Broncos at Falcons first quarter recap

The Denver Broncos as the visiting team and called the coin toss correctly. They chose to defer to the second half, which brought the Atlanta Falcons out on offense to begin the game.

Matt Ryan started things out with a quick pass outside to tight end Hayden Hurst for a first down, but then Kareem Jackson put a big hit on Toddy Gurley for a no gain. A quick pass to Julio Jones for five yards brought up the game’s first third down. From the shotgun, Ryan’s pass over the middle was snatched out of the air by one hand for the first down.

Back to back runs from Gurley for 17 yards brought the Falcons across midfield. Josey Jewell sniffed out a toss outside to Gurley for a four yard loss back to the Broncos 41-yard line. A short screen pass made the third down a more manageable seven yards. Justin Simmons went airborne at the line of scrimmage to bat a ball away to force the 52-yard field goal attempt.

Falcons 3, Broncos 0.

After Tyrie Cleveland returned the ball out to the 20 yard line, the Broncos first play had Drew Lock handing off to Phillip Lindsay up the middle for a short gain. On second down, Lock threw outside to Noah Fant who turned it up field for a huge 32-yard gain.

From the Falcons 45-yard line, Lindsay was met in the backfield for a five yard loss. The drive went nowhere from there and was forced to punt the ball.

The Falcons hit the ground with Gurley on first and second downs picking up a total of six yards. On third and four, Ryan completed a quick pass outside to Russell Gage for the first down.

A quick pass to Julio for six on first down gave the Falcons good down and distance, but Kareem Jackson continued to bring the pain blowing up a bubble screen for a short gain and another third down. A quick inside hand off to Keith Smith barely got the first down.

After another first down out to midfield, Gage picked up a false start penalty to make it a first and 15. A four yard run and a McTelvin Agim tipped pass forced the Falcons into a third and 11. Devontae Harris got lost in coverage and Ryan burned him deep for a 51-yard touchdown to Olamide Zaccheaus.

Falcons 10, Broncos 0.

Cleveland decided to run the ball out of the end zone again on the kickoff and was fortunate to have offsetting penalties to put the ball at the 18 yard line to begin the next drive for the Broncos.

On first down, Lock found Jerry Jeudy for a quick 23 yard gain. Melvin Gordon got his first carry on the next play for three yards, then Lock hit KJ Hamler for a 13 yard gain to get into Falcons territory to end the first quarter.