Denver Broncos: Fresh game-by-game predictions ahead of 2021 season start

PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 20: JuJu Smith-Schuster #19 of the Pittsburgh Steelers is tackled by Bradley Chubb #55 and Kareem Jackson #22 of the Denver Broncos during the first quarter at Heinz Field on September 20, 2020 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 20: JuJu Smith-Schuster #19 of the Pittsburgh Steelers is tackled by Bradley Chubb #55 and Kareem Jackson #22 of the Denver Broncos during the first quarter at Heinz Field on September 20, 2020 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
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DENVER, CO – DECEMBER 22: Courtland Sutton #14 of the Denver Broncos celebrates after a catch and a first down as Will Harris #25 of the Detroit Lions bats the ball to the ground during a game at Empower Field on December 22, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – DECEMBER 22: Courtland Sutton #14 of the Denver Broncos celebrates after a catch and a first down as Will Harris #25 of the Detroit Lions bats the ball to the ground during a game at Empower Field on December 22, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)

We are in the home stretch. This will be the last weekend without football until February.

We have taken in all of the preseason games. We have completed our fantasy football drafts and as we prepare for Labor Day and for some, a well-deserved day off from the workplace, we now are completely focused on the 2021 NFL season.

In the case of the Denver Broncos, we know that Teddy Bridgewater will be the starting quarterback. We know that the team appears to have a great defense and some exciting rookies along with the returning Von Miller and Courtland Sutton.

This team stands a chance to be pretty good and some feel it is a darkhorse in the crowded AFC. Will this finally be the year the Broncos end their playoff drought? Will this be the year they end their long losing streak against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Following the release of the 2021 schedule, we made some predictions for each game. Now that some big decisions have been made and we have seen the team on the field, let’s take a look at how we see the team stacking up against the competition now.

Week 1 at New York Giants

It’s always tough to know what to expect in a Week 1 game, especially when the opponent is from the other conference. This game has some historical meaning as well as 20 years ago, on September 10, 2001, the teams opened the season against one another on Monday Night Football.

The following day, the country experienced one of the biggest national tragedies in history.

Going into this game, the Broncos definitely seem like the better team. The Giants have struggled mightily in recent years and two of their top offensive weapons, Saquon Barkley and Evan Engram, will be questionable for the matchup.

It is a road game and the Broncos have not won a season opener on the road since 2009 when they stole a game from the Cincinnati Bengals in an utterly insane fashion (video).

This game likely won’t come down to that sort of scenario. There will probably be some bumps in the road as the Broncos’ offense tries to get going and the Giants will play tough at home, especially if they are at full strength, but the Broncos should be able to grind out a win.

Broncos 17, Giants 13

Record: 1-0

Schedule