Broncos at Raiders first quarter recap

The Denver Broncos opened the game by losing the coin toss and the Las Vegas Raiders deferred to the second half to bring Drew Lock and the Broncos offense onto the field to start the game.

Diontae Spencer made a critical mistake on the opening kick off that pinned the Broncos back on their own three yard line, then two plays later Melvin Gordon twisted his leg in an awkward way and would leave the game. He was able to walk off on under his own power after the play.

On third and six, Drew Lock threw an outside pass short to Royce Freeman that was read perfectly and blown up for no gain.

A big return on the punt was wiped out by a Raiders holding penalty, which put them back at their own 38-yard line to begin their first drive. Dre’Mont Jones would plug the middle to stop back to back run plays for short gains. On third and five, A.J. Bouye was beaten by Hunter Renfrow for a 25-yard catch and run into Broncos territory to the 32 yard line.

After a nine yard pass to Henry Ruggs II setup a short run from Josh Jacobs who got the first down to the Denver 20 yard line. Derek Carr would run it for an 8 yard gain, then Jacobs took it 12 yards for the easy touchdown to put Las Vegas up early.

Raiders 7, Broncos 0.

Spencer had a solid kickoff return to start the next drive out near the 30 yard line. Drew Lock hit Noah Fant on a quick toss outside who turned it upfield for a 9 yard gain to start the next drive. Phillip Lindsay would pick up the first down on the next carry.

Lock rolled out on the next play to find Tim Patrick for a 14 yard gain out to the Raider 49 yard line. Lock rolled out a little and fired a bullet to Jerry Jeudy who made a spectacular catch for 17 yards.

After an incomplete pass, Pat Shurmur dialed up his 2nd and 10 special of a run play that resulted in no gain for Lindsay.

On third and 10, the predictable incomplete pass and a Brandon McManus field goal attempt. McManus was good from 50 yards.

Raiders 7, Broncos 3.

The Raiders are undefeated when Josh Jacobs carries the ball 20 times or more in a game, so they kept pounding the rock early on their next drive. After a Jacobs run and a short Carr scrambled setup a third and four. Carr went to Ruggs who was blanketed by Bryce Callahan who broke up the pass to force a punt.

Another special teams miscue with Spencer and Devontae Harris running into each other helps the Raiders pin the Broncos deep inside their own 10 yard line. Tom McMahon continues to be a gift that keeps on giving in 2020.

The first two plays on the drive were a bit rough, but on third and seven Lock drilled a pass to KJ Hamler for the first down out to the 21 yard line.

Melvin Gordon broke about four tackles on his way to an eight yard gain on first down, then powered his way for a first down two plays later to keep the drive alive. Phillip Lindsay came in on the next play and was blown up for a four yard loss when Calvin Anderson whiffed on his block. The drive would stall from there with a terrible pass from Lock on second down, then an overthrow to Hamler into triple coverage that was intercepted by Jeff Heath to set the Raiders up in Broncos territory.

The first quarter would end with the Raiders driving into field goal range.