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Broncos hang on to beat Titans in ugly 20-12 win
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- Broncos hang on to beat Titans in ugly 20-12 win
It wasn't pretty, but the Denver Broncos kicked off the 2025 NFL season with a 20-12 win over the Tennessee Titans at Empower Field at Mile High on Sunday afternoon.
Tennessee went 33 yards on six plays on rookie quarterback Cam Ward 's first drive in the NFL before settling for a field goal to take an early 3-0 lead. After that, Denver went 44 yards on nine plays before settling for a 39-yard Wil Lutz field goal to tie the game at 3-3.
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Later in the first quarter, Broncos quarterback Bo Nix rolled out to his left and threw a pass intended for wide receiver Courtland Sutton that was intercepted by Titans defensive back Roger McCreary . The Broncos' defense nullified that giveaway by forcing a takeaway of their own early in the second quarter when safety Talanoa Hufanga forced a fumble that was recovered by fellow safety Brandon Jones .
Denver failed to capitalize on that takeaway and Nix was later strip-sacked for his second turnover of the game. Tennessee then drove down to a three-yard line before a Nik Bonitto sack forced the Titans to settle for a 33-yard field goal to make it 6-3. The Broncos later scored late in the second quarter when Nix connected with wide receiver Courtland Sutton on a 22-yard touchdown pass to make it 10-6. The Titans then had a 71-yard kickoff return that set up a 42-yard field goal to make it 10-9 going into halftime.
After a unique weather delay during halftime, Nix threw a bad interception on Denver's first drive of the second half and Tennessee later capitalized with a 35-yard field goal to take a 12-10 lead. The Broncos responded on their next drive with a 12-play, 48-yard drive that ended with a 28-yard Lutz field goal to retake a 13-12 lead.
In the fourth quarter, Denver returner Marvin Mims muffed a punt return and the Titans recovered the ball at the Broncos' 24-yard line. Jonah Elliss later recorded a 16-yard sack that pushed Tennessee back to the 38-yard line. After that, Zach Allen had an 11-yard sack that knocked the Titans back to midfield, out of field goal range.
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On the next drive, Denver rookie running back RJ Harvey ripped off a 50-yard run down to Tennessee's 30-yard line. That helped set up a 19-yard touchdown run from J.K. Dobbins that made it 20-12. The Titans later got the ball down by eight with just under one minute remaining, but they weren't able to move the ball as the Broncos' defense sealed a win.
Nix finished the game 25-of-40 passing for 176 yards with one touchdown, one interception and one last fumble. Harvey led the team with 70 rushing yards on six carries and Dobbins ended the day with 63 yards and a score on 16 carries. Six different defenders recorded a sack on Denver's defense, including Elliss, Allen and Ja'Quan McMillian, who sealed the game with a fourth-down sack at the end.
On the injury front, Broncos tight end Evan Engram twice went into the blue medical tent on the team's sideline. He was later announced as questionable to return with a calf injury .
Up next for the Broncos is a road game against the Indianapolis Colts (view Denver's full schedule ).
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This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: NFL news: Broncos hang on to beat Titans in ugly 20-12 win
