Browns at Broncos first quarter recap

As the visiting team, the Cleveland Browns called the opening coin toss and won it. They deferred to bring Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos out to start the game.

They’d start with a three-and-out after a third and three run up the middle by Javonte Williams went nowhere to bring out the punt unit. Riley Dixon’s punt was great and forced the Browns to start their drive at their own 10 yard line.

The first play from scrimmage went to Jerry Jeudy for 44-yards to get Cleveland into Denver territory immediately.

The Browns wouldn’t get much more than that, but they did gain enough yards to get into field goal range. The 47-yard field goal was no good to keep the game scoreless.

To start their next drive, the Broncos went to Jaleel McLaughlin who immediately gained 12 yards and their first first down of the game. Marvin Mims then took a handoff for four to get Denver across midfield. Nix then did a fake toss and found a wide open Courtland Sutton who dropped the wide open throw.

Nix went right back to Sutton on third down and this time he hauled it in for 17-yard gain to the Browns 30 yard line. After a quick pass for five on first down and an incompletion on second down, the Broncos had a third and five. Nix, from the shotgun, stepped up in the pocket and fired a pass to Sutton again for another first down for eight yards into the red zone.

McLaughlin was nearly stuffed for a loss on first down, but was able to break a tackle and squeeze through a hole for a minimal one yard gain. Nix was pressured and rolled out to fire a pass to Devaughn Vele at the goal line for a diving catch.

After two stuffed runs, Javonte Williams was able to run it in for a touchdown to put Denver up first in the first quarter.

Broncos 7, Browns 0.

On the Browns next drive, it started off well with a quick pass for eleven yards. They were quickly put into a third and three two plays later near midfield. Jameis Winston went deep to to Elijah Moore for a huge gain with Levi Wallace getting beat badly to set the Browns up at the Broncos eight yard line.

Winston then hit David Njoku over the middle in the end zone to tie the game up.

Broncos 7, Browns 7.

Denver would take over on their next drive just in time for the first quarter to end. However, three quick incomplete passes would give the ball right back to Cleveland where they would take things into the second quarter.