A holding penalty on a 32-yard run by Ashton Jeanty really bailed the Denver Broncos out just before the end of the first quarter. Denver’s defense turned that 2nd and 12 into third and 12 and then into a Nik Bonitto sack to force the punt to give the Denver Broncos offense another chance to wake up for this game.
A holding penalty on Mercedes Lewis on first down killed the Broncos next drive. Bo Nix would nearly throw an interception on second and 16 and then find a completion at the 40 yard line, but it was three yards short. On fourth and 3, Nix attempted to draw them offside but it would not work. Yet another three and out.
Yet another shank by Jeremy Crawshaw gave the Raiders the ball at their own 29 yard line for their next drive. On third and nine, Geno Smith would find Brock Bowers beating Jahdae Barron badly on a 31-yard catch and run into Denver territory. They would force the Raiders into a fourth and two at the 31 where Smith would find a wide open receiver for a touchdown — but the play was called back due to a pick penalty.
That penalty would knock them completely out of field goal range too, so the Raiders would punt it away where it would take an incredible bounce to pin the Broncos at their own one yard line. Unlike Crawshaw, the Raiders punter was having a career game in the first half.
The Broncos would again go three-and-out. All four drives to start the game. This time, Evan Engram dropped an incredible throw from Bo Nix who extended the play long enough for him to get him. That was followed by yet another horrific punt by Jeremy Crawshaw to give the Raiders the ball at the Broncos 43-yard line for their next drive.
Denver’s defense seemed poised to rise to the occasion forcing an incompletion then Nik Bonitto had a four yard tackle for a loss on Brock Bowers. However, on third down they gained just enough yards to allow the Raiders to go for it on fourth and five. Geno would be sacked by Talanoa Hufanga for a huge flip in field position for an otherwise anemic offense.
With their best field position of the day at their own 47-yard line, the Broncos offense finally got a first down on a 13 yard carry by JK Dobbins into Raiders territory. That seemed like that would be it for that drive as a holding penalty on the next play set them back big, but Bo Nix would find a wide open Pat Bryant for 44-yard gain to the Raiders six yard line.
Two plays later Nix would find Troy Franklin on a quick slant for a six yard touchdown pass to tie the game up.
Broncos 7, Raiders 7.
Wanting the ball back, the Broncos began calling timeouts on the Raiders next drive after Malcolm Roach picked up a sack on first down. It was the Broncos defense fourth sack of the half. On third and six, Smith would get sacked again for the Broncos fifth sack of the game. He would be brought down by Zach Allen who already had a sack earlier in the half.
Penalties killed the Broncos offensive momentum. They were making plays finally, but two penalties just killed all momentum for a chance to score before half time.
