There wasn’t much to the weather delay for the Titans and Broncos.
The game has resumed with the start of the third quarter in Denver after fans were briefly told to seek shelter in the concourse due to lightning in the area.
The Broncos took a 10-9 lead into halftime.
But that lead could be short lived, as Bo Nix’s second interception of the game happened early on in Denver’s first drive of the half, setting Tennessee up in scoring position.
There wasn’t much scoring between the Broncos and Titans for most of the first half. But late in the second quarter, Tennessee’s offensive play-calling gave Denver an opportunity, and now the Broncos have a 10-9 lead at halftime.
The Titans got the ball on their own 7-yard line with 47 seconds left in the half with the Broncos having a pair of timeouts. But instead of conservatively running the ball to run down the clock, Tennessee head coach Brian Callahan called three passes. Making his debut, quarterback Cam Ward was incomplete on first and second down before being sacked for a near safety on third down.
Denver called its second timeout with 39 seconds on the clock to give itself the opportunity to get the ball back.
They took full advantage of that opportunity, as Bo Nix connected with Courtland Sutton for a 22-yard touchdown to give the team a 10-6 lead.
But a 71-yard kickoff return by rookie Chimere Dike set the Titans up for a 42-yard field goal, cutting Denver’s lead to just one at halftime.
Nix ended the first half 13-of-22 for 106 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
Ward is 7-of-12 for 64 yards.
Before the late-half scoring barrage, the two teams traded field goals on their respective opening possessions. But one of Bo Nix’s two turnovers allowed Tennessee to take the lead.
Nix’s first giveaway was an interception, with his pass to the left side intended for Courtland Sutton intercepted by cornerback Roger McCreary. But Tony Pollard’s fumble in Denver territory kept the Titans from scoring.
Later in the second quarter, Nix was strip-sacked by defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons with Sebastian Joseph-Day recovering the loose ball for an extra possession. The Titans were able to cash in on that with a 33-yard field goal.
The start to the second half will not come as scheduled, as the game has entered into a lightning delay. Fans have been told to seek shelter in the concourse area.
After missing much of last season, L’Jarius Sneed is officially back for the Titans.
Sneed is active for the season opener against the Broncos after he was questionable with a knee injury. The cornerback was limited for all three practices this week.
Running back Kalel Mullings (ankle) is also active for Tennessee after he was listed as questionable.
For Tennessee, cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis, safety Kevin Winston, cornerback Samuel Womack, offensive lineman Jackson Slater, offensive lineman Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson, defensive lineman Shy Tuttle, and defensive lineman CJ Ravenell are inactive.
There were no surprise inactives for Denver, as quarterback Sam Ehlinger, running back Jaleel McLaughlin, outside linebacker Que Robinson, defensive end Sai’vion Jones, offensive tackle Frank Crum, linebacker Dre Greenlaw, and tight end Nate Adkins are out. Ehlinger is the emergency third QB.
Safety Amani Hooker and the Titans took care of some business ahead of Week 1.
The Titans announced that they have agreed to terms on a contract extension with Hooker. The team did not announce any terms of the deal, but Hooker’s agent Jack Bechta told multiple reporters that it is a three-year deal worth $48.6 million with $29 million in guaranteed money.
Hooker was a fourth-round pick in 2019 and he’s in the final year of a three-year extension he signed with the team ahead of his fourth season.
Hooker spent two seasons as a backup and has started every game he’s played over the last four seasons. He has 335 tackles, 12 inteceptions, five forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries over the course of his career.
Linebacker Dre Greenlaw will not make his Broncos debut in Sunday’s season opener. The team ruled out Greenlaw with a quad injury.
Greenlaw missed all of the offseason program after hurting his quad while working out in April. The initial report was a tear, but the team clarified a strain would keep Greenlaw out eight weeks.
Greenlaw returned in time for training camp but then left practice early on July 31.
Coach Sean Payton said during camp that Greenlaw was dealing with scar tissue buildup.
Greenlaw did not practice this week, and Payton would not talk about his status or a timeline for his return.
The Broncos added defensive tackle Malcolm Roach to the injury report Friday after he injured his calf in Thursday’s practice. Roach will not play against the Titans.
Tight end Nate Adkins (ankle) won’t play after sitting out practice all week.
Outside linebacker Dondrea Tillman, who was limited in Thursday’s practice with a hamstring issue, returned to full participation Friday and is cleared to play. Outside linebacker Nik Bonitto (foot), linebacker Alex Singleton (thumb) and wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. (thigh) also are good to go.
