An easy seven yard gain for DeMarco Murray to open the third quarter up wasn’t a good sign for the Denver Broncos. The next run went for four yards and a first down.
This would be the first of many runs of 5, 7, 4, 2 to get the Tennessee Titans out past midfield. On a third and four, Marcus Mariota finally had to pass and it was broken up by Darian Stewart to force the punt.
A great pass to Jordan Taylor got the Broncos out past midfield a few plays into their first second half drive. Then a quick pass to Emmanuel Sanders from Trevor Siemian for fifteen yards was another positive step in the right direction for the Broncos.
Things were looking good, but then Siemian began throwing incompletions and a false start penalty by Russell Okung killed the drive.
On the Titans next possession, they went back to grinding up the Broncos interior defensive line with runs of three and five yards. However, they inexplicable went with the pass on third and two that was broken up.
Why are #Titans passing? Bizarre play calling when gashing Denver on ground #DENvsTEN
— Troy Renck (@TroyRenck) December 11, 2016
After yet another special teams penalty, the Broncos began their next drive at their own 27 yard line.
Justin Forsett opened things up with a five yard run. Then ripped off 30 yard gain, but a phantom holding call on Matt Paradis. Siemian got some of those yards back with a 12 yard pass to A.J. Derby to setup a third and short.
Siemian, on third down and two, makes a terribly inaccurate throw to Demaryius Thomas.
With the Broncos growing desperate, they turned to the fake king of Syracuse, Riley Dixon, who threw it out to Cody Latimer for a 16 yard gain and a first down.
Then the Broncos offense began to get hot with a deep pass from Siemian to Thomas for 34 yards to set the Broncos up at the 15 yard line. However, Siemian held the ball a bit too long and took a sack on first down and a one yard short pass on second.
On third and fourteen, Siemian hit Thomas short of the sticks who would then power through for the first and goal opportunity.
From the Titans four yard line, Siemian hit Jordan Taylor for negative two yards and then Forsett ran it for three yards to setup a third and goal from the three yard line to end the quarter.