Giants vs. Broncos preview

After two weeks off, we had a game Sunday followed by another one tomorrow night in Denver.  I’m really looking forward to watching our boys on Thanksgiving, but I’m nervous….both teams have struggled lately, especially on defense…so it might come down to turnovers and penalties.   Here is how we see it shaking out….

OFFENSE

The Giants still can’t get their running game in gear, and that is troubling.  However, Eli Manning had a career day against the Falcons, throwing for almost 400 yards and 3 TDs.  Tomorrow he faces the #3 pass defense, and that is scary.  It means the Giants need to run the ball, and can they?  The Broncos are 16th rushing and 20th passing on offense, so it stands to reason that they will also have trouble moving the ball…but the G-men are prone to giving up big plays.  EDGE: EVEN

DEFENSE

The Giants are 11th against the rush, though that is really hard to believe.  They are 2nd against the pass, and that’s even harder to believe considering how Matt Ryan, Philip Rivers, Donovan McNabb, Kurt Warner and Drew Brees shredded them.  But the Broncos have Kyle Orton and a suspect running game.  The Broncos are 18th against the rush and 3rd against the pass, so something has to give, and that something might be Brandon Jacobs and/or Ahmad Bradshaw.  EDGE: GIANTS

SPECIAL TEAMS

The Giants’ special teams are just awful.  They are dead last in punting, near the bottom in return yards and Lawrence Tynes is just shaky and not reliable.  And he keeps putting the Giants in bad field position with his lame kickoffs.  The Broncos aren’t much better in any of those categories, but they are definitely better than the G-men.  EDGE: BRONCOS

COACHING

Tom Coughlin and his coordinators knew they had work to do, and they still do.  But they have certainly improved things the last two games, especially on offense.  Meanwhile, Josh McDaniels’ honeymoon is over….his team started off 6-0 and now has lost four straight.  Sound familiar?  They are going to have trouble figuring the Giants out, too.  EDGE: GIANTS

INTANGIBLES

Giants’ CEO John Mara filed a complaint with the NFL about his team having to travel to Denver on Thanksgiving and play a night road game four days after hosting the Falcons.  Good luck with that, John.  The Broncos are home, sure, but they are absolutely reeling after a 32-3 home loss to the Chargers.  EDGE: EVEN

THE PICK

I see both teams having trouble moving the ball, and I see just one TD for each side.  That means Lawrence Tynes is going to be relied on, and that scares me.  But I think the G-men get the job done, providing they hold onto the ball and don’t commit any more stupid penalties.  Yeah, that’s a big if, but….GIANTS 16, BRONCOS 10

FANTASY OUTLOOK

This might be a good game to bench just about every Giant and every Bronco, other than their defenses.  It should be a low-scoring affair.  Okay, I might play Tynes (if I had no other options!) and TE Kevin Boss might see a few passes with the Broncos’ secondary worrying about Steve Smith and Mario Manningham, plus he’s suddenly become Eli’s red zone option.

Tags: Ahmad Bradshaw, Atlanta Falcons, Brandon Jacobs, Chargers, defense, Denver Broncos, Donovan McNabb, Drew Brees, Eli Manning, John Mara, Josh McDaniels, Kevin Boss, Kurt Warner, Kyle Orton, Lawrence Tynes, Mario Manningham, Matt Ryan, New York Giants, offense, Philip Rivers, special teams, Steve Smith, Thanksgiving game, Tom Coughlin