Chiefs at Broncos first quarter recap

With the temperature at 17 degrees at kickoff and snow expected throughout the game, the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs will face the elements and each other in this game. Denver won the opening coin toss and chose to receive the ball first to keep Patrick Mahomes off the field to start the game.

The first drive for Denver quickly went backwards with a one yard loss on a hand-off to Phillip Lindsay and a false start penalty by Jerry Jeudy. Drew Lock got a few yards back with a short pass outside to Noah Fant for three yards, but on third and 13 Lock was forced to throw the ball away for a quick opening series for Denver.

Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offense quickly got 13 yards on their first play, but Alexander Johnson made a stop on the next play after a short 2 yard gain by Clyde Edwards-Helaire.

A.J. Bouye was caught playing 10 yards off Tyreek Hill who easily caught the short pass for an 11-yard gain across midfield.

On first down. Mahomes found Travis Kelce over the middle for a quick eight yards down to the Broncos 34-yard line. The first down conversion came on the next play via an inside hand-off for four yards.

The Broncos defense got pressure on Mahomes on the next play to force a throw away, but then Mecole Hardman made an incredible one handed grab for a 19-yard gain to the Broncos 11 yard line.

Edwards-Helaire took it from there breaking tackles for an 11-yard touchdown run to put the Chiefs up easily early in the first quarter.

Chiefs 7, Broncos 0.

After another quick three and out, the Broncos offense gives the ball back to Mahomes and the Chiefs.

With momentum swinging the Chiefs way, Alexander Johnson came up big on the Chiefs first play. Mahomes completed to tight end Nick Keizer who had a huge first down gain when Johnson came up behind and forced a fumble that Bryce Callahan recovered.

Lock wasted no time going to deep to Tim Patrick on the first play for 27 yards down to the Chiefs 10 yard line. After a short run by Melvin Gordon, Lock found Patrick again down to the Chiefs 2 yard line. On third down, Lock did the read option for the easy walk in touchdown to potentially tie the game up midway through the first quarter.

Brandon McManus missed the extra point try, however.

Chiefs 7, Broncos 6.

On the Chiefs next possession, Le’Veon Bell had his first carry as a Chief and scampered for 16-yards out to the 41-yard line. His second carry went nowhere for a gain of maybe one yard.

Mahomes continued to be perfect, finding Hardman for a 38-yard gain to the Broncos 20. Two plays later the Broncos finally forced the Chiefs offense into a third down. On third and four from the 14 yard line, Bradley Chubb broke through for a big time sack to bring out the field goal unit.

Chiefs 10, Broncos 6.

With time waning in the first quarter, the Broncos offense got things going on their next drive. Jeremy Cox, recently activated off the practice squad, played fullback for the injured Andrew Beck and led the way for Phillip Lindsay who got 14 yards to the 39-yard line on first down.

Drew Lock tried to squeeze a ball into Nick Vannett who was triple covered. The ball was fortunately tipped away and fell incomplete. He missed an open Noah Fant underneath on that play. A holding call by Lloyd Cushenberry pushed Denver back to a 2nd and 20.

Two yards by Melvin Gordon on second down forced a third and forever. Gordon would fumble on third down to give the Chiefs excellent field position with less than a minute left in the first quarter.

Mahomes went deep to Hill on the first play on their drive, but Callahan couldn’t have had better coverage to break up the pass. That would bring the quarter to an end.