New York Giants vs. Denver Broncos: NFL Game Preview

• When: Sunday, September 15, 2013, 4:25 p.m. ET
• TV: CBS
• Radio: WCBS 101.1 FM, Sirius 86
• Last regular-season meeting: Nov. 26, 2009 – Broncos 26, Giants 6

Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos travel east to square off with younger brother Eli Manning and the New York Giants in a Week 2 showdown at MetLife Stadium. While much of the focus will be placed on the third installment of the “Manning Bowl,” the Giants’ quarterback would like to get back on track after an embarrassing 36-31 loss to the Dallas Cowboys in the season opener.

The Giants turned the football over six times during the game but still had a chance to come back in the fourth quarter. It was Eli’s third interception of the evening that sealed the deal, however, as Cowboys cornerback Brandon Carr returned it for a 49-yard touchdown.

“You’re not going to win the game turning the ball over five times and muffing a punt,” Giants coach Tom Coughlin told reporters following the defeat. “I’m totally, totally disappointed… embarrassed about that football. That’s sloppy, sloppy football.”

The Broncos, meanwhile, opened the NFL season in memorable fashion. Peyton Manning tied an NFL record with seven touchdown passes and Denver’s defense was stalwart, en route to a 49-27 victory over the Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens.

The two brother quarterbacks could not be on more opposite ends of the spectrum right now. Both have had their fair share of success over the years and Eli knows how to bounce back after a bad performance. And, to be fair, his play against the Cowboys was not all bad. He did throw for 450 yards and four touchdowns.

“Eli is a great player. He’s a consistent player,” Peyton said during a conference call. “He’s made things happen with different players, different receivers and different running backs. He’s been very flexible to adjust to the different players that he’s played with. But his consistency as a player has been awfully impressive.”

Eli will look to be impressive once again against the Broncos in hopes of improving his team’s record to 1-1. Unfortunately, the Giants have not had the best of success against the elder Manning brother in year’s past. In the two meetings they have had since Eli was drafted in 2004, Peyton has out-dueled his younger brother in each. He has thrown for an average of 265.5 yards per game with four touchdowns and one interception.

New York’s 32-year-old quarterback definitely struggled in the last “Manning Bowl” at Giants Stadium on Sept. 10, 2006. He completed 13 of 24 passes for 161 yards with two touchdowns and an interception in a tough 38-14 blowout loss to Peyton and the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday Night Football.

“This is a big game for us just because we’re 0-1 right now and we need to get a win,” Eli Manning said Wednesday. “Obviously, I know who the opposing quarterback is and they’re a good offense and high-powered and obviously scored a lot of points last week, so I know we’ve got to play smart and just go out there and try to play my best.”

The defense will have its hands full trying to stop Peyton Manning and his receivers. Wes Welker, Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker each had over 1,000 yards receiving last season and looked just as good in the season opener for Denver.

The Giants will be looking to keep Peyton under pressure all afternoon. They held the Cowboys to just 331 yards of total offense last week, but could not consistently generate enough pressure to fluster Dallas quarterback Tony Romo in the pocket.

If the Broncos’ quarterback has time to sit in the pocket, go through his progressions and make the right throw, he’s capable of slicing the G-Men up much like he did to the Ravens a week ago.

“Number one, it’s getting to the quarterback,” New York defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka said. “If he’s going to throw the really quick one, you have to get your hands up. And then it’s always you have to stop the run first. Even if they are a predominately passing team, you’ve got to make sure you stop the run because that’s the way for them to bleed the clock and to keep our offense off the field.”

The G-Men should be fine offensively, as long as they can eliminate the turnovers. Eli Manning connected with wideout Victor Cruz for three of his four touchdowns against the Cowboys last Sunday. Cruz and two other Giants’ receivers, Hakeem Nicks and Rueben Randle, each had over 100 yards receiving in the game.

Second-year running back David Wilson must see his snaps decrease after fumbling twice in the season opener, one of which was returned for a touchdown. He  has been working hard in practice to refine his technique and ensure that will not happen again. Coach Coughlin has stressed the need for him to improve his ball security… his production is vital to the offense’s success.

The re-signing of running back Brandon Jacobs should alleviate some of the pressure on Wilson to produce as the team’s feature back. How much playing time Jacobs will see is unknown, but he is expected to get some carries in short-yardage situations and inside the red zone. Jacobs holds the franchise record with 56 rushing touchdowns.

Neither Manning is willing to admit any greater excitement for this game in comparison to any other. They did agree it was “neat” and important to appreciate being part of something so rare; after all, it’s not often two brothers play quarterback for opposing offenses in the NFL. Still, Eli wouldn’t mind having one win over his older brother.

“Hopefully when I think back on these games that we played against my brother,” he said, “I can think back and remember at least one win.”

 

INJURY REPORT

New York

OUT: OT David Diehl (thumb), TE Adrien Robinson (foot)

QUESTIONABLE: CB Prince Amukamara (concussion), DE Damontre Moore (shoulder), SS Antrel Rolle (groin).

PROBABLE: C David Baas (knee), RB Da’Rel Scott (knee)

Denver

OUT: CB Champ Bailey (foot), TE Joel Dressen (knee)

DOUBTFUL: RB C.J. Anderson (knee)

QUESTIONABLE: CB Omar Bolden (shoulder), OG Chris Kuper (ankle)

PROBABLE: DE Robert Ayers (Achilles), OT Ryan Clady (shoulder), WR Eric Decker (shoulder), WR Trindon Holliday (knee), S Duke Ihenacho (thigh), WR Wes Welker (ankle), LB Wesley Woodyard (ankle)

 

STAT OF THE WEEK

QB Eli Manning has won 6 of past 7 games at home and three straight, with 12 touchdowns and just two interceptions over those last three.

 

KEY MATCHUP: CB Terrell Thomas vs. WR Wes Welker

Terrell Thomas, recovering from two ACL tears in consecutive seasons, performed well in his first regular season game since 2010. He had seven tackles and a pass defended against the Cowboys in Week 1. Now, he’ll be faced with one of his toughest tasks to date in the NFL: covering Wes Welker.

Giants’ defensive coordinator Perry Fewell announced that Thomas would take on slot cornerback duties this week, which means he’ll be lined up opposite one of the league’s best receivers. Welker caught nine passes for 67 yards and two touchdowns in his regular-season debut with the Broncos.

“It’s an exciting challenge,” Thomas said. “I’m excited to go up against him. I think he had a good game versus the Ravens, they put him in a lot of positions where it made it easy for him as far as pick routes and leverage. My biggest thing is just doing what the coaches ask me, playing to my leverage and, if he does catch the ball, be right there and make the tackle.”

 

Louis Musto is a reporter and sports talk host for the Sports Journey Broadcast Network. He is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America. All quotes were acquired first hand or via team press releases unless otherwise noted. You can follow him on Twitter @LouisMusto.