Broncos scouting report: How Denver matchups up against Giants and predictions

Broncos (0-0) astatine Giants (0-0)

When: 2:25 p.m., Sunday.

Where: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J.

Radio/TV: 850 AM, 94.1 FM/KDVR-31.

Weather: Partly sunny with precocious of 84.

Broncos-Giants series: Tied 6-6. The Giants won the past gathering 23-10 successful 2017.

Key matchup

Broncos OLB Von Miller vs. Giants RT Nate Solder

The spotlight is connected Miller and Solder for the aforesaid reason: Neither played successful 2020. Miller was mislaid to an ankle wounded days earlier the play opener against Tennessee and Solder opted retired of the twelvemonth owed to coronavirus concerns.

The Broncos kept Miller successful bubble-wrap until the Aug. 28 preseason finale against the Los Angeles Rams, erstwhile helium looked crisp and appeared acceptable for regular duty. Solder missed the accumulation play owed to a enarthrosis wounded sustained successful mid-August.

But here’s the kicker: The Giants are committed to 2020 first-round prime Andrew Thomas astatine near tackle, which means Solder volition commencement his archetypal vocation crippled astatine close tackle.

“He’s a feline that’s been versatile passim his career,” Giants manager Joe Judge said. “Nate has played near and close (tackle) this preseason and he’s done a bully job. He came back, worked precise hard this offseason and jumped close backmost into it. I emotion the tone and enactment helium brings to the team.”

This is simply a captious play for Miller, who is simply a escaped cause adjacent March. When past seen playing a afloat year, helium had lone 9 sacks. For the Broncos to get disconnected to a not-awful start, Miller has to beryllium successful bully signifier from the hop.

Who has the edge?

Quarterback

Go with the seasoned successful Week 1 and that means Teddy Bridgewater, the Broncos’ 5th antithetic Week 1 starter successful arsenic galore years. Make oregon interruption clip for the Giants’ Daniel Jones (30th successful passer standing successful ’20). Edge: Broncos

Running back

If Saquon Barkley was healthy, the Giants would person the edge, but helium didn’t play successful the preseason (torn ACL past year). The Broncos volition unveil their 1-1A wallop successful Melvin Gordon and rookie Javonte Williams. Edge: Broncos

Receiver/tight end

Courtland Sutton plays for the archetypal clip since past September (ACL), allowing the Broncos to rotation retired him, Jerry Jeudy, KJ Hamler and TE Noah Fant. Giants No. 1 WR Kenny Golladay didn’t play successful August (hamstring). Edge: Broncos

Offensive line

The Broncos’ line, which includes the aforesaid formed arsenic 2020 prevention for RT Bobby Massie, created a coagulated run- and pass-blocking instauration past month. The Giants … not truthful much. They commencement 2 second-year players, including LT Andrew Thomas. Edge: Broncos

Defensive line

Time for Broncos DE Dre’Mont Jones to statesman his breakout play (he’s reasoning 10 sacks). But the Giants’ Leonard Williams volition beryllium the champion D-lineman connected the field. He had 11 1/2 sacks past year, 7 1/2 much than immoderate teammate. Edge: Giants

Linebacker

Broncos OLB Von Miller looked crisp successful his lone preseason trial thrust past month, but other him, OLB Bradley Chubb’s lingering ankle wounded is simply a concern. Giants ILB Blake Martinez is simply a tackle instrumentality (151 past year). Edge: Giants

Secondary

The archetypal trial for the revamped cornerback corps of Ronald Darby, Kyle Fuller and Pat Surtain II and the returning Bryce Callahan. They, on with safeties Justin Simmons and Kareem Jackson, are overmuch amended than the Giants. Edge: Broncos

Special teams

The Broncos person spent the past 2 weeks semi-revamping their peculiar teams to amended the coverage/return units. But until they beryllium allowing agelong returns isn’t the norm, their hostile volition get the edge. Edge: Giants

Tale of the tape

* 2020 stats

By the numbers

0 — Fans who attended Giants location games past twelvemonth due to the fact that of the pandemic. A sellout assemblage is expected Sunday.

5 — Remaining Broncos players connected the roster from their past crippled against the Giants successful 2017 (LT Garett Bolles, K Brandon McManus, DE Shelby Harris, OLB Von Miller and S Justin Simmons).

151 — Tackles past twelvemonth for Giants ILB Blake Martinez, 59 much than immoderate teammate.

15-14 — Broncos backmost Teddy Bridgewater’s vocation grounds successful regular play roadworthy games.

Betting/fantasy

Line: Broncos -2 1/2

The Broncos are a roadworthy favourite for the archetypal clip since manager Vic Fangio’s opening crippled successful 2019 — a three-point favourite astatine Oakland (24-16 loss). In their past 30 games arsenic a roadworthy favorite, the Broncos are 17-13 consecutive up and 15-14-1 against the spread. In the teams’ past meeting, the Broncos were a 13 1/2-point location favourite successful October 2017 and mislaid 23-10 to the antecedently winless Giants.

Prop bet: Longest TD implicit 37 1/2 yards (minus-115)

Bet the under. The Broncos had an 80-yard touchdown drawback successful the preseason opener (Drew Lock to KJ Hamler astatine Minnesota) and their longest wide rushing effort was 18 yards. The Giants’ had a 43-yard touchdown completion past month, but lone 1 rushing touchdown of immoderate benignant successful 63 attempts.

Fantasy play: Sit Broncos WR Courtland Sutton

There are a fewer reasons to beryllium cautious with Sutton arsenic a starter connected your phantasy team. He is coming disconnected past September’s torn ACL and manager Vic Fangio has indicated his snaps whitethorn beryllium managed aboriginal on. If the preseason is immoderate indication, the Broncos fig to tally two-tight extremity unit to stress the tally game.

Post predictions

Mark Kiszla, columnist: Giants 20, Broncos 17

Would it astonishment maine if Denver won? Not successful the least. The Broncos are a slightly more-talented team. But I deliberation the emotion of a home-opener connected the 20th anniversary weekend of 9/11 volition beryllium the difference.

Kyle Newman, bushed writer: Broncos 24, Giants 13

Teddy Bridgewater exceeds expectations successful his Denver debut, including a agelong touchdown walk to Jerry Jeudy, whom the Giants person nary accidental of tackling successful unfastened space. And the Broncos D flexes connected Daniel Jones and Co. with 2 interceptions, allowing lone a garbage-time touchdown.

Ryan O’Halloran, bushed writer: Broncos 27, Giants 17

Vic Fangio wins the biggest crippled of his head-coaching vocation to commencement a September to remember. Ronald Darby and Justin Strnad intercept Giants backmost Daniel Jones to nonstop a connection to the NFL that this Broncos defence means business.

Sean Keeler, columnist: Broncos 19, Giants 17

Potentially the champion crippled connected the NFL slate successful Week 1. Also, potentially, the worst. Uncle Vic breaks his September curse conscionable disconnected Broadway, past breaks into song.