en route to a fourth straight win.
Denver's defense held an opponent without a third-down conversion (0-for-12) for the first time in 12 years. The Broncos also intercepted Cam Newton twice and sacked him a career-high seven times. Carolina (2-7) lost for the sixth time in seven games.
It was a triumphant homecoming for Fox. The veteran coach spent his first nine seasons with the Panthers and led the team from 1-15 to the Super Bowl in just two years, but his contract wasn't renewed after the team stumbled to a 2-14 finish in 2010.
Newton's 4-yard touchdown pass to Greg Olsen gave Carolina a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter, but it was all Denver after that. Manning tied the game - and Marino - with a 10-yard toss to Brandon Stokley with 1:39 left in the first, the 420th touchdown pass of his career.
After a three-and-out, the diminutive Holliday emerged from a pack of defenders and raced down the right sideline for a long score. Carter's 40-yard interception return five minutes into the third made it 24-7. Manning was 27-of-38, while Newton was 21-of-36 for 241 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Newton struggled after starting a career-best 6-for-6. ... The Panthers' first drive ended when Newton was sacked by Von Miller, who was taken one spot behind him - second overall - in the 2011 draft. Miller celebrated by mocking Newton's signature Superman impression. ... Denver DE Elvis Dumervil suffered a shoulder injury in the first half and didn't return.