The Denver Broncos take the early lead over the Atlanta Falcons. They are up 7-3 after one quarter of play.
The Atlanta Falcons won the opening coin toss and deferred possession to bring Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos offense out onto the field to start the game.
Things looked bleak after Javonte Williams was stuffed on first down and then couldn’t handle a pass in the dirt on second down. Then on third and 10, Nix fired a pass to Courtland Sutton for a 16 yard gain and a first down.
Williams then backed up that with a 10-yard gain on first down into Falcons territory. Williams would get some rest after adding five yards on the next play, then Jaleel McLaughlin got tripped up as he got a head of steam for a short gain. A holding call on Lil’Jordan Humphrey would set them back to repeat the down.
On 2nd and 15, Nix fired a pass over the middle to rookie Devaughn Vele for a 14-yard gain. Michael Burton would plow forward for a fresh set of downs on Denver’s opening drive. Nix would find Vele again on a quick slant for a nice pickup, but a Falcons defender targeted Vele’s head as he was being tackled for a half the distance to the goal penalty.
On the very next play, Bo Nix found Nate Adkins wide open at the goal line for a touchdown to cap a 9-play, 70-yard scoring drive.
Bo Nix finds a wide open Nate Adkins for an opening drive TOUCHDOWN! #Broncos pic.twitter.com/wM0Lf5f5FJ
— MileHighReport (@MileHighReport) November 17, 2024
Broncos 7, Falcons 0.
Kirk Cousins and the Falcons looked to respond with their first drive of the game. It started off with the Bijan Robinson show as Atlanta made their way out across midfield on three plays. Robinson was stuffed on second and one by D.J. Jones, then on third and two Robinson just barely got the first down for a fresh set of downs for Atlanta.
Ultimately the Falcons would respond with a long opening drive of their own. Drake London was working Ja’Quan McMillian early on that drive, but a series of Falcons’ penalties pushed them back where the defense was able to hold after that 13-play opening drive by the Falcons.
Broncos 7, Falcons 3.
The Broncos would get the ball back with just 93 seconds left in the first quarter as both teams opening drives were the long, methodical kind. They would go a quick three and out to end the quarter.