The New York Jets won the opening coin toss and chose to defer possession to the second half bringing out Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos offense to start the game in London.
Marvin Mims Jr. was only able to return the ball to the 22-yard line for Denver. JK Dobbins took the back-to-back handoffs for a short gains to bring up a third and seven. Nix, from the shotgun, found Troy Franklin for what looked like a first down but then fumbled the ball right into the Jets defense for the early turnover.
Justin Fields from the Broncos 37-yard line handed off for a short gain and then was sacked for a short loss by John Franklin-Myers to bring up third and long. He would take off on third and to gain just enough yards to bring up a long 52-yard field goal attempt by Nick Folk.
A much better return by Mims on the next return set the Broncos up out near their own 40 yard line for their next drive.
Nix found Nate Adkins for a quick six yards on first down, then a fake to Dobbins ended with a free corner blitzer that forced Nix to throw the ball away. On third and four, he fired a slant to rookie Pat Bryant for a first down to the Jets 45-yard line for the first down.
A false start by Matt Peart pushed the Broncos back to midfield and two plays gained one yard to bring up a third and 14. Nix, from the shotgun, fired a pass to RJ Harvey short of the sticks for about ten yards to bring up fourth down. Wil Lutz came out for a 57-yard field goal attempt that just squeezed it inside the uprights to tie the game up.
Broncos’ special teams broke down on the kickoff with a huge return for the Jets on a 72-yard return to the Broncos 24-yard line.
Denver’s defense came up big on first down with Riley Moss getting a tackle for a loss on a sweep, then after a short gain up the middle the Jets were faced with a third and eight. Fields, from the shotgun, was almost sacked but got the ball out in the flat where Talanoa Hufanga was there to for the tackle to bring out the Jets’ field goal unit.
Starting their next drive from their own 31-yard line, Nix play faked to Dobbins and then found Courtland Sutton on an intermediate pass for 16-yards. Dobbins was taken down for a loss on the next play, then Nix found Sutton wide open at the sticks for what looked like a first down. However, a holding call on Matt Peart pushed them back.
On second and 20, they tried a screen pass to RJ Harvey, but it only gained a couple yards. That holding penalty killed all momentum they had on the drive. Nix took off on third and for about 12 yards to bring up a fourth and five. Sean Payton decided to go for it on fourth down with Nix hitting Evan Engram on a quick out for an 11 yard gain and the first down.
The first quarter would come to an end with the Broncos driving deep into Jets territory and ending the quarter with a wide open touchdown pass to Nate Adkins.
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