Broncos vs. Commanders first quarter recap

The Washington Commanders won the opening coin toss, but elected to defer to the second half to bring out Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos offense to start the game.

Things started out nicely with an inside handoff to RJ Harvey who burst through the line for a quick 10 yard gain. Harvey got stuffed on the next carry, but Nix found Adam Trautman on second and long for a completion for a 13 yard gain and a first down at midfield.

After back-to-back incompletions, Nix found Tyler Badie underneath who turned it up field for an 11 yard gain and another first down with the Broncos flirting with field goal range on their opening drive. On the very next play, Nix threw a comeback to Troy Franklin for a 17-yard gain to move them into definite field goal range at the Commanders 20 yard line.

Harvey gained four on first down, then a back shoulder to Evan Engram in the end zone was caught but Engram couldn’t get both feed in bounds. On third and six, Nix fired a quick slant to Pat Bryant who had the pass broken up to bring out the field goal unit.

Broncos 3, Commanders 0.

The field goal would cap an 11-play, 59 yard drive. Nix was just 3/7 on the drive for 43 yards, but the completions were all for first downs.

An outstanding open field tackle by Reese Taylor pinned the Commanders at their own 21-yard line. With quick passes and a missed tackle on a run play to get them to midfield, then on a third down passing play the Commanders got into near field goal range on a defensive holding call on Pat Surtain.

They would quickly face another third and long after a tackle for a loss by Talanoa Hufanga. On third and eight, Mariota went deep with Riley Moss in coverage… probably looking for a defensive pass interference call. Instead, the coverage was perfect and he was able to break up the pass to force the punt.

From their own 11 yard line, the Broncos offense began their next drive where they would quickly go three-and-out. The Commanders successfully flipped field position and got the ball back at their own 41-yard line after a so-so punt from Jeremy Crawshaw.

Washington’s run game was finding room to run early. Brandon Jones needed a touchdown-saving tackle on their first play, but it ended up just being a 9-yard gain into Broncos territory. The second down pass was deflected by Alex Singleton and nearly intercepted. Mariota would run a quarterback-designed run and barely make the line to gain to give them another set of downs.

The Commanders seemed to think the right side of the defense was weak and continued to attack that side of the field. The one time on that drive they went left was a tackle for a loss by Hufanga. An incompletion on the next play would bring up a third and 12 where an inside draw to Jeremy McNichols gained 15 yards and a first down to bring the first quarter to an end.