CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Carolina Panthers scored two times in Sunday's 28-14 loss to the Denver Broncos.
One of those scores game on Carolina's first drive. The second came on the team's last drive. Denver led 28-7 for most of the second half and controlled most of the game.
Even so, Broncos head coach Sean Payton was not too thrilled with his team's defensive performance against the 1-7 Panthers. He had some fierce words for Carolina after the game.
"That’s not a good offense we played," Payton said. "It’s just the truth... We’re going to see a lot better teams."
The Broncos failed to score in the fourth quarter but it was not for lack of trying. Payton kept the offense shooting for the scoreboard even while up three scores in the fourth quarter. Denver turned the ball over on downs after faking a field goal and later came one yard from a score before receiver Courtland Sutton fumbled.
Payton's aggressiveness in the closing minutes was not taken kindly by some Panthers players. Cornerback Jaycee Horn confronted Payton after the game for "trying to run the score up." Safety Demani Richardson was also seen in the area saying something to Payton.
Panthers fans are all too familiar with Payton. He held an 18-13 record against Carolina during his 15 seasons as the head coach of the New Orleans Saints.
While Payton was not exuberant about his team's 14-point win over the Panthers, Carolina head coach Dave Canales said he was proud of his team for how they ended the game.
The Panthers gained 98 yards on their final drive to score a touchdown with a pass from quarterback Bryce Young to receiver Jalen Coker.
Young threw for 224 yards and tossed two touchdowns with two interceptions. It was Young's best statistical game of the season and one of the best games of his career so far.
Young started in place of Andy Dalton, who was injured in a car crash earlier this week. Canales did not commit to a starting quarterback change after the game but said the team will continue to evaluate Dalton's recovery from a thumb sprain.
The Panthers moved the ball relatively well during a few drives against the Broncos but nine straight drives without any points proved to be the team's downfall. Carolina went 5 of 14 on third downs compared to an 11 of 17 rate by the Broncos.
Carolina is 29th in yards per game (281.6), points per game (15.7), and third down conversion rate (30.9%), and 31st in first downs (111) and passer rating (72.3). The Panthers' running game ranks near the middle of the league in most categories.
Defense is another issue for the Panthers. Carolina is 30th in yards allowed per game and last in points allowed per game (34.7) and rushing yards allowed (162.1) per game.
Carolina's next game is against the Saints on Sunday, Nov. 3.