Broncos Edge Rusher Bonitto's Strip-Sack Secures Win Over Panthers
The play mirrors Von Miller's Super Bowl moment and helps Denver finish the regular season portion of the schedule at 7-2.
By Nikolai Patterson ·
Nik Bonitto recorded a fourth-quarter strip-sack against Carolina quarterback Bryce Young to seal a Denver Broncos victory on Sunday in Charlotte. The play stopped a potential Panthers comeback and moved the Broncos to a 7-2 record. The win also extended a Denver franchise record streak of 16 consecutive one-score victories.
The sequence drew immediate comparisons to Von Miller's strip-sack of Cam Newton in Super Bowl 50. Both plays involved a Denver edge rusher beating the offensive line to dislodge the ball from a Carolina quarterback in a late-game scenario. Former Broncos defensive tackle Malik Jackson noted the similarity in an interview with The Denver Post, describing Bonitto's play as almost the exact same action as Miller's championship moment.
Bonitto described his approach to the play, stating he used a jab move inside after hitting the tackle with counters earlier in the drive. He then moved outside to reach the quarterback. Unlike Miller in the Super Bowl, Bonitto recovered the fumble himself. He emerged from the pile with the ball in his right hand, the same hand used to knock it loose.
The defensive effort was part of a broader trend for the Broncos pass rush. Entering Sunday's game, the unit ranked first in Pro Football Focus pass-rush grade, win rate, and total quarterback pressures. The team was tied for fourth in the NFL with 23 sacks before adding three more against Carolina. Bonitto has recorded four sacks in his last five games after failing to log one in his first four.
Defensive tackle Zach Allen noted the importance of quick pressures in the current meta. He said that when quarterbacks hold the ball, the defense must get home to win. Bonitto led the NFL in quick pressures, defined as those generated within 2.5 seconds, entering the game against the Panthers.
Head coach Sean Payton emphasized the value of the stop, noting that the defense had been discussing ball security after Carolina converted two long third downs on the previous drive. The team enters its bye week holding a lead in the AFC West division.
