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Denver Broncos: Recalling the 5 best season-opening wins in team history

By Travis Wakeman

DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 5: Peyton Manning #18 of the Denver Broncos drops back to pass during the third quarter of the game against the Baltimore Ravens at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on September 5, 2013 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 5: Peyton Manning #18 of the Denver Broncos drops back to pass during the third quarter of the game against the Baltimore Ravens at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on September 5, 2013 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /
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Denver Broncos, Carolina Panthers
DENVER, CO – SEPTEMBER 08: Quarterback Cam Newton #1 of the Carolina Panthers runs the ball against cornerback Aqib Talib #21 of the Denver Broncos in the third quarter at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on September 8, 2016 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) /

21. 45. Final. 20. 87

No. 3: 2016 vs. Carolina Panthers

The 2016 season started the same way the 2015 season ended… against the Carolina Panthers.

The Panthers had the best regular-season record in 2015 at 15-1 and Cam Newton was chosen as the MVP of the league that year. Heading into Super Bowl 50, they were massive favorites over the Broncos.

But we all know how that turned out.

So when the 2016 season started, the Broncos, as the defending world champions, had the right to host the Thursday Night Football opener and the schedule makers decided to put the Panthers in that spot.

There would be no way the Broncos could do it again, right? There would be no way they could contain Newton again, right? It was also the first game since Manning’s retirement, so Trevor Siemian would be making his first career start.

This game was much more competitive than the Super Bowl, but it had the same result.

The Broncos were clinging to a 1-point lead late in the fourth quarter but Newton got one more chance. An illegal use of hands penalty against Chris Harris on 4th-and-21 gave the Panthers a first down and kept them alive. Newton then hit Kelvin Benjamin for a 16-yard gain down to the Denver 37-yard line before finding Ted Ginn for five more yards.

The Panthers were set up in field goal range with just nine ticks left on the clock. The Panthers had their revenge and were ready to send the Broncos to 0-1, but Graham Gano came out and missed a 50-yard field goal, leading to more heartache for Newton and his Panthers.

Siemian took a knee a play later and the Broncos had a massive win to kick off the year.

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