First-quarter notes from Qualcomm Stadium …
The crowd, going insane, forces the Broncos to take a pair of false-start penalties on their first three possessions, and roars as Jay Cutler uses the Broncos’ first timeout of the game on the team’s opening drive.
Cutler is a part of two fumbles, one on a snap, and the other when Shawne Merriman works past Erik Pears to drill the rookie passer, forcing the football loose. Tatum Bell recovers, which proves to be worth 40 yards of field position after Paul Ernster’s low punt yields no return.
Field position continues to be a bugaboo for the Broncos. San Diego only got five yards midfield when it started from its 18 on its first possession, but both of its touchdown drives began near midfield.
Both of Cutler’s completions came after momentary pauses — after a false start and the timeout. Each went for 13 yards. He closed the period with four consecutive incompletions.
San Diego had more first downs (7-2), more total yardage (135-36), more passing yards (97-26), more rushing yards (38-10) and averaged 9.0 yards per play to the Broncos’ 2.8.
Tags: San Diego Chargers
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Broncos-Chargers: First-Quarter Notes