CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The Carolina Panthers scored the first points of the game on Sunday afternoon, but after that, it was all Broncos. Denver scored the next 29 points and finished with a 36-14 victory at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, improving to a 6-3 record.

Peyton Manning made sure John Fox's return to Carolina was a successful one, throwing for 301 yards and a touchdown to lead the Denver Broncos to a 36-14 win over the  Panthers on Sunday.

Manning threw his 420th touchdown pass to move into a tie for second place on the NFL's all-time list with Dan Marino. He trails only Brett Favre (508). Manning also tied Marino for third place on the league's all-time career wins list.

Manning had plenty of help from his teammates.

The Broncos held the Panthers to 0-of-12 on third downs to mark the first time since 2000 that the club held a team without a third-down conversion in a game. Since third downs were tracked beginning in 1991, Denver has held an opponent without a third-down conversion four times.

Von Miller harassed Cam Newton all day and Trindon Holliday returned a punt 76 yards for a touchdown as the Broncos (6-3) won for the fifth time in six weeks. The Broncos sacked Newton seven times, including once for a safety, and Miller pressured him into an interception Tony Carter returned 40 yards for a score.

Manning finished with 27-of-38 passing, 301 yards and a touchdown. Wide receiver Demaryius Thomas led the way offensively with nine catches for a game-high 135 yards.

Fox, who coached the Panthers for nine seasons, downplayed his return all week, but celebrated with a few fist pumps Sunday.