The Denver Broncos head into the second quarter down 7-0 to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Pittsburgh Steelers won the opening coin toss and deferred, which brought Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos onto the field to start the game.
For Denver, they came out running the ball but netted zero yards on two carries. Nix completed a pass to Greg Dulcich on third and 10 but came up three yards short for a quick three and out. Pittsburgh also started the game with their own three and out, so the predicted offensive woes for both teams appeared to be on track in Week 2 as well.
Nix completed a pass on first down and a play later was faced with a third and short, but Nix took a sack for another three and out. Eight total yards and two punts for Denver on their first two drives. Not a great start.
Justin Fields and the Steelers offense got their first first down on their next drive. Then he escaped a Jonathon Cooper near sack to run for 16-yards into Broncos territory. They continued moving the chains and it didn’t take long for Pittsburgh to find the red zone. A roll out by Fields and a pass to Pat Freiermuth to get them inside the five yard line.
The Steelers already have 55 rushing yards on the Broncos’ defense in the first quarter.
They are averaging 5.5 ypc and Justin Fields has 24 rushing yards.
— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevensDNVR) September 15, 2024
Rookie edge rusher Jonah Elliss got his first career sack on first and goal. After getting those yards back on a second down run, Fields and the Steelers faced a third and goal. Fields would fire a perfect pass into the end zone for the early Steelers lead to cap a 12-play, 78 yard drive.
Steelers 7, Broncos 0.
On their third possession, Nix made two short completions to setup a third and three. The quarter would end with an actual first down for the Broncos offense behind a seven yard pass to Javonte Williams.