Panthers at Broncos: Highlights, score and recap

The Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers kicked off the 2016 NFL regular season on Thursday night, as the Broncos beat the Panthers 21-20.

Under the bright lights of Thursday Night Football, the Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos opened up the 2016 NFL regular season. In a rematch of Super Bowl 50, the two teams went to battle in Denver’s Sports Authority Field.

The fireworks started early, as Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall took a knee during the national anthem. It was an apparent showing of solidarity towards University of Nevada teammate Colin Kaepernick.

The Panthers got on the board first, as Cam Newton hit Kelvin Benjamin for a 14-yard strike. Benjamin, who missed all of the 2015 season with a torn ACL, looks to be fully healed, and made his presence known right away. If he can return to the player he was as a rookie in 2014, the Panthers have another dangerous weapon on the outside.

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After the touchdown, the Broncos took over, but their drive ended with Siemian’s first interception of his career. After forcing the Panthers into a three-and-out, Denver took over on their own 20, and Siemian orchestrated the first touchdown drive of his young career.

After hitting Emmanuel Sanders for 15 yards, followed by a 28-yard C.J. Anderson run, Siemian scrambled for eight yards to bring the ball to the Panthers 37-yard line. After a one-yard run by Anderson, Denver fullback Andy Janovich burst through the line for a 28-yard touchdown on his first NFL carry. The extra point made the score 7-7 with 12:16 left in the second.

Carolina answered right back, as Newton and company orchestrated a nearly 10-minute drive. Cam capped off the drive with a 2-yard TD run. He set two records with the TD, both of which belonged to Hall of Famer Steve Young. It was his 44th career rushing touchdown, and his 32nd game with a rushing and passing touchdown.

A 44-yard field goal by Graham Gano with seven seconds left in the half gave the Panthers a 17-7 lead, which they would take into halftime.

On Denver’s first drive of the second half, Siemian again led the team into Carolina territory, but threw his second pick of the game. The rest of the quarter produced zero points, and the teams went into the fourth quarter with the score 17-7 in favor of Carolina.

In thier first drive of the fourth, Siemian led an eight-play, 78-yard drive, capping it with his first passing touchdown of his career. Siemian set up a screen to C.J. Anderson perfectly, drawing in the blitz before getting the ball to his running back. Anderson did the rest, running 25 yards for the touchdown to cut the Panthers lead to 17-14.

Next: 2016 NFL season: Epic season preview

Denver would score again on their next drive, capitalizing on a Newton pick. Anderson plunged in from one-yard out, giving Denver a 21-17 lead. Another Gano field goal brought Carolina to within a point with 5:05 left in the game. However, the game would end with the Broncos winning 21-20, as Gano missed a 50-yard field goal with 0:09 seconds remaining in the game.

Highlights

Marshall kneels during the national anthem.

Newton hits Benjamin for the TD.

Siemian picked off for the first time in his career.

Andy Janovich rumbled from 28-yards out.

Cam with the record-setting TD.

Olsen with an insane grab.

Another Siemian pick.

Siemian sets up a perfect screen for his first NFL TD pass.

Newton picked off.

Touchdown Anderson.

Gano misses potential game-winner.