Initial thoughts on the Broncos’ 28-14 win over the Carolina Panthers in Week 9 at Empower Field:

Small mistake: How do you lose a match as a 13-point favorite? Well, turning the ball over on the first possession of the game is a good (or bad) starting point. So of course, that’s exactly what Denver did on Sunday, when Carolina defensive tackle Shy Tuttle knocked the ball away from Sean Payton favorite Lil’Jordan Humphrey on an eight-yard reception near midfield. Ten plays later, the Panthers were ahead 7-0. How do you win a match as a 13-point favorite? By flushing it immediately…which Payton’s Broncos did very well.

Pump up the value: The Panthers are the team that cures all ills. Prior to Sunday, Courtland Sutton was a No. 1 receiver whose time in Denver was coming to an end — a goose egg in New Orleans that served as the final piece of evidence. Then he went out and had racked up 93 yards by halftime. Prior to Sunday, Denver was in dire need of help at tight end after the group produced 136 yards and zero touchdowns through seven weeks. Then Adam Trautman turned into Rob Gronkowski, who one-handed a 19-yard TD pass, and Denver’s tight ends finished with seven catches for 106 yards and two touchdowns. Oh, and…

Bo knows footwork: Before Sunday, Bo Nix’s footwork was the problem that kept him from consistently throwing the ball down the field with accuracy. Then the rookie quarterback completed 21 of 27 passes for 220 yards and two touchdowns through the first two quarters (and swan dived in another TD on the goal line). So a cool 8.1 meters per attempt. What if you could say the Oregon product has finally found his niche? Or he just played against the Panthers. We’ll find out soon enough.