Review of the first quarter of the Las Vegas Raiders and the Denver Broncos

The Las Vegas Raiders lost the first coin toss and the Denver Broncos decided to delay possession until the second half to get the Raiders' offense on the field to start the game.

Gardner Minshew and the Raiders offense quickly found themselves in a third-and-8 early in the game. Minshew saw that things were well covered and broke free from the pocket for a first down run. Brock Bowers dropped PJ Locke in coverage, allowing Bowers to make a huge catch and run for a 56-yard touchdown to open the game.

Raiders 7, Broncos 0.

Bo Nix and the Broncos offense were given a chance to respond to the poor defensive start. A third-and-inches run by Nix was stuffed and Denver would go for it. Javonte Williams made it to the Raiders' 42-yard line for the first time.

Denver wouldn't go anywhere from there. They gained five yards on the first down, but two consecutive incompletions by Nix forced Riley Dixon to punt.

Even though Minshew started with backup at his own 10-yard line, he kept converting third down and stretching with his legs. That would be the start of their next drive, where they would have control of the clock for the rest of the first quarter as the Raiders offense would simply have an answer to anything the Broncos defense could throw at them.

The Raiders' momentum on that second drive was dashed by a penalty of their own. Denver finally got off the field after a third down, but the Raiders had done enough there to score more points at the end of the first quarter.

Raiders 10, Broncos 0.

The Broncos' next drive began with good field position with a kick return by Tremon Smith to the 41-yard line. Two plays later, Marvin Mims Jr. completed a jet sweep into Raiders territory for a 17-yard gain.

Bo Nix ended the quarter with a shot to Lil'Jordan Humphrey that gave the Broncos a 21-yard lead and put them within scoring range.