The Denver Broncos got the ball first to start the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The offense needed to start off strong to set the tone for this game.
A short three yard run by JK Dobbins opened the game, then followed up with another run that barely gained a yard. A false start by Jaylen Waddle from there nuked the Broncos chances on their first drive. Bo Nix was nearly intercepted on third and long and fortunately Denver would punt it away after a three-and-out.
After converting a third
down, Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars looked like they would get things going. Nik Bonitto exploded off the edge, though, for the strip-sack for a huge play. A riley Moss illegal contact penalty negated the big play and the momentum shift was wiped out for Denver.
Near midfield, the Broncos defense answer the ticky-tack penalty call with a stand to force a punt.
Backed up on their own 12 yard line to start the next drive, an inside handoff to JK Dobbins picked up a first down out to the 26. A holding penalty would nerf momentum and force them into a third and long again. Nix would check it down again for minimal gain to bring out the boo birds from the fans.
With great field position, it looked like the Jags could get into field goal range quickly and they had crossed midfield before Zach Allen and Que Robinson converged to get a big sack to setup a third and very long.
On third and 18, Lawrence had his pass batted at the line by Jonah Elliss to force the punt. Elliss flew up the middle free in Lawrence’s face on the play.
Another good punt pinned the Broncos inside their own 12 yard line for the second consecutive drive.
A decent run by JK Dobbins and bootleg throw to a tight end for a first down got Denver out of the shadow of their own end zone. An incomplete pass to Jaylen Waddle put them in a second and long, but then he checked down to Jonah Coleman on a swing pass where he picked up seven yards to setup a third and three. Nix tried to loft a deep pass to Waddle who had a step but the pass went too far for another punt.
The first quarter would end with the Jags crossing midfield yet again.
