Denver took a 20-point lead after a 9-play, 62-yard drive highlighted by a string of four straight completions by quarterback Peyton Manning.

The Broncos started the drive on their own 30-yard line with a 2-yard run by running back Ronnie Hillman before Manning completed four straight passes to put the ball on the Carolina 8-yard line.

The first two completions covered 10 and 11 yards and both went to wide receiver Brandon Stokley. Manning then found wide receiver Demaryius Thomas for 17 yards before a 22-yard completion down the sideline to tight end Joel Dreessen penetrated the Panthers’ red zone.

The drive then stalled when a run for no gain was followed by a pair of incompletions, and Denver picked up a 27-yard field goal by kicker Matt Prater, making Prater 2-for-3 on the afternoon.

On the Panthers’ first play after a Denver turnover, linebacker Von Miller pressured and hit Carolina quarterback Cam Newton, forcing him to underthrow a pass toward the sideline, which Denver cornerback Tony Carter picked off in stride before racing 40 yards untouched into the end zone. Carter’s touchdown stretches the Denver lead to 24-7.

It’s the second time this season that Carter has scored a defensive touchdown, as he also returned a fumble 65 yards for a touchdown against San Diego. The interception is also the second of both 2012 and his career.

The Broncos had a chance to stretch their lead to 20-7, but kicker Matt Prater’s 43-yard field goal attempt was no good. The missed field goal prevented Denver from getting any points out of a drive that saw the Broncos move from their own 29-yard line to the Carolina 25.

The Panthers responded by getting into field goal range on a pair of 19-yard completions by quarterback Cam Newton, who found Smith over the middle on the first play of the drive, then picked up 19 more on a screen pass to running back Jonathan Stewart. But Carolina came up empty when kicker Justin Medlock missed his 43-yard field goal attempt wide left.

On the last possession of the half, the Broncos picked up one first down but were unable to move any further.

At halftime, the Broncos have outgained Carolina 167-146 and hold a 9-7 edge in first downs. Denver also holds a narrow advantage in time of possession, at 15:37 to 14:32.

Quarterback Peyton Manning has completed 16-of-20 passes for 135 yards and a touchdown, while Denver has limited Panthers quarterback Cam Newton to nine completions on 16 attempts for 127 yards and a touchdown.

Fans can relive both Manning’s touchdown completion to wide receiver Brandon Stokley and wide receiver Trindon Holliday’s punt return for a touchdown with audio highlights courtesy of AM 850 KOA.

A video highlight of Stokley’s touchdown is available here.

The Broncos have announced that defensive end Elvis Dumervil has sustained a shoulder injury. His return has been ruled out.

The Broncos padded their lead to 10 points on a short drive ending in points thanks to the strong leg of kicker Matt Prater, who improved to 11-for-11 on the season.

After taking over at their own 45-yard line, Denver converted one first down and moved to the Carolina 36-yard line to set up Prater’s 53-yarder, which made it through the uprights with room to spare.

Prater is the franchise’s all-time most accurate kicker (101-of-123.) He is also the most accurate kicker in NFL history from beyond 50 yards, having converted 15-of-19 (79%) from that range.

A week after a kickoff return for a touchdown against Cincinnati, wide receiver Trindon Holliday has given the Broncos a 14-7 lead on a 76-yard punt return for a score.

It marks the first punt return for a touchdown of Holliday’s career.

Fielding the punt at his own 24-yard line, Holliday hesitated a second to find his lane, then burst through the Panthers’ coverage unit and down the right sideline for the touchdown.

After returning three kicks for touchdowns for the Texans in the preseason, including a kickoff against Carolina, Holliday was signed by the Broncos before Week 6.

Holliday is now the third Bronco to return both a punt and a kickoff for a touchdown in the same season.

The Broncos tied the game with their first scoring drive of the afternoon, a 5-play, 59-yard march that quarterback Peyton Manning capped off with a touchdown pass to wide open wide receiver Brandon Stokley.

With that touchdown, Manning is now tied with Dan Marino for second all-time in career touchdown passes with 420.

After a 5-yard run by running back Willis McGahee on the first play of the drive, Manning looked deep to wide receiver Demaryius Thomas, who made a leaping grab over the middle for a 32-yard gain that put the ball on the Carolina 22-yard line. The catch gives Thomas a league-leading 13 receptions of at least 25-plus yards.

Following a short run by McGahee and a 9-yard completion to tight end Joel Dreessen, Manning’s touchdown to Stokley finished the drive.

Carolina has a 7-0 lead after picking up yards in chunks on a 6-play, 77-yard drive culminating in a 4-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Cam Newton to tight end Greg Olsen.

The drive was highlighted by back-to-back 26 yard pass completions by Panthers quarterback Cam Newton, one to Olsen followed by a big gain on a screen pass to fullback Mike Tolbert.

From inside the Broncos 30-yard line, Newton again found Olsen for a 16-yard gain before capping the drive on a 4-yard throw to Olsen.

The Broncos have won the coin toss by calling heads and chosen to defer their choice to the second half, so Denver will start the game on defense.

The Broncos captains for today’s game are quarterback Peyton Manning, defensive end Elvis Dumervil, cornerback Champ Bailey, linebacker Wesley Woodyard and tackle Ryan Clady.

The Broncos starting defensive linemen are Dumervil and Derek Wolfe at defensive end, with Kevin Vickerson and Justin Bannan at defensive tackle. The linebackers are Von Miller on the strong side, Keith Brooking in the middle and Wesley Woodyard on the weak side. In the secondary, the starting cornerbacks are Bailey and Chris Harris, with Mike Adams and Rahim Moore at the safeties.

On offense, the Broncos starters at the skill positions are Manning, running back Willis McGahee, wide receivers Eric Decker and Demaryius Thomas and tight ends Joel Dreessen and Virgil Green. The starters along the offensive line are tackles Clady and Orlando Franklin, guards Manny Ramirez and Zane Beadles, with J.D. Walton at center.