Broncos Vs Giants

This week is a short week for the Broncos as the Giants come into town to face off in a mile high battle. It is a thanksgiving battle that really could determine the rest of the season for this two teams. The Giants got their first win after four straight loses and are hoping to get a roll that will lead into the post season. The Broncos on the other hand have lost four straight and are looking for that momentum that will carry them hopeful into the postseason. This game will be close and hard fought.

NFL.com

Giants, Broncos square off on Thanksgiving night

In Brief

» Last meeting: The Giants tallied a narrow victory over the Broncos in 2005.
» Streaks: These teams have split their last four meetings, but the Giants have a 6-4 overall series edge, including the playoffs.
» Last week: New York needed overtime to defeat Atlanta, 34-31. ... Denver was overwhelmed by rival San Diego in a 32-3 loss.

Keep your eye on ...

Josh McDaniels' adjustments: When the Broncos were 6-0, McDaniels was hailed as a boy wonder and was the toast of the league. Now, with Denver 6-4, he is starting to feel the heat. McDaniels must find a way to get his team out of its rut or the season could quickly slip away.

The Broncos sideline: Denver wide receiver Brandon Marshall got into a heated exchange with rookie running back Knowshon Moreno on the sideline after Moreno fumbled into the end zone against San Diego. The Broncos appear to be splintering now that adversity has hit, but if they hope to turn things around, they would be well served to stick together.

Eli Manning's game management: With the Giants still banged up on defense and Brandon Jacobs ailing due to a knee injury, Manning will have to be very thoughtful in how he approaches this outing. He does not want to put too much pressure on the defense, and may have to make more plays through the air with both Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw playing through some aches and pains.

Did you know?

The Broncos have not hosted a Thanksgiving Day game since 1963. ... The Giants first played on Thanksgiving in 1926, beating the Brooklyn Lions, 17-0. ... The Giants have not played on the NFL Network since losing in Week 17 of the 2007 season against the Patriots, when New England completed a perfect 16-0 regular season.

ESPN.com
With Denver playing at home against the Giants and the Raiders playing at Dallas on Thursday, here are some injury updates for both teams:

Denver quarterback Kyle Orton appears set to start Thursday despite an ankle injury that kept him out of a total of three quarters Sunday. Denver had a jog through practice and Orton practiced fully.

Denver safety Brian Dawkins was limited Tuesday because of a neck injury that caused him to leave Sunday’s game in the first half. Right tackle Ryan Harris was limited. He has missed the past three-plus games with a toe injury.

Denverbroncos.com

QUICKLY:

• The Broncos, who are looking to snap a four-game losing streak, will host their first Thanksgiving game since 1963 and are set to play on the holiday for the 11th time in club history. Denver will play on Thanksgiving for the third time in the last five years.
• Denver is set to play on a Thursday for the fifth consecutive year and joins only Dallas and Detroit with that distinction. The Broncos’ five scheduled Thursday games in the last five years tie for the third most in the NFL.

OFFENSE:

• QB Kyle Orton’s 27-15 (.643) career record as a starter is the seventh best among active passers. His 18-3 (.857) career record at home as a starter is the best in the league since the 1970 NFL merger.
• Second-year WR Eddie Royal’s 122 career receptions tie for the most by a Bronco in his first two pro seasons. He is only the ninth Bronco in club history to post at least 1,000 combined yards in each of his first two pro seasons with Denver—He leads the team with 1,003 combined yards this year.
• RB Knowshon Moreno leads all NFL rookies in rushing yards (600) and yards from scrimmage (677). During the last two weeks, he is eighth in the NFL in rushing yards (177) and second in yards per rush (6.3).

DEFENSE:

• Led by long-time NFL defensive coordinator Mike Nolan, the Broncos are the only team to rank among the league’s top seven clubs defensively in yards per game (7th, 297.8), points per game (7th, 18.3) and sacks (T-4th, 29). Denver also is fourth in the league in yards per play allowed (4.8).
• OLB/DE Elvis Dumervil ranks first in the NFL with 12 sacks and is looking to become the first Bronco in club history to lead the league in sacks. His 12 career multiple-sack games, including five this year, tie for the seventh most in NFL history through a player’s first four seasons.

SPECIAL TEAMS:

• Since signing veteran P Mitch Berger on Oct. 26, the Broncos’ net punting average has shown the fourth-most improvement (+3.3 yds. / 34.5 to 37.8) in the NFL.
• Veteran OLB/DE Mario Haggan and rookie S Darcel McBath are tied for the team lead with nine special-teams tackles. They are two of eight Broncos with at least five special-teams stops this season.

NOTES FROM DENVER’S LAST FIVE GAMES VS. N.Y. GIANTS

at N.Y. GIANTS 24, DENVER 23 (Oct. 23, 2005)
Denver’s NFL record-tying four-game streak (20 quarters, 264 minutes) without a giveaway is snapped by the Giants on a desperation kickoff return to end the game... The Broncos have a player rush for more than 100 yards for the fourth consecutive game (Mike Anderson 24-120 yds., 1 TD).

at DENVER 31, N.Y. GIANTS 20 (Sept. 10, 2001)
The Broncos win the first regular-season game ever played at INVESCO Field at Mile High on Monday Night Football… Denver QB Brian Griese records 330 passing yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions for a career-best 144.3 passer rating.

at N.Y. GIANTS 20, DENVER 16 (Dec. 13, 1998)
Denver’s NFL record-tying streak of 18 consecutive victories ends with a loss to the Giants… Broncos RB Terrell Davis posts his 30th 100-yard rushing game (28-147 yds., 1 TD) to become the fourth-fastest player in NFL history to reach that mark.

at DENVER 27, N.Y. GIANTS 13 (Nov. 15, 1992)
Broncos rookie QB Tommy Maddox leads the Broncos on three second-half scoring drives after replacing an injured QB John Elway... Denver limits the Giants to 39 net passing yards.

N.Y. GIANTS 14, at DENVER 7 (Dec. 10, 1989)
The Giants take a 14-0 lead into halftime after scoring on a 57-yard screen pass midway through second quarter… Broncos QB John Elway accounts for 223 of his 292 passing yards in the second half.

Big Games
Well I execpt big games out of all the Broncos plays, I really think we have some nice matchups against the Giants and should really stick it to them. I need big games out of all the Broncos defenders as they will keep the Broncos in this game and give the Offense a chance to start firing.

My Take
This game will be close and hard fought, as you can see from the five previous encounters. It is hard to pick a winner out of these teams as it will be so close, but I hope it is the Broncos.

Jokes
Plaxico Burress has said he'd like to catch on with an NFL team after serving his two-year prison sentence. And if that's not possible, Burress is also open to playing for the Lions. While in prison, Burress plans to stay in football shape, which will be easy with all the football players in prison with him.

New York Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce is out indefinitely with a strained neck. The former Pro Bowler injured himself looking up at the standings.

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