#DENvsCAR's Burning Questions: Can the Broncos continue their red-zone success?

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HOW DOES A NEW-LOOK SECONDARY HOLD UP?


Three weeks ago against the Dolphins, the Broncos' secondary of A.J. Bouye, Bryce Callahan, Essang Bassey, Justin Simmons and Kareem Jackson shut down Tua Tagavailoa en route to a 20-13 win. This week in Carolina, only Simmons and Jackson will remain on the field. The Broncos lost Callahan and Bassey to IR, and Bouye will begin serving a six-game suspension in Week 14.


In their place, the Broncos will likely turn to some combination of Michael Ojemudia, De'Vante Bausby, Kevin Toliver II, Duke Dawson Jr., Will Parks and Alijah Holder. Ojemudia, a 2020 third-round pick, played all 64 snaps against the Chiefs in Callahan's absence after not taking a defensive snap in Week 10 or 11, and his play will be critical.


"I thought he played pretty damn well the other night, and I hope he can continue that," Fangio said Friday. "I see a little bit more confidence in him right now. I do think the couple of weeks where he didn't play or played sparingly kind of helped him a little bit potentially. Again, he's another one of the young players I'd like to see really come alive and play good and keep improving in this last month of the season."


Parks, whom the Broncos claimed off waivers ahead of Week 13, could be an option to replace Bassey in the slot after returning to practice this week. He'll also be featured heavily on special teams.


"He's done well," Fangio said. "Obviously, the first day on Wednesday it was a little rushed there. Yeah, he knew what we were doing, he kind of remembered it, but what hadn't been ingrained — he hadn't been here since last year. So, I think he went out yesterday and did better, and hopefully we'll see some more improvement today. He'll be suited up and we're confident to play him if we need to."


The Panthers' receiving options may be a little thinner than normal with Christian McCaffrey doubtful to play and D.J. Moore remaining on the Reserve/COVID-19 list as of Friday, but Curtis Samuel may return for Carolina. No matter who lines up at receiver, Denver's secondary must avoid giving up big plays like it did in a Week 9 loss to Atlanta that both Bouye and Callahan missed.


WILL DREW LOCK PLAY A CLEAN GAME?


For much of Denver's Week 13 loss, the Broncos' second-year quarterback played clean football that complemented the team's successful running game. Lock started 5-of-5 on third down and the Broncos converted four of their first seven third downs on which Lock either threw or carried the ball. He led the Broncos on five drives of at least seven plays during the game, including a 72-yard, 11-play touchdown drive to take the lead late in the third quarter.


Lock, though, couldn't bring the Broncos back from a fourth-quarter deficit as he was 0-of-3 on third down in the quarter and threw an interception on Denver's last offensive snap of the game. Lock also threw an interception on the team's first offensive series, and his season total had grown to 13 interceptions by the end of the game. Lock has thrown all 13 over his last seven games and has not gone without a turnover since the season opener against Tennessee.


If Denver is going to beat Carolina on the road, Lock must finally realize his goal of protecting the football — and there's reason to believe that could happen. Carolina has intercepted just five passes this season, which ranks only ahead of Philadelphia's and Houston's three interceptions.