The Denver Broncos lost the opening coin toss and the Los Angeles Chargers deferred possession to the second half. It would be Bo Nix and the Broncos offense up first.
They opened up with back-to-back runs to J.K. Dobbins that gained a total of one yard. Nix would find Lil’Jordan Humphrey outside just shy of the sticks who turned it up field and dove for the marker to avoid that critical three-and-out that Denver is known for this season.
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After another first down, the drive would stall near midfield after Nix hit Troy Franklin three yards shy of the first down marker to bring out the punt unit.
The Broncos run defense stuffed the Chargers on the first two plays, but then Justin Herbert from a very clean pocket on third and long found a wide open receiver over the middle of the field for a first down. Talanoa Hufanga made an excellent hit and tackle to force the ball loose where the Broncos recovered at the Chargers 40-yard line.
Two plays later, Nix found a wide open Evan Engram deep down the middle of the field for a 34-yard gain to setup a first and goal at the 5.
J.K. Dobbins would walk it in untouched from three yards out to put the Broncos up early capping a 4-play, 40 yard scoring drive.
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Broncos 7, Chargers 0.
The run game had some big holes for the Chargers to start their next drive as they quickly got out near midfield before facing any resistant from the Broncos defense. A tackle for a loss by Alex Singleton setup a third and two where Herbert would find himself flushed out of the pocket with nowhere to go with the ball. Denver would take over at the 15 after the 37-yard punt.
Denver’s drive went nowhere fast with a five yard loss on a screen pass to Tyler Badie on first down and a handoff to Marvin Mims for three. Adding a false start and the drive was just a disaster all the way down the line. Jeremy Crawshaw punted 50 yards to keep the Chargers next drive on their side of the field — if barely.
The first quarter would end after Los Angeles passed midfield. The would face a fourth and forever after a Nik Bonitto sack to end the quarter.
