Dolphins at Broncos first quarter recap

The Denver Broncos opened up the game with a small win as they get the toss and deferred to the Miami Dolphins. Tua Tagovailoa would get the ball to start the game.

On the game’s first play, Bradley Chubb beat his man terribly to get pressure on Tagovailoa who chucked it deep for an incomplete pass. A run on second down setup a third and six. From the shotgun, Tagovailoa went deep again after being flushed out of the pocket where it fell incomplete for a quick three and out.

Phillip Lindsay got the start, but was stuffed for no gain on the first play on offense for the Broncos. Jerry Jeudy had a small step on his man, but Drew Lock overthrew him by about five yards. After wasting a timeout on third down due to poor clock management, Lock promptly threw an interception.

The decision to throw was a terrible one. It looked like KJ Hamler and Jerry Jeudy were both coming open as he threw into coverage for the interception.

Justin Simmons almost got it back, but a ticky tack defensive holding call wiped out an interception he snagged as the Dolphins were looking to capitalize on Denver’s turnover.

The Dolphins would capitalize anyway to take an early seven point lead from a 3-yard fade route from Tagovailoa to De’Vante Parker.

Dolphins 7, Broncos 0.

After a minimal gain on first down by Melvin Gordon, Lock went deep to Tim Patrick who was badly overthrown. Patrick did stop running on the play. Lock evacuated the pocket and threw to a well covered Jerry Jeudy for a quick three and out for Denver.

The Broncos defense is doing what it does early in games, forcing three and outs and holding teams to as few points as they can when their offense is giving up turnovers and zero productivity.

It was looking like another three and out for the Broncos on their next drive, but that was not to be. On third and 10, Lock fired a bullet to KJ Hamler for a 14 yard gain and the first first down of the game for Denver.

Lock rolled out to his left on first down and found Noah Fant for a short two yard gain on first down. Lindsay then took a hand off outside for a big 20 yard gain to the Dolphins 36-yard line.

Back-to-back false start penalties by Troy Fumagalli and Demar Dotson put Denver into a 1st and 20 from there and then Lindsay gets minus two on his next carry. That would deflate the positive momentum. However, a quick outside toss to Jerry Jeudy picked up 9 yards and then Lock escaped pressure to run for the first down.

Melvin Gordon took an inside hand off for nine on first down, then found Nick Vannett for a 15-yard gain down to the 1-yard line. Melvin Gordon would punch it in from there to tie things up capping an 11-play 73 yard drive. It was there first first half touchdown since October 1st.

Broncos 7, Dolphins 7.

The Broncos defense came out fired up forcing a three and out that was spearheaded by a second down sack by Malik Reed. The first quarter would end with the Broncos offense having great field position.