The Carolina Panthers return home for a Week 12 matchup with the Denver Broncos prior to the team’s bye week. The Broncos are the only AFC West opponent for the Panthers this season.
The Panthers enter the week with a record of 3-8 after falling on the road to the Baltimore Ravens by a score of 13-3. The Broncos enter Week 12 with a record of 3-7 after losing to the Las Vegas Raiders in overtime, 22-16. Following the loss,
Denver currently sits in last place of the AFC West.
This will mark just the eighth matchup between the two teams, with Denver leading the overrall series 6-1. The two teams faced off in Super Bowl 50, which marked the Panthers second trip to the Super Bowl in franchise history. Denver went on to win the game by a score of 24-10.
The Numbers
About Carolina
- Sam Darnold will start his first game of 2022 against the Broncos. Sam Darnold made 11 starts in 2021, finishing the season completing 243 of 406 passes for 2,527 yards and nine touchdowns. On the ground, he added 222 rushing yards and a career-high five rushing scores.
- The Panthers defense recorded three sacks and 10 tackles for loss against the Ravens. The unit has had 21 tackles for loss in the last two weeks and are now tied for the league lead with 62 tackles for loss.
- Since Week Three of the season, the Panthers are tied for fourth league-wide with 8 interceptions. The Panthers are the only team in the NFL with multiple defensive linemen to record an interception (Derrick Brown-Week Three, Bravvion Roy-Week 11).
- Brian Burns leads the team and is tied for fourth league-wide with 12 tackles for loss. His team-high 8.0 sacks this season also is tied for 10th league-wide. Since entering the league in 2019, Burns has the 16th most tackles for loss (38) league-wide and ranks 12th with 33.5 sacks.
- Over the last five games, Terrace Marshall has totaled 13 catches for 290 yards and a touchdown, while averaging 22.3 yards per reception. His 22.3 yards per reception since Week Seven leads the league (minimum 10 receptions).
- Safety Jeremy Chinn returned to action after a six-week stint on the injured reserve and recorded his seventh career game with 10+ tackles finishing the game tied for team-high with 10 total tackles.
- Frankie Luvu is tied for ninth league-wide with 10 tackles for loss. The Panthers are one of just four teams in the league with two players ranked in the top 10 for tackles for loss.
- Punter Johnny Hekker currently leads the league with 26 punts downed inside the 20 and ranks 10th all-time with 326 career punts landing inside the 20.
About Denver
- Quarterback Russell Wilson, who has 299 passing touchdowns in his career, is one score away from 300 in his career. Wilson has totaled the fourth-most rushing yards (4,818) among all quarterbacks in NFL history.
- Running back Latavius Murray is 1-of-5 active ball carriers with 50 or more rushing touchdowns.
- Wide receiver Courtland Sutton, who eclipsed the 3,000-yard career receiving yards plateau in Week 4 at Las Vegas, became the third-fastest Bronco to reach the mark in team history (54 games).
- Wide receiver Jalen Virgil, who collected a 66-yard touchdown reception in Week 10, became just the seventh Broncos WR to score in his NFL debut and first since Demaryius Thomas in 2010.
- After allowing just 18.9 points per game in 2021, the Broncos’ defense has limited opponents to only 17.1 points per game through the first 11 weeks which is the third-best mark in the NFL.
- The Broncos’ D, which led the league in red zone defense in consecutive seasons from 2019-20 ranks first in red zone efficiency in 2022 (27.3% — 6 TDs allowed in 22 opponent red zone trips).
- Denver has recorded 10 forced fumbles through the first 11 weeks of the season which ranks T-4th in the NFL.
- Cornerback Pat Surtain II has posted the most passes defensed (20) in team history among players in their first 26 career games.
- Safety Kareem Jackson is 1-of-2 active defensive backs to accumulate 800+ tackles, 20+ interceptions and 100+ PDs since 2010.
Connections
- Panthers WR Laviska Shenault Jr. attended the University of Colorado from 2017-2019.
- Panthers WR Rashard Higgins attended Colorado State from 2013-2015.
- Broncos QB Russell Wilson attended NC State from 2007-2010.
- Broncos CB Essang Bassey attended Wake Forest from 2016-2019.
- Broncos WR Kendall Hinton is a native of Durham, NC where he attended Southern Durham HS. He then went on to attend Wake Forest from 2015-2019.
- Broncos ILB Justin Strnad attended Wake Forest from 2016-2019.
- Broncos WR Jalen Virgil attended Appalachian State from 2017-2020.
- Broncos DL DeShawn Williams is a native of Central, SC where he attended D.W Damiel HS. He went on to attend Clemson from 2011-2014.
- Broncos DT D.J. Jones in a native of Greenville, SC where he attended Wren HS.
Panthers vs Broncos
All-Time Series: 7 total matchups | Denver leads the series 6-1
Last Regular Season Game: 12/13/20 | Denver 32 vs Carolina 27
Series Record at Venue: Denver currently leads the series with a record of 2-1 with games played in Carolina
How to Watch
Kickoff: 1:00 p.m. ET FOX – Chris Meyers, Robert Smith, Jen Hale
Live Stream: Panthers.com
Radio: WRFX 99.7FM in Charlotte market; On The Call: Anish Shroff, Jake Delhomme, Luke Kuechly, Kristen Balboni, Jim Szoke
Per Release