In front of empty nearly stands due to coronavirus health precautions, the Denver Broncos lost to the Tennessee Titans 16-14 in Week 1, breaking a seven-game home-opening win streak. Titans kicker Stephen Gostkowski was terrible until he hit the game-winning field goal with 17 seconds left to play. Here’s a Twitter recap of the game.
During National Anthem about 15 #Broncos knelt. Players knew there would be some differences, but promised to respect everyone’s decision. #Denver7 pic.twitter.com/mXwp9mSohF
— Troy Renck (@TroyRenck) September 15, 2020
Broncos statement after National Anthem in which 20 players took a knee, the rest stood. #9sports pic.twitter.com/Xv88acJmum
— Mike Klis (@MikeKlis) September 15, 2020
Bouye with a clutch play on third down. Nice to see 21 in #Broncos blue once again. pic.twitter.com/tiz9TeESoj
— Joe Rowles (@JoRo_NFL) September 15, 2020
The first offensive play of the #Broncos 2020 season. pic.twitter.com/6SIt6WOPVZ
— Joe Rowles (@JoRo_NFL) September 15, 2020
Gordon and Lindsay both start, Gordon gets first carry. #9sports pic.twitter.com/XeB7HgeukZ
— Mike Klis (@MikeKlis) September 15, 2020
Gostkowski 47 yard FG attempt. Missed right. Still 0-0. #9sports
— Mike Klis (@MikeKlis) September 15, 2020
Jerry Jeudy makes his first NFL catch. pic.twitter.com/kFuDZgluVp
— Joe Rowles (@JoRo_NFL) September 15, 2020
Noah Fant with the first touchdown of the #Broncos season.
There will be more. pic.twitter.com/vLSpYxsbxz
— Joe Rowles (@JoRo_NFL) September 15, 2020
#Broncos lead 7-0 with 26 seconds left in first quarter. #Broncos Lock is 6-for-7 43 yards. The Broncos have rushed 8 times for 34 yards. Good balance so far. #Denver7
— Troy Renck (@TroyRenck) September 15, 2020
#Titans front can't let Drew Locke extend plays and buy time for his pass catchers to get open. Here's a look at the play using @NextGenStats animation. pic.twitter.com/fXREoAKvvj
— TURRON DAVENPORT (@TDavenport_NFL) September 15, 2020
Defensive holding. Fant scores. His emergence tonight is huge with Sutton out. He should be their second or third best target every week. Love how Shurmur is using him. Much better route tree for his skillset. #Denver7
— Troy Renck (@TroyRenck) September 15, 2020
Nice job by Garett Bolles on this run. pic.twitter.com/ZPgR0U4oyr
— Joe Rowles (@JoRo_NFL) September 15, 2020
#Broncos first turnover. Melvin Gordon stripped of ball after reception. #Titans take over at the 23-yard line. #Denver7
— Troy Renck (@TroyRenck) September 15, 2020
Tannehill to Pruitt for 1 yard TD pass after fake to Henry. Ball surprised Pruitt, who made heck of catch for TD with Kareem Jackson draped on him. 7-7 with 9:21 left in first half. #Titans end 5 1/2 quarter scoring drought at Mile High. #Denver7
— Troy Renck (@TroyRenck) September 15, 2020
The #Broncos give up a touchdown to a tight end. Stop me if you've heard it before. pic.twitter.com/Op5FwPkSih
— Joe Rowles (@JoRo_NFL) September 15, 2020
If the #Broncos are going to treat Phillip Lindsay as a real receiver, the pony personnel could be awesome. pic.twitter.com/VmwfXNweVY
— Joe Rowles (@JoRo_NFL) September 15, 2020
Shovel pass to Jake Butt for no gain. Man, I have loved some of the creativity so far. That play was, um, odd. Tennessee takes over on the 1. #Denver7 #Broncos
— Troy Renck (@TroyRenck) September 15, 2020
Here to remind you Vic Fangio does not hate analytics. Love the decision, even if it didn't work this time #Broncos Country. pic.twitter.com/0v3gzTpZdT
— Joe Rowles (@JoRo_NFL) September 15, 2020
#Broncos AJ Bouye (shoulder) is out for the game. Phillip Lindsay questionable with foot injury. Wow. #Denver7
— Troy Renck (@TroyRenck) September 15, 2020
#Titans Gostkowski misses a 42-yard attempt, and all by himself is keeping #Broncos in game. Not sure he will be Titans kicker this time tomorrow. He's always been awful in Denver. He's continued that streak. It's tied 7-7 w 7:28 left in third. #Denver7
— Troy Renck (@TroyRenck) September 15, 2020
Pretty good way to ensure social distancing on an NFL sideline is to miss 4 kicks.
— Lindsay Jones (@bylindsayhjones) September 15, 2020
For the second time in his NFL career, @ShelbyHarris93 blocks a kick in week 1. pic.twitter.com/QBzOg27d6o
— Joe Rowles (@JoRo_NFL) September 15, 2020
The lights went out at Mile High in the middle of halftime. Stadium ops folks were scrambling, but they got them turned back on just in time.
— Lindsay Jones (@bylindsayhjones) September 15, 2020
https://twitter.com/FTBeard1/status/1305720977221853184?s=20
#Titans unleash a ground munching, clock crunching drive of 15 plays, 82 yards. They lead 13-7 with 13:49 left in the game. #Denver7 #Broncos
— Troy Renck (@TroyRenck) September 15, 2020
#Broncos Lindsay ruled out with a foot injury. Damn. #Denver7
— Troy Renck (@TroyRenck) September 15, 2020
Pretty design by the #Broncos, nice run by Melvin Gordon pic.twitter.com/6UbXqXrfs7
— Joe Rowles (@JoRo_NFL) September 15, 2020
Jerry Jeudy isn't human. pic.twitter.com/kQTIgjYFJE
— Joe Rowles (@JoRo_NFL) September 15, 2020
That is the Jerry Jeudy we saw in training camp in case you were wondering. #Denver7 #Broncos
— Troy Renck (@TroyRenck) September 15, 2020
First and goal at 1. Freeman stopped for no gain. Here we go. Gordon 1-yard TD, followed Andrew Beck lead block. Broncos now up 14-13 on Manus clutch (ask Gostkowski) extra point. Incredible. #9sports
— Mike Klis (@MikeKlis) September 15, 2020
Melvin Gordon has never needed Siri's help to find the end zone. He has 49 touchdowns now over the past five seasons. Score ties it at 13. #Denver7 #Broncos
— Troy Renck (@TroyRenck) September 15, 2020
Dalton Risner and Andrew Beck escort Melvin Gordon into the endzone. #Broncos 14#Titans 13 pic.twitter.com/wu1kmfE6bc
— Joe Rowles (@JoRo_NFL) September 15, 2020
#Broncos lead 14-13 with 9:08. A statement drive by young offense. Nine plays, 75 yards, 4:41 off the clock. Those kind of drives in fourth quarter were largely absent over last four years. #Denver7
— Troy Renck (@TroyRenck) September 15, 2020
On that drive, Drew Lock was 4 of 4 for 46 yards.
On previous Titans' TD drive, Tannehill was 7 of 8 for 45 yards.
For each their own. #9sports— Mike Klis (@MikeKlis) September 15, 2020
.@Titans into Broncos territory at the two-minute warning, trailing by one.
📺: #TENvsDEN on ESPN
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/aNyMPaWyG0 pic.twitter.com/Mui0ExSVYP— NFL (@NFL) September 15, 2020
Henry rumbles for big yardage. He is over the 100-yard mark. Has 107 on 29 carries
— Troy Renck (@TroyRenck) September 15, 2020
Vic's gonna ice him three times
— Lindsay Jones (@bylindsayhjones) September 15, 2020
Here comes to the kicker… Again, should have used timeouts to have chance at drive. #Denver7 #Broncos
— Troy Renck (@TroyRenck) September 15, 2020
Gostkowski makes that one.
Hits the 25-yarder with 17 seconds to play, and Tennessee goes up 16-14.
— Aric DiLalla (@AricDiLalla) September 15, 2020
Gostkowski puts the @Titans ahead with 17 seconds remaining! #Titans
📺: #TENvsDEN on ESPN
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/aNyMPaWyG0 pic.twitter.com/l57sa9IObJ— NFL (@NFL) September 15, 2020
This field goal brings Gostkowski’s NFL career total to 375.
Broncos probably get three plays.
Have 3 timeouts.
— Benjamin Allbright (@AllbrightNFL) September 15, 2020
There's 1 second left on the clock, ball at the Denver 42-yard line.
Need a Hail Mary here. Too long for a field goal.
— Aric DiLalla (@AricDiLalla) September 15, 2020
Lock's pass falls incomplete, and the Broncos fall 16-14.
They start the season 0-1.
— Aric DiLalla (@AricDiLalla) September 15, 2020
Left offensive tackle Garret Bolles played well throughout the game, showing progress by not committing a holding penalty. Fant was effective during the first half with five catches for 81 yards and one touchdown. Lock also played well, throwing 22-33 passes for 216 yards and one touchdown. Gordon’s debut as a Bronco yielded 14 carries for 78 yards and one touchdown.
But losses of starters linebacker Von Miller, receiver Courtland Sutton, running back Phillip Lindsay, and cornerback A.J. Bouye before and during the game left the Broncos shorthanded, especially in the fourth quarter.
Next week, the Broncos have an away game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. It should be a challenge for this young squad.
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