The Denver Broncos lost the opening coin toss and the Kansas City Chiefs elected to defer. That would bring Bo Nix and the Broncos offense out to the field to start the game.
The noise was deafening to open the drive for Denver. On the first play, the Chiefs pass rush collapse on Nix almost immediately for a three yard loss. JK Dobbins gets most of that back, then on third and 11 Nix throws a pass down the middle of the field where it is intercepted. Ugly throw. Easy interception.
Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs came out with three straight runs to Kenneth Walker. They wouldn’t get a first down, but on fourth and two, Mahomes handed off to Walker again who was able to power forward for the first down into field goal range. After an incompletion, a quick pass outside to Xavier Worthy picked up nine to bring up a third and one that they converted again on another Walker inside run to the Denver 20.
The Chiefs first drive was the Kenneth Walker show all the way until they decided to pass on second and goal from the 5. A holding penalty pushed them back, but Mahomes broke containment after initial pressure and scrambled up the middle for a touchdown.
Chiefs 7, Broncos 0.
RJ Harvey got into the mix for the Broncos to start their next drive with a seven yard gain on first down. A penalty on the Chiefs gave Denver the first down on the next snap. Nix then fired a pass over the middle to Pat Bryant for a first down across midfield for 13 yards.
Nix would face another third down two plays later, but found Bryant again coming open just past the first down marker for the completion and the first down to the Chiefs 30 yard line. A screen pass to Bryant on the next play gained another 10 yards to give Denver a red zone opportunity where Nix would find Evan Engram open in the end zone for an easy 19 yard touchdown strike to tie the game up.
Broncos 7, Chiefs 7.
Bo Nix was 5/5 for 55 yards and that touchdown on the drive. A solid response to an ugly interception on that first drive.
After forcing a quick three-and-out, the Broncos go the ball back late in the first quarter inside their own 10 yard line. They would commit an early penalty that looked to derail their drive early, but a play-action pass to Engram gained all but one yard back. On third and one, Nix pitched to Harvey outside who picked up the first down.
A terrible holding call (terrible by the refs) on Pat Bryant set the Broncos back as the first quarter came to an end.
