Broncos OLB Nik Bonitto extends sack streak to six games in win over Panthers

Broncos OLB Nik Bonitto extends sack streak to six games in win over Panthers

  • Post author:
  • Post category:Sports



ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw== | Tookter

Nik Bonitto’s name is starting to get mentioned with Von Miller — and for good reason.

In Denver’s 28-14 win over the Panthers on Sunday, the third-year edge rusher recorded a sack for the sixth straight game, tying for the third-longest sack streak in club history dating back to 1982. It’s the longest since 2018 when Miller accomplished the same feat.

Bonitto’s sack came at the start of the fourth quarter when he wrapped around Panthers quarterback Bryce Young and brought him down for a 6-yard loss to force the Panthers to punt.

When Broncos star cornerback Pat Surtain II learned Bonitto had a sack in six straight weeks, his initial reaction was “whew.”

“Nik is one of those guys who come in and work every day,” Surtain added. “He’s just looking to get better. I’m very proud of him (and) he’s been a great asset to the team.”

Bonitto has been inspired by an in-house competition with outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper. Both players have been going back and forth as the team’s sack leader. Cooper, who has 5.5 sacks, took the lead when he took down Young in the third quarter. However, Bonitto responded immediately with his sixth in the fourth quarter.

“(Cooper) always talking about he gonna lead the (outside linebackers) room in sacks. I ain’t going for none of that,” Bonitto told The Post. “We definitely got a little competition going on.”

100 Club: In a Week 7 win against New Orleans, Courtland Sutton notched a career first. Just not the type he was looking for. The veteran receiver went without a target for the first time in the NFL.

No way the Broncos were letting that happen Sunday against Carolina. Bo Nix looked Sutton’s way early and often and Sutton finished with eight catches on 11 targets for 100 yards, all three game-highs.

“We really wanted to get him involved and I thought it was really good,” Nix said. “I feel bad for the people that sat him in fantasy this week.”

It marked Sutton’s first 100-yard receiving outing since Week 2 in 2022 against Houston and just his fourth since he missed nearly all of the 2020 season with a torn ACL.

“It was nice,” Sutton said. “At the end of the day we got the win and I’m just glad we were able to get the dub.”



Source link