Broncos at Patriots first quarter recap

The Denver Broncos opened up the game doing what they usually do - losing the opening coin toss. The New England Patriots deferred to the second half to bring out Drew Lock and the Broncos offense to start the game.

Two plays into the game, Drew Lock went deep down the field to Tim Patrick for a 41-yard gain down to the Patriots 30-yard line.

Again two plays later, Lock went deep into the end zone to Albert Okwuegbunam. The refs threw a flag for defensive pass interference, but then picked it up.

On third and seven, Lock went deep again to the end zone, this time to Jerry Jeudy, who was unable to pull in the pass. Brandon McManus would give Denver the early 3-0 lead with a 45-yard field goal.

On the Patriots first drive, Cam Newton got things going early converting a third down with a 13-yard run. The Patriots opened up with five consecutive runs for 29 yards.

Newton’s first pass came on a third and two. Shelby Harris got in Newton’s face and batted the ball up where it was intercepted by DeShawn Williams to set Denver up in Patriots territory for their next drive.

From the Patriots 33-yard line, Phillip Lindsay got involved with back to back runs up the middle for a total of eight yards. Drew Lock’s third down pass went deep to the end zone again, but the ball was well short and incomplete.

McManus would boot another through for a 6-0 lead.

After a nice kick off return, Newton hit James White on a screen pass to took the Patriots out to their own 45-yard line. New England was on the verge of getting in scoring position when Anthony Chickillo came off the edge for a big time sack to force a third and 18.

The Broncos would hold and force a punt to keep the Patriots scoreless in the first quarter.

From their own 9-yard line, the Broncos got things going on the ground. Royce Freeman burst through a hole on third and one for a 13-yard gain to the 29-yard line. Lindsay got involved next with a first down run out to the Patriots 42-yard line to close out the first quarter.