Bengals at Broncos first quarter recap

The Denver Broncos have won the opening coin toss in every game to start the season and they elected to defer again to give the ball to the Cincinnati Bengals to start the game.

With a need to stop committing penalties, the Broncos defense opened up with a defensive holding call on Pat Surtain II. Ja’Quan McMillian burst through a block to tackle Ja’Marr Chase for a one yard loss. A well-designed screen pass nearly picked up a first down on the next play. The Bengals would pick up the first down and the next one with a Tee Higgins 19-yard catch over the top of Riley Moss to get Cincinnati into field goal range.

The Broncos defense wouldn’t wake up until the Bengals were inside the 10 yard line, but that was enough to keep them out of the end zone.

Bengals 3, Broncos 0.

Despite getting eight yards on the first two downs, the Broncos tried a wide pitch outside to RJ Harvey that the Bengals defense read perfectly to force a quick three-and-out for Bo Nix and the Broncos offense.

Once again, the Broncos defense got the Bengals offense going with another dumb penalty. This time Riley Moss in coverage on Chase deep to move the Bengals from their own 10 yard line to the 37 yard line. The Broncos defense would get the stop near midfield anyway and a 24-yard punt by the Bengals would give Denver excellent starting field position with the first quarter winding down.

Nix and the Broncos were staring another three-and-out in the face, but he found Courtland Sutton on a shallow cross who turned it up field for a first down across midfield. Nix then went deep to Adam Trautman who gained 26-yards on a catch and run to the Bengals 23-yard line.

The first quarter would come to an end with the Broncos scoring a touchdown on the legs of Bo Nix himself to took it in from six yards out to put Denver up.

Broncos 7, Bengals 3.