Broncos vs Titans first quarter recap

Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

The Denver Broncos take the early lead after Drew Lock led the team down the field for a touchdown to end the first quarter.

With no fans in the stadium, the Tennessee Titans took the field in utter silence to become the only visiting team in franchise history to not meet a chorus of boos by Broncomaniacs in the stands.

The Denver Broncos won the opening coin toss and elected to defer, giving Derrick Henry and the Titans the ball first.

After a solid stop on the kick off, the Broncos defense got caught on the fake to Henry on first down leading to Ryan Tannehill rolling out for an 11-yard gain and an easy first down.

After a false start, Bradley Chubb and Jeremiah Attachou converged to nearly sack Tannehill. He somehow got the ball out for an incomplete pass. Another penalty, this time a delay of game, put the Titans in a second and 20 situation.

An easy screen pass got the first down on the next play. The defense was so porous on that play that the pass catcher wasn’t even touched until he was tackled 21 yards down the field.

Derrick Henry finally got into the game on the next two plays, but he was held to just six yards total on those two carries. On third and four, Tannehill looked A.J. Bouye’s way and had the ball knocked away to bring out the punt team.

Both Phillip Lindsay and Melvin Gordon started the game in the backfield for Denver. With Lindsay spread out wide, Drew Lock handed off to Gordon who took it up field for a solid seven yard gain on first down.

On second down, Lock rolled out on a bootleg with Jadaveon Clowney in pursuit to find Noah Fant for a big first down gain of 17.

A botched snap resulted in a loss of two yards on first down. Tim Patrick bobbled a pass his way, but came down with it for a short gain. The drive stalled on third down with an incomplete pass on a deep pass to Jerry Jeudy that was overthrown.

Sam Martin booted it deep and after a Titans holding call pinned them back to their own 14 yard line.

Alexander Johnson stood Henry up for a three yard gain, then Jurrell Casey nailed Tannehill who was able to get the ball out just in time for a first down completion. Henry got his first big run of the game for a 10-yard run on the next play out to the 42-yard line.

The defense began to look a bit leaky from there crossing midfield on a deep crosser to Corey Davis to the Broncos 32-yard line.

After a short three-yard gain from Henry, Tannehill was forced to throw it away due to pressure out of play action. On third and seven, Tannehill tried to hit a receiver of the middle and the pass was broken up to bring out the field goal unit.

Stephen Gostkowski shanked the kick from 47 yards out to miss the field goal to keep the game scoreless and setting up Denver with excellent field position.

Back to back runs by Melvin Gordon netted 12 yards and a first down to get the Broncos next possession going. Jerry Jeudy got his first NFL reception for an 11-yard gain and another first down down to the Titans 40-yard line.

Phillip Lindsay’s first carry went for a yard. Then Lock was flushed outside on the next play, but found Fant for a seven-yard gain. On third and two, Lock on play action rolled out and scrambled for the first down yardage.

A designed screen pass to Nick Vannett of all people went for minus six yards on first down. Then a draw to Lindsay inside was wide open for a nice gain.

Jake Butt was involved in an altercation that drew a personal foul on Tennessee to give Denver a first down at the Titans 13-yard line. Rashad Evans was ultimately ejected for throwing a punch on that play.

Gordon ran for four yards inside on first down, then Drew Lock looked Noah Fant’s way again and found him for a 9-yard touchdown reception to put Denver up 7-0 near the end of the first quarter.

The quarter ended with a three yard run by Henry on the Titans next drive.