DENVER, COLORADO - SEPTEMBER 07: Bo Nix #10 of the Denver Broncos warms up prior to the game against the Tennessee Titans during the game at Empower Field At Mile High on September 07, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)Photo: Justin Edmonds / Getty Images Sport / Getty Images
The Denver Broncos won their first game of the season 20-12. Below is the recap and postgame interviews:
The Broncos won the coin toss and deferred to the second half.
Cam Ward and the Titans offense started their first drive of the 2025 season from their own 35 yard line after the touchback. Nik Bonitto tackled Tony Pollard in the backfield on the first play but on 3rd and 11, Cam Ward was able to find Pollard for a 29 yard gain and the Titans were quickly into Denver territory. Sean Payton challenged a Gunnar Helm catch and was successful to force another 3rd and 10. Titans handed it off to Pollard, settling for an early FG attempt of 50 yards. Titans took an early lead 3-0 with 11:58 remaining in the 1st quarter.
Bo Nix and the Broncos offense started from their own 35 yard line and the first pass of the season went to Lucas Krull for 5 yards. On the next play, Bo found Troy Franklin for 19 and the offense was in business at midfield. Nix found Sutton for 12 as the Broncos marched into Tennessee territory. Bo Nix cadence gave Denver a first down at the Titans 16 but after a delay of game penalty and the Broncos offense didn't gain another yard. Wil Lutz converted a 39 yard field goal and tied the game at 3 with 3:23 remaining in the 1st quarter.
The Titans went back to work from their own 25 yard line and gained an initial 1st down on a 16 yard completion to TE Gunnar Helm but a huge holding call against Tennessee negated a 10 yard scramble by Ward and backed them up. On 3rd and 18, a deep attempt to Calvin Ridley fell incomplete and the Titans were forced to punt. #Broncos started their 2nd drive at their own 8 yard line with 5:16 remaining in the 1st quarter.
The Broncos offense, deep in their own territory, RJ Harvey got the first carry and went for 8 yards. A 6 yard completion to Troy Franklin gave the Broncos their first 1st down of the game. A few plays later, Marvin Mims completed the next one on a shallow crosser. The Broncos looked to be on the move as Nix hit Sutton down the right sideline into Titans territory but a Ben Powers hold brought them back. On the next play, Nix rolled out to his left and threw and interception to Roger McCreary. Titans took over at their own 46 yard line.
As the 2nd quarter started, Tony Pollard ran it on back to back plays to get into Denver territory and get an initial first down. A couple plays later, Pollard continued working the ground game but Talanoa Hufanga forced a fumble and Brandon Jones picked it up! Broncos took over at their own 32 yard line.
Unfortunately, the Broncos offense couldn't get much going and quickly went 3 and out. Crawshaw punted it back to Tennessee who would start their next drive at their own 9 yard line with 11:40 remaining in the 2nd quarter.
Titans went back to the ground game as Pollard but on 2nd down, Nik Bonitto got another TFL. On 3rd and 4, Sean Payton challenged Ayomanor's reception and won his 2nd challenge and the Titans were forced to punt it back to Denver. After a 19 yard return by Marvin Mims, the Broncos started their next drive from their own 36 yard line with 9:29 remaining in the 2nd quarter.
The Broncos offense got their initial first down on a QB sneak on 3rd and 1 to the Denver 47. A couple plays later, Jeffrey Simmons sacked Bo Nix and he fumbled it to Tennessee who would start in Denver territory at the 38 yard line.
The Titans moved quickly into a Goal to Go opportunity but on 3rd and 3, Nik Bonitto came up with a HUGE sack to kill the drive and the Titans settled for a 33 yard field goal to pull back in front 6-3.
Both teams exchange punts but an interesting choice for the Titans as they had a chance to run the clock out instead two incompletions and a Jonathon Cooper sack gave the Broncos a chance to get points before the half. After a 16 yard DPI penalty, Nix hits Sutton down the left sideline and score the first touchdown of the game and the Broncos take their first lead 10-6 with 16 seconds remaining.
Chimere Dike had a brilliant 71 yard kickoff run which gifted the Titans a 42 yard field goal before half.
Bo Nix and the Broncos offense started with the ball out of half after a short lightening delay but threw ANOTHER interception, this to Xavier Woods, which 3 plays later would give the Titans another field goal to go back into the lead 12-10 with 11:56 remaining in the 3rd quarter.
The Broncos had their best drive of the day at a great time. Great completions to Marvin Mims and Courtland Sutton to move the ball deep into Tennessee territory. It was a 13 play drive that took 4:17 off the clock but it stalled out at the Tennessee 10 yard line so Wil Lutz converted a chip shot to put the Broncos back in front 13-12 with 4:17 remaining in the 3rd quarter.
Justin Strnad sacked Cam Ward on 1st down putting the Titans behind the sticks but on 3rd and 13, Chig Okonkwo broke several tackles to get a 1st down. Holding call on the next play put the Titans into a 1st and 20 situation. On 3rd and 20, Cam Ward threw it deep for Ayomanor and Riley Moss made sure he couldn't come down with it. Broncos defense forced a punt and the offense would take over at their own 31 yard line with 2:27 remaining in the 3rd quarter.
After an initial first down by Evan Engram, the Broncos eventually punted from around midfield and the Titans went back to work at their 12 yard line. Calvin Ridley finally got his first catch of the game but that was about all the offense could do as they punted it right back to Denver but Marvin Mims MUFFED the catch, setting Tennessee at the Denver 22 yard line. The Broncos defense went full BEASTMODE with back to back sacks on Cam Ward, the first from Jonah Ellis for a loss of 16 and then Zach Allen for a loss of 11 knocking the Titans out of field goal range.
Broncos started their next drive on offense from their own 20 and the running game FINALLY came to life! RJ Harvey busted off a 50 yard run and then a couple plays later JK Dobbins high stepped into the end zone for a 19 yard run, extending the lead 20-12 with 7:37 remaining in the game.
Cam Ward got an intentional grounding penalty against him basically killing their next drive and after a punt, the Broncos offense went back to work at their own 37 yard line with 6:48 remaining in the game.
It seemed like Courtland Sutton gained enough yards for an important first down but the challenge put him 3 inches short. A QB sneak didn't get there either and the Broncos gave the ball back to Tennessee at their 46 yard line.
The Titans couldn't do anything with their gifted field position and punted it back to Denver. Broncos put together a nice drive to eat some clock that was aided by a boneheaded personal foul penalty by Jeffrey Simmons on 3rd and 10, giving the Broncos a 1st down. Denver forced a 4th and 8 from the Titans 36 and decided to go for it though it looked more like an opportunity to throw it deep and run a bit of clock.
Titans last ditch effort would be with about 1 minute and no timeouts. After 3 straight incompletions, on 4th and 10, Ja'Quan McMillian sacked Ward causing a fumble and Jahdae Barron came up with the recovery. Broncos win 20-12!
The next broadcast will be on Sunday, September 14th as the Broncos travel to Indianapolis to take on the Colts. Coverage starts at 8am MTN.
Below are postgame interviews with Bo Nix and Talanoa Hufanga: