DENVER — It all started out so well.

The Panthers defense, buoyed by three returning starters in the front seven, created a turnover on their first chance.

Then the offense, led by Bryce Young again, moved crisply down the field for a touchdown and an early lead.

It didn't last on either side.

The Broncos came back for a 28-14 win over the Panthers at Empower Field at Mile High Sunday, dropping the Panthers to 1-7 on the season.

Young, starting after Andy Dalton suffered a sprained thumb in a Tuesday car accident, was clean on that first drive, completing 5-of-5 passes for 39 yards and a touchdown to Xavier Legette.

After that, however, he wasn't able to get the ball downfield at all the rest of the half, going 6-of-9 for 21 yards before the break.

Meanwhile, a defense that welcomed back starting defensive end A'Shawn Robinson, outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney, and linebacker Josey Jewell to a depleted front seven started equally well.

They got the turnover they needed, with the group standing up wide receiver Lil'Jordan Humphrey long enough for Shy Tuttle to punch the ball out and fall on it. Tuttle got another one late in the fourth quarter after the result was no longer in question.

That was about as good as it got.

And after that first sequence, the Broncos controlled things.

Rookie quarterback Bo Nix had an incredible first half, throwing for 220 yards and two touchdowns, and leaping over the pile for a third touchdown of the half.

It was nearly a season-high for the first-rounder, whose previous best game was a 246-yard passing output against the Steelers.

Nix finished 28-of-37 for 284 yards and three touchdowns in addition to his rushing score.

Young finished 24-of-37 for 224 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions, and moved the team well late.

Undrafted rookie Jalen Coker had another strong day, with four catches for 78 yards and a touchdown, a bit of a bright spot on a day without veteran wideouts Diontae Johnson and Adam Thielen.

— It was a sign of the Panthers' need to make a play that they tried a fake punt deep in their own territory in the third quarter.

On fourth-and-6 from their own 24, punter Johnny Hekker uncorked one for gunner Sam Franklin Jr..

But the ball was past Franklin's reach, gifting the Broncos field position that they turned into a touchdown four plays later.

They've tried before, but that was an extreme down-and-distance. Against the Bengals in Week 4, he went for it on fourth-and-3 at their own 35, but the pass intended for tight end/special teamer Feleipe Franks was broken up.

— The Panthers lost a couple of players to injury during the first half.

Outside linebacker DJ Johnson left with an ankle injury, and Franks suffered a concussion.

Left tackle Ikem Ekwonu rolled his ankle in the third quarter (after getting called for a hold), and came off the field for a play. He was replaced in the lineup by Kingston for that snap (Kingston's first offensive snap in the NFL) since Yosh was inactive due to a knee injury.