COIN TOSS: The Broncos call heads — and it’s tails. Tennessee wins the toss and elects to defer. So the Broncos will receive to start the game.

KICKOFF: After a touchback, the offense is now on the field, led by Kyle Orton at quarterback. Ryan Clady, Zane Beadles, J.D. Walton, Chris Kuper and Orlando Franklin make up the offensive line. Brandon Lloyd and Eric Decker are at receiver. Daniel Fells is at tight end, Spencer Larsen is at fullback and Willis McGahee is at running back.

Q1 14:27: Two runs by McGahee gain a total of 5 yards, leaving Denver with third-and-5 at its own 25-yard line. Orton takes the snap in the shotgun and quickly finds Decker for the first down on the sideline.

Q1 13:27: After the 8-yard gain, the ball is at the 33-yard line. On first down, Orton fires toward Decker as he is hit in the backfield, and the pass falls incomplete. Second down brings a run for no gain by McGahee, and now it’s third-and-10. Orton barks out some instruction at the line before dropping into the shotgun. He takes the snap, steps up in the pocket and fires to Lloyd in the middle of the field, but the pass is incomplete and Britton Colquitt is in to punt. Colquitt keeps up his hot start, booming a punt that’s fielded at about the 5-yard line — a 62-yard punt, officially — and returner Marc Mariani is dropped at the 11-yard line.

Q1 12:14: The starting defense is now on the field. Brian Dawkins and Rahim Moore are the safeties, Andre’ Goodman and Cassius Vaughn are at cornerback, Wesley Woodyard, Joe Mays and Von Miller are the linebackers and finally Jason Hunter, Brodrick Bunkley, Kevin Vickerson and Robert Ayers make up the defensive line.

Q1 12:07: On first down, Chris Johnson is wrapped up for a loss of 2 on a run. Second down brings a quick pass on essentially a bubble screen to Kenny Britt, who picks up 8 yards to set up third-and-4. Matt Hasselbeck hits tight end Jared Cook for a first down at the Tennessee 23-yard line.

Q1 10:20: On first down, Hasselbeck dumps off a quick pass to Johnson, who picks up 8 yards on the scamper. Second down brings a run by Johnson, who grabs a first down — but there’s a flag on the play. Holding on the TItans, making it second-and-12.

Q1 9:45: On second-and-12, Hasselbeck hits a leaping Lavelle Hawkins near the first-down marker, but it’s third-and-1. However, there’s a flag before the next play — false start on the Titans — so it’s third-and-6. There’s Jonathan Wilhite again, streaking into the backfield on a cornerback blitz to take down Hasselbeck for a 9-yard loss. So former Bronco Brett Kern is in to punt while new Bronco Quan Cosby is deep to return it. He fields it at the 20 and finds a little space down the sideline to midfield. It was a 62-yard punt and a 30-yard return.

Q1 7:36: On first down, Orton fires an incompletion toward Decker, but the receiver wasn’t looking for the ball. On second down, the defense is called for an offsides penalty, making it second-and-5. McGahee proceeds to pick up the first down with a run on the next play. The ball is now at the Tennessee 38-yard line, and Orton fakes a handoff to McGahee before firing an incompletion. He was hit hard very late, however, which draws a 15-yard penalty on Tennessee for roughing the passer. Orton stays down for a little after the play, but he’s back up and at the line of scrimmage ready to play. On first down at the Tennessee 23, McGahee runs for 3 yards.

Q1 5:52: On second down, the Broncos try to set up a screen, but the pass is incomplete. On third down, Orton hits Brandon Lloyd inside the 10-yard line for a first down. The drive continues with a first-and-goal at the 9. It’s a run by McGahee on first down, and the back picks up 3 tough yards. On second down, Lance Ball is taken down at the 5-yard line after a dump-off pass, and it’s now third-and-goal. Orton drops back and finds a wide open Matthew Willis for a touchdown. It’s Willis’ first career touchdown, and Matt Prater’s extra point is up and in.

BRONCOS 7, TITANS 0

Q1 3:45: On first down, Hasselbeck’s pass is dropped by Johnson. Second down brings a 2-yard run by Johnson, and on third down a reception by Nate Washington is short of the marker, bringing out Kern for another punt. Cosby is deep for the return. He has a decent return of the 51-yard punt, picking up 16 yards to the Denver 37-yard line.

Q1 2:13: On first down, the crowd is getting loud after a big tackle of McGahee by William Hayes behind the line. Second-and-11 brings a quick 6-yard reception by Lloyd, making it third-and-5 at the Denver 42-yard line. Orton is in the shotgun with Lance Ball beside him. The pass hits Daniel Fells in the hands at midfield but the pass looked to have been barely tipped by a defender, and Fells can’t hold on, forcing a punt. Colquitt’s kick is fielded at the 12, and Mariani is tackled almost immediately after the 46-yard punt. Tennessee will start at the 15-yard line.

Q1 0:35: Chris Johnson breaks off a first-down run, but a holding penalty brings it back and leaves the Titans with a first-and-13 at the 12-yard line. Johnson grabs a Hasselbeck pass for a gain of 9, leaving the Titans with a second-and-4 at their own 21-yard line as the first quarter comes to a close.

Q2 14:35: On second down, Johnson is stopped for a loss of a yard, but on third down the back catches a 34-yard pass out of the backfield for a first down in Denver territory. However, Head Coach John Fox throws the challenge flag, so the play is under review.

Q2 14:20: The play is upheld, and on the ensuing play, Hasselbeck hits Javon Ringer up the middle for another first down at the Denver 33-yard line. Woodyard chases down Mariani on an end-around on the next play, and it picks up 4 yards. On second-and-6, Ringer is wrapped up by Bunkley in the backfield for a loss of a yard. Third down has Hasselbeck in the shotgun. He hits Washington for a first down at the 14-yard line.

Q2 11:38: Hasselbeck hits Washington for a touchdown on the very next play, and Rod Bironas’ extra point ties the game.

BRONCOS 7, TITANS 7

Q2 11:30: Cosby returns the kickoff to the 17-yard line, where the offense takes over. Orton quickly gets the drive started with a 32-yard strike to Fells. McGahee takes a run on the ensuing first down, taking the ball into Titans territory. On second-and-6 at the Tennessee 47-yard line, Orton fakes a handoff before firing to Decker, but the pass is high and picked off. Jason McCourty returns the interception 22 yards to the Tennessee 44-yard line.

Q2 9:49: Johnson looks to be all wrapped up in the backfield but escapes for a 4-yard gain on first down. Second down brings another Johnson run, but Joe Mays streaks into the backfield for a tackle for a 3-yard loss. The Titans now face a third-and-9 at their own 45-yard line. Hasselbeck is in the shotgun and just throws it up for grabs as he’s buried by a group of Broncos. Nate Washington is the one to come away with it, though, and it’s a first down at the 33-yard line.

Q2 7:39: Javon Ringer is tackled for a loss of 3 on the next play. On second down, Hasselbeck hits Jared Cook to set up third-and-7. Hasselbeck again is in the shotgun, and he hits Britt for a first down inside the 20.

Q2 6:14: On first down, Hasselbeck hits Kenny Britt, who fumbles and the Broncos recover. Von Miller forced the fumble and Robert Ayers recovered it. Britt is down after the play holding his knee.

Q2 5:46: Britt is carted back to the locker room and the Broncos offense is on the field. A 1-yard run by McGahee on first down is followed by an incomplete pass intended for Lloyd. On third-and-9, Orton has plenty of time but no one comes open and he’s forced to scramble for a few yards before sliding. There’s a flag on the play, however — offsides on the defense. That gives Denver another chance on third-and-4. Orton takes the snap and pitches to McGahee, who is dropped behind the line of scrimmage. Colquitt is in to punt, and Mariani is deep to receive. Woodyard makes the tackle at the 43-yard line. It was a 47-yard punt and a 12-yard return.

TITANS INJURY UPDATE: For Kenny Britt, it’s a right knee injury, and he’s questionable to return.

Q2 3:04: On first down, Chris Johnson ran for a yard, and on second Hasselbeck fires deep for Washington, who hauls in the pass — wait the refs call it incomplete. The Titans are challenging the ruling on the field — and the ruling stands, incomplete. On third down, Hasselbeck tries to sidearm a pass to Johnson on the run, but it falls incomplete. Kern is back in to punt again, and Cosby is deep to receive. It’s a bad snap on the punt, so Kern decides to take off running, and he picks up a first down after being hit hard. Tennessee now has a first-and-10 at the Denver 35-yard line.

Q2 2:01: Hasselbeck hits Washington for a 5-yard gain as the clock runs down to the two-minute warning.

Q2 2:00: On second-and-5, Hasselbeck hits Mariani for a completion near the first-down marker, but it’s third-and-1. The defense holds, swarming Ringer in the backfield to make it fourth-and-7. Denver calls a timeout to stop the clock with 1:16 remaining in the half.

Q2 1:16: Turns out the Titans are going for it on fourth down. Or just trying to draw the Broncos offsides…looks like the latter. Tennessee burns a timeout and now they’ll go for the field goal.

Q2 1:11: Bironas’ 46-yard field goal is good, and Tennessee takes its first lead of the game.

TITANS 10, BRONCOS 7

Q2 1:10: On first down, Orton is in the shotgun. He throws a pass that’s batted away at the line by Jason Jones. On second down, Orton hits Willis across the middle, and the receiver picks up a first down at the 31. The offense hurries up to the line and Orton is again in the shotgun. He tries to find Ball as he’s hit int he backfield, but it’s an incomplete pass.

Q2 0:40: On second-and-10, Orton hits Ball, who is quickly dropped at the 34. On third-and-7, Orton hits Decker, but the receiver is drilled by Will Witherspoon short of the first down. Tennessee calls a timeout to stop the clock with 9 seconds remaining. Colquitt is in to punt — and he kicks it to the 16-yard line, where Mariani calls for a fair catch.

Q2 0:03: Hasselbeck takes a knee to bring the first half to a close. The Titans lead it 10-7.

-Gray Caldwell

Tags: First Half Blog, Tennessee Titans, Week 3

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