Mile High Report
The Denver Broncos introduced their defense to open up the season against the Tennessee Titans. After winning the opening coin toss, the Broncos deferred to bring their defensive out to face Cam Ward and the Titans offense.
On the very first play, Nik Bonitto exploded off the edge for a tackle for loss and the defense converged on an outside toss on second down for no gain too to force a third and long right out of the gates. Ward was on the cusp of being sacked with a last second flick outside to Tony Pollard for a huge 29-yard gain into Broncos territory.
That would give Ward some confidence and he would fire another 17-yard strike to begin threatening the red zone in his NFL debut drive. The play looked like an outstanding catch, but Sean Payton challenged it and it came back an overturned call to setup a third and long. The Titans would end up having to kick a field goal instead, but they secured the first score of the game.
Titans 3, Broncos 0.
On their opening drive, Bo Nix completed a pass to Lucas Krull for five yards before rolling out on the next play to find Troy Franklin for a 19-yard gain into Titans territory.
JK Dobbins would pick up three yards on the next play. Nix would then change the play at the line and rolling out found Courtland Sutton for another first down. After a quick five yard pass to Adam Trautman, Nix would throw his first incomplete pass of the game to bring up a third and five in field goal range. Nix’s hard count would draw the Titans offsides for the easy five yard and first down.
A good play there was followed by a bad one with a delay of game on the Broncos. Nix overthrew Tyler Badie in the end zone on first down and then Badie dropped a screen that looked like it could have scored ad he not dropped the pass. On third and 15, Nix was pressured and forced to throw it in the dirt to bring out Wil Lutz and the field goal unit.
Broncos 3, Titans 3.
Ward continued to look sharp on his second drive. However, a holding call negated a nice scramble for a first down to bring up a 1st and 20. Two stuffed receptions later, the Titans faced a third and 18. The deep ball fell incomplete and the first punt of the game occurred.
After an excellent punt, Bo Nix and the Broncos began their second drive from their own 8-yard line. Rookie RJ Harvey got his first action of the game and took the handoff up the middle for an eight yard gain on first down. Nix had five straight incompletions, but on third and two hit Franklin for the first down to keep that next drive alive for another set of downs.
They would come up short on a third down strike to Marvin Mims Jr....
