Broncos at Chargers first quarter recap

The Denver Broncos again lost the opening coin toss and the Los Angeles Chargers, predictably, deferred to the second half to force Joe Flacco and the Broncos offense to come out first to start the game.

Flacco opened up in a three tight end set and found Jeff Heuerman down the seam for a 26-yard gain.

On the very next play, Phillip Lindsay added another chunk of yards for a 22-yard gain. From the Chargers 28-yard line, Lindsay was stuffed at the line, but was able to bounce it outside for 12-yard gain and another first down.

Royce Freeman got into the action on the next play, taking a short pass from Flacco up field for six yards to the Chargers 10-yard line. Freeman powered his way up the middle for a five yard gain to setup a first and goal opportunity for the Broncos offense on their opening drive.

From the five yard line, Freeman found no room inside on first down for a short gain. On second down, Lindsay found a lane inside and found the end zone for the Broncos first opening touchdown drive of the season.

The score capped a 7-play, 75-yard drive for Denver.

Broncos 7, Chargers 0.

Philip Rivers opened up with a short pass to his running back, then Melvin Gordon was stuffed for a short gain on second down. Rivers found Keenan Allen on third down for the Chargers first down and a 10-yard gain.

That was all the Chargers could muster as they would end up punting on their next set of downs.

The Broncos next possession almost ended in disaster on the second play after a poor snap was fumbled by Flacco, but he was able to recover and throw it away. On third and nine, Flacco hit Courtland Sutton short of the sticks who fought his way through two tackles for a twelve yard gain and a first down.

After Lindsay was stuffed on first down, Flacco found Sutton on a deep crossing route who was hit in stride. Sutton broke a few tackles and scampered down the field to complete a 70-yard catch and run for the touchdown to put the Broncos up two scores.

Broncos 14, Chargers 0.

The Chargers got things going on their next drive, but once they got out to the 40-yard line, Rivers was pressured into an overthrow where Justin Simmons was able to grab the Broncos first takeaway on defense of the 2019 season.

Dionte Spencer got the end around on the first play for nine yards. Flacco rushed a pass to Sutton on the next down that was broken up by the Chargers defender. On third and one from the Chargers 34-yard line, Flacco found Lindsay outside who caught the edge for the first down and a 14-yard gain.

Down inside the Chargers 20-yard line, the Broncos had already over 180 total yards of offense in the first quarter.