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Denver Broncos avoid Week 1 embarrassment due to just one aspect of the game

The Denver Broncos managed to outlast the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, winning 20-12 to start the season 1-0. But it didn't come anywhere near as easily as most thought it would.

Bo Nix played a terrible game and the Broncos turned the ball over four times. It was the first time the Broncos had won a game when turning the ball over four or more times since 2016. It's just a good thing it came against a growing team.

The Titans played well considering the circumstances and could have won this game if they hadn't gotten penalized 13 times for 131 yards and they had receivers who could make a catch here and there. Cam Ward played decently in his debut and kept his team in the game. But the Broncos were able to win for one reason and one reason only.

While Titans fans and those who don't like the Broncos will point to the number of penalties called by the referees, the Broncos' pass rush won this game. Last year, the Broncos led the league with 63 sacks and they got off to a great start to repeating that feat by wrapping Ward up six times in this game.

And they were timely sacks. Clinging to a one-point lead in the fourth quarter, this sack by Jonah Elliss may have been the biggest play in the game. It came after the Titans were set up with nice field position following a muffed punt by Marvin Mims.

— NFL (@NFL) September 7, 2025

In total, the Broncos got six sacks from six different players, but it wasn't just the sacks; it was the pressure the Broncos put on the rookie passer. This forced him into tough and hurried throws as the Broncos' front had clearly worn out the Titans' offensive line in the later stages of the game.

It was ugly, it was sloppy and it was extremely close to a terrible way to start the season. But the Broncos rallied and made plays when they needed to to dispatch of the pesky Titans and get their first Week 1 win since beating the New York Giants in 2021.

READ: Broncos' top free-agent signing will miss Week 1, but it's for good reason

The Broncos will go on the road to face the Indianapolis Colts next Sunday. They had one of the more impressive wins in Week 1, defeating the Miami Dolphins, 33-8.