Dumervil Drops PonderElvis Dumervil broke into the backfield to sack Christian Ponder on third down, forcing a Vikings punt. Linebacker Wesley Woodyard and defensive tackle Ryan McBean helped finish off the play.
Dumervil now has 6.5 sacks on the season, including at least a half sack in five consecutive contests. He now has 49.5 quarterback takedowns for his career.
The Broncos will take over from their 23 after the punt.
-Stuart Zaas
Haggan Comes Up With a Pick-6Linebacker Mario Haggan, starting in place of the injured Von Miller, has put the Broncos on the board with an interception returned for a touchdown.
On 2nd-and-8 from the Minnesota 9-yard line, Ponder dropped back and threw a pass which Haggan jumped in front of for his first career interception. He returned it 16 yards for his first career touchdown, carrying a few Vikings players into the end zone during the process.
It was the third defensive touchdown of the year for the Broncos, who now lead 7-2 with 5:50 remaining in the first quarter. It capped a strong opening three series for the defense, who forced a punt, fumble and interception. Denver’s three interceptions returned for touchdowns this season are tied for the most in the NFL in 2011.
The Vikings started the series on their own 7-yard line, thanks to a well-placed punt by Britton Colquitt and a great play by Matthew Willis as he jumped and batted the ball just as it bounced towards the end zone.
Click here to listen to the audio highlight of the play, courtesy of AM 850 KOA.
-Kenny Legan
Chargers Take 3-0 LeadA 53-yard Nick Novak field goal gave the Chargers an early first-quarter lead against the Broncos, 3-0.
The drive was fueled by 32 yards on the ground by Ryan Mathews on three carries. But the defense held strong down the stretch, stopping Mike Tolbert after a 5-yard gain, then forcing two Philip Rivers incompletions.
It was a nine-play, 45-yard drive — capped off by Novak’s career-long field goal — that took 3:26 off the clock. Denver, who won the opening coin toss and deferred, is now ready for its first offensive possession.
Broncos Defense HoldsAfter a successful Denver challenge ruled a Santonio Holmes third-down catch incomplete, Jets kicker Nick Folk missed a 52-yard field goal attempt.
Denver’s successful challenge brought up fourth down and Folk’s kick sailed wide left.
The Broncos then took over at thier own 43-yard line in the closing moments of the first quarter.
Prater Gives Broncos Early LeadBroncos kicker Matt Prater connects on a 37-yard field goal to put Denver up 3-0 with 5:08 left in the first quarter.
The field goal capped a 6-play, 15-yard drive by the Broncos, highlighted by Eddie Royal’s 10-yard run on a jet sweep.
The Jets will start their second drive of the game on their own 20-yard line after Prater’s kick goes for a touchback. The Broncos defense held strong the last time out, forcing the Jets into a three-and-out to give the offense favorable field position.
-Kenny Legan
Broncos StartersHere is Denver’s starting lineup on offense:
Ryan Clady, Zane Beadles, J.D. Walton, Chris Kuper and Orlando Franklin start along the offensive line.
Tim Tebow starts at quarterback.
Daniel Fells starts at tight end, with Eric Decker, Eddie Royal and Demaryius Thomas split out at wide receiver. Running back Willis McGahee also lined up out wide.
Defensively, Robert Ayers, Brodrick Bunkley, Marcus Thomas, Elvis Dumervil, Von Miller, Joe Mays, D.J. Williams, Champ Bailey, Andre’ Goodman, Brian Dawkins and Quinton Carter opened the game for the Broncos.
First Quarter SummaryThe first quarter is in the books here at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, with the Broncos leading 7-0 without throwing a pass.
The Broncos have been running the read-option play the entire game with success. Overall, the Broncos have 14 runs for 103 yards — an average of 7.4 yards per carry — with Knowshon Moreno leading the way with four carries for 52 yards. It’s the ninth time in team history that the Broncos have topped 100 rushing yards in the first quarter.
Tebow put the Broncos on the board in their first drive with a 7-yard draw play. However, running back Willis McGahee was injured on the drive and running back Knowshon Moreno was injured on the next series, leaving the Broncos with Lance Ball as the lone active healthy running back.
Denver starts the second quarter with the ball in Kansas City territory.
-Kenny Legan
Miller Notches Sack No. 7.5Von Miller dropped Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel for his 7.5th sack of the season on Kansas City’s opening possession of the game.
Miller now has sacks in seven of Denver’s nine games this season.
The sack came after a holding penalty and put the Chiefs in a difficult position, facing a 2nd-and-28. Cassel’s third-down pass was incomplete, forcing a punt and good field positions for the Broncos.
Denver will start its first offensive series from its own 43.
Click here to listen to the audio highlight of the play from AM 850 KOA.
-Stuart Zaas
Dumervil Notches First SackOn third-and-13 inside the Oakland 20-yard line, Elvis Dumervil notched his first sack of the season to force a Raiders punt.
Von Miller got to Carson Palmer’s ankle first, and Dumervil was there to finish the job. UPDATE: It has been credited as a half sack for both Dumervil and Miller.
It’s Batman and Robin meeting up at the quarterback.
On Thursday, Defensive Coordinator Dennis Allen said that once Dumervil notched that first sack, “they come in bunches.”
We’ll see if No. 92 finds his way to the quarterback again this afternoon.
Raiders Take 3-0 LeadSebastian Janikowski knocked in a 48-yard field goal to give the Raiders an early lead.
Oakland engineered a 7-play, 43-yard drive to get on the board first at the 7:40 mark of the opening quarter.
A 34-yard pass from Carson Palmer to Jacoby Ford pushed the Raiders into Denver territory on the first play of the drive but the Broncos defense was able to force the field goal try on fourth-and-21.