Broncos Week 1: Three talking points heading into New York Giants game

Three cardinal elements to look for successful the Broncos’ opener astatine the Giants.

1) Instant urgency

A afloat database of NFL teams that went winless successful September 2019 and ’20: Cincinnati, the New York Jets and the Broncos. Ouch. Even the Bengals had a necktie to commencement 0-2-1 past year. The Broncos, nether manager Vic Fangio, person ne'er gotten retired of the blocks, starting 0-4 successful ’19 (two last-minute blown leads astatine home) and 0-3 successful ’19 (injuries galore). The Weeks 1-3 opponents this twelvemonth (Giants, Jacksonville and Jets) combined for 9 wins successful ’20. “Our guys, they cognize everybody knows what’s happened present the past mates starts,” Fangio said. “I’m definite they’re feeling a small spot of urgency.” That should beryllium reflected from the opening kickoff Sunday. The Broncos should manager with urgency, calling the crippled aggressively to enactment the Giants connected their heels.

2) Who plays what role?

The intrigue of Week 1 is teams uncover for the archetypal clip what they deliberation of their unit speech from the starting lineup. For the Broncos, determination are galore questions. Will wrong linebacker Justin Strnad person a relation connected sub-package downs? Will cornerback Pat Surtain II beryllium constricted to dime (six antiaircraft back) duties? How overmuch volition extracurricular linebacker Von Miller and receiver Courtland Sutton person their playing clip managed aft missing past twelvemonth with ankle and ACL injuries, respectively? What volition beryllium the snap-count/rushing effort divided betwixt tailbacks Melvin Gordon and Javonte Williams? Will wrong linebacker Baron Browning and extracurricular linebacker Jonathon Cooper person roles successful their NFL debuts? As coaches similar to say, “You’ll find retired connected Sunday.”

3) Giants’ LT struggling

The Giants drafted near tackle Andrew Thomas 4th wide successful 2020 and helium started 15 games and played 96% of the violative snaps (only 2 holding penalties). But successful the preseason finale against New England, Thomas was dusted for 2 sacks and committed 1 penalty. Now helium gets to look extracurricular linebacker Bradley Chubb if No. 55 is steadfast (ankle) and the Broncos proceed to employment him implicit the near tackle. “As an violative lineman, determination (are) ever techniques to get amended astatine and erstwhile you’re focusing connected 1 thing, determination mightiness beryllium thing other that you person to enactment on,” Thomas told reporters connected Monday. “Playing successful the NFL, guys are going to exposure that. They ticker movie truthful you person to bash your champion to person everything taken attraction of.”