The Denver Broncos won the opening coin toss and elected to defer possession to the second half. That meant Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers offense were the first to get the ball to start this game.
D.J. Jones blew up the first play of the game with a four-yard tackle for a loss on first down. Herbert had all day to throw on second down and drew a pass interference call on Talanoa Hufanga in coverage on Keenan Allen for an easy first down.
Three plays later on third and seven, Herbert found
Quentin Johnston for a first down. It looked like forward progress was stopped, but the whistle never blew and Johnston broke free outside for a 37-yard gain into the red zone. The Broncos defense would stiffen after that miscue and forced the Chargers into a field goal.
Chargers 3, Broncos 0.
On the Broncos first offensive possession, it was RJ Harvey for three and then for four on a screen pass and run play. On third and three, Bo Nix could not connect to Lucas Krull on a quick slant for the three and out.
After a first down run of 7 yards by Najee Harris, the Broncos defense shut down the Chargers offense forcing an incompletion and then a sack by D.J. Jones. Nik Bonitto somehow lined up in the neutral zone to give the Chargers an automatic first down on the punt formation. Just another dumb mistake by the Broncos early this season.
Riley Moss almost committed another bad penalty covering Keenan Allen, but the officials picked up the flag after determining the ball was uncatchable. That would lead to a punt to Marvin Mims Jr. who took it from his own seven yard line out to the 39 yard line for a 32-yard return.
After a bad looking holding call on Adam Trautman on first down, JL Dobbins was absolutely stuffed on 1st and 20. Denver looked very sloppy again and committing dumb penalties to boot. On second down, Nix is pressured immediately and had to throw it away to bring up third and forever. Yet another three and out for the lackluster Broncos offense to start the game.
Denver’s defense continued to get back on track with both a Nik Bonitto and then a Jonathon Cooper sack on Herbert the next drive. They would punt it away on a fourth and 18 from their own end zone. Mims would dodge and weave his way into Chargers’ territory on a 24-yard punt return.
Despite that great field position, the Broncos offense continued its hot garbage start to the game with yet another three and out.
