Broncos’ protection stifles Titans as Denver kicks off season with 20-12 win

The Broncos’ protection was put in some robust spots on Sunday, however the unit responded on a number of events. The most essential might have include 11:53 to play within the fourth quarter, as Marvin Mims Jr. misplaced management of a punt and the Titans recovered on the Denver 24-yard line. With the Broncos main simply 13-12, the Titans had an opportunity to take a lead — and holding Tennessee to a subject objective gave the impression to be the very best situation for Denver. Instead, the Broncos recorded back-to-back sacks of 16 and 11 yards, respectively. The performs pushed the Titans all the best way again to the Denver 49-yard line and triggered a Tennessee punt. On the following sequence, Denver’s offense pushed the result in eight factors.

A worthy honorable point out got here on the finish of the primary half, as Denver’s protection compelled a Titans punt proper earlier than the halftime break. Instead of operating the clock out and taking a result in the locker room, the Titans gave the Broncos an opportunity with a pair of incompletions to begin the drive. Jonathon Cooper then took down Ward for a sack, and the Broncos bought the ball again. Mims supplied a stable return that pushed Denver to contained in the Titans’ 40-yard line, and Bo Nix shortly discovered Courtland Sutton for a go-ahead 22-yard landing move.

In a grind-it-out recreation, the Denver protection allowed simply six factors off turnovers within the recreation. The Broncos had 4 giveaways and was shedding the turnover margin by three till the ultimate moments, however the protection’s capability to rise to the event in massive moments helped Denver earn a good win. Three of the Titans’ different factors got here on the ultimate play of the primary half after a prolonged kickoff return, which means the Broncos’ protection — for all intents and functions — gave up simply three factors that weren’t off turnovers. In all, Denver’s protection gave up simply 12 factors regardless of Tennessee beginning 5 drives on the Broncos’ aspect of the sector.