Broncos end first quarter with scoreless tie against Chargers

The Denver Broncos began the game by winning the coin toss and chose to defer the opening possession to Philip Rivers and the Los Angeles Chargers.

In an attempt at trickery to open the game, Vance Joseph called for the onside kick that was easily recovered by the Chargers who started their opening possession at the Broncos 49-yard line.

The Chargers opening drive looked promising until rookie Isaac Yiadom stepped in front of a sideline pass for the interception.

For the Broncos first possession, they got a first down thanks for a Chargers penalty. However, on the next third down we witnessed the usual failed third down conversion and punt from Denver.

It was the Broncos ninth straight opening drive punt in 2018.

The Broncos defense came to play in this game, with Josey Jewel nearly getting a pick on Rivers and then Bradley Chubb ended the Chargers drive with a big hit on Rivers as he threw the ball on third down.

Predictably, the Broncos would go three and out on their next possession and Colby Wadman would punt it away with just under seven minutes remaining in the first quarter.

The Chargers seemed to be getting things going again, when Rivers tossed his second pick in the first quarter. This time safety Will Parks stepped in front of his intended pass and returned it back to midfield.

On their next possession, the Broncos offense earned their first first down of the game with a Case Keenum scrambled for nine yards on third and five to get the Broncos into field goal range.

Sadly, a holding penalty on Connor McGovern set them back and on a 4th and 16 Vance Joseph opted for a punt rather than a Brandon McManus 56-yard field goal attempt.

The first quarter would end with a Chargers punt as both teams struggle to get anywhere close to scoring to start the game.