Broncos at Colts first quarter recap

The Denver Broncos won the coin toss and elected to defer. They promptly allowed a 47-yard kickoff return to the Indianapolis Colts to open up the game.

After converting one third down, the Colts were stopped short on their second third down attempt to bring out the field goal unit where the Broncos special teams ace Joe Jones burst through the middle to blow things up. The kick sailed wide right.

Joe Flacco and the offense got a first down on a holding penalty on the first play, then promptly went three and out from there. Same story, different week it would seem.

From inside their own 10-yard line, the Colts quickly got some chunk plays out to their own 40-yard line. However, Von Miller ended their hopes for a scoring opportunity with a third down sack.

Courtland Sutton dropped a pass over the middle on first down, then Flacco just overthrew Sutton on second down. On third and 10 from their own 10-yard line, Flacco stepped up in the pocket and hit Diontae Spencer on a slant for 21-yards and a first down.

An 8-yard gain by Royce Freeman preceded a pass over the middle to Jeff Heuerman that added another 11-yards out to midfield. After a two yard loss to Spencer on the next play, Flacco found Noah Fant over the middle who held on for at 17-yard gain into field goal range.

Freeman took another hand-off up the middle for 10-yards on first down, Phillip Lindsay took the next play down to the 21-yard line for four yards. The Colts defense was too fast for Lindsay on the outside for a one-yard loss on second down. Then on third down, Flacco was sacked with Garett Bolles being bull rushed right into him to end the first quarter.