Fanatics of the orange and blue, we have finally made it! We are just hours away from the Denver Broncos kicking off their 2021 season, opening their season with a battle against the New York Giants.
Both of these teams come into the season with a common goal in mind–to make a playoff push after some time away.
For the Denver Broncos, that looks like finally posting a winning record for the first time since the 2016 season, and earning their first playoff berth since Super Bowl 50. After five straight seasons of disappointment, Broncos Country is ready for playoff football to return to the Mile High City, and with a revamped defensive unit and a young and promising offensive unit, this may finally be the year.
As for the New York Giants, they will look for their first playoff appearance since 2016, which ended swiftly in a Wild Card round loss to the Green Bay Packers. Young quarterback Daniel Jones still is looking to find his footing as an NFL franchise quarterback.. will this be the year?
There are unanswered questions for both franchises as we kick the season off, and we will make progress toward answering them beginning with this Week 1 contest.
Let’s preview the game.
Game Details
Denver Broncos @ New York Giants
Metlife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
September 12, 2021
4:25 EST, 2:25 MST
Channel: FOX
Broadcast Map: If you are in the home state of your beloved Broncos or Giants, good news! You have great local coverage. Otherwise, outside of states such as Wyoming or New Mexico, coverage is hit or miss. Check out the entire broadcast coverage map here.
Broadcast Crew: Adam Amin, Mark Schlereth
Betting Odds: Wynnbet has the Denver Broncos as a -3 favorite over the New York Giants.
Top Storylines
Saquon Barkley’s Health
Throughout most of the working week, there was much conversation surrounding the health and status of Giants potential star running back Saquon Barkley. After a devastating ACL injury in Week 2 of the 2020 season, this will potentially be Barkley’s first regular season action in nearly a year.
While Barkley has been medically cleared to play Sunday and has not faced any significant setbacks, he has went through a majority of the offseason and preseason with no or limited contact. It is likely that Barkley will play Sunday, but it is likely his carries will be limited as he is steadily eased back into his role with the offense.
With a huge divisional matchup against the Washington Football Team just days later on Thursday Night Football, do not anticipate that Barkley will be overstimulated against the Broncos.
Should Denver Trust in Teddy?
Since the Denver Broncos named Teddy Bridgewater their starting quarterback, the decision by the team has generated mixed opinion, many feeling that not sticking with Drew Lock may conclude his time as a Bronco.
Essentially, Broncos Country has been critical of the team playing it “safe” with Bridgewater over opting for a potential high-risk, high-reward taste that Drew Lock gives the offense. While Bridgewater specializes in short yardage situations, he may just be good enough to take this team far with his talented receiving corps and promising backfield in Melvin Gordon and rookie Javonte Williams.
For Denver, it seems as if the quarterback carousel never stops turning. Will we finally see it come to a screeching halt?
Key Matchups and X-Factors
Read three ways the Denver Broncos can secure a victory here.
Von Miller vs. Daniel Jones
We have not seen Von Miller play in a football game since December of 2019. After a painful and brutal wait, we will finally see arguably the greatest defensive player of Denver Broncos history return to action against the Giants.
Not only is Von hungry after his season-ending ankle injury in 2020, he also has extra motivation: his son. After welcoming son Valor in August, Miller had made a promise that he would do everything to make his son, who he promises will be the “quarterback of the future”, proud.
Back in good health, look for Von to capitalize on the hesitancy and caution that has kept Daniel Jones from reaching his full potential. Von Miller has the ability to wreck this game and possibly make an early bid for a long-awaited Defensive Player of the Year accolade, or even Comeback Player of the Year.
Denver Broncos vs. East Coast
While this matchup is only hypothetical, it looms as one of the most important. If the Denver Broncos want to start the 2021 season on a strong note, they must be able to take care of business in the Big Apple.
However, Broncos Country knows all too well that the Broncos and the East Coast are as compatible as fire and gasoline. The team struggles when travelling to the East Coast, and has found themselves coming home with a loss to a lesser opponent with seemingly no rhyme or reason.
Of course, MetLife Stadium itself has not been kind to the Denver Broncos, and likely gives fans rough Super Bowl 48 flashbacks when the team plays there.
It would be a very successful way to kickoff a playoff push if the Broncos were able to open their season with a win on the road in an environment that has been hostile for the team for performance purposes.
X-Factors
Predominantly Orange writer and Site Expert Sayre Bedinger believes backups may be the difference maker in this one. Wondering who? Find out here.
Denver Broncos
OLB Bradley Chubb (Ankle)- QUESTIONABLE
New York Giants
TE Evan Engram (Calf)- OUT
RB Saquon Barkley (Knee)- QUESTIONABLE
DB Adoree’ Jackson (Ankle)- QUESTIONABLE