Denver Broncos at New York Giants 9/12/21 - NFL Picks & Predictions

The Denver Broncos visit MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on Sunday to play the New York Giants in Week 1 of the NFL regular season. Denver will start quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, who won the QB battle during preseason with Drew Lock. The Broncos offense will have Melvin Gordon III starting at running back and wide receivers Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy and KJ Hamler. The Broncos will look to be physical with the offensive line and establish a running game that will give Bridgewater more time when dropping back to pass.

Denver's defense is a 3-4 and is led up front by nose tackle Mike Purcell and defensive ends Jonathan Harris and Dre’Mont Jones. The Broncos best overall defensive player and one of the best for several seasons in the NFL is linebacker Von Miller, who will play alongside Alexander Johnson, Josey Jewell and Bradley Chubb. The defensive secondary is led by safeties Kareem Jackson and Justin Simmons while cornerbacks Kyle Fuller and Ronald Darby are excellent in coverage.

The New York Giants open the regular season with Daniel Jones under center. In order to better protect their quarterback, New York acquired offensive lineman Billy Price on Monday. The Giants will have their top running back Saquon Barkley back at 100% health and wide receivers Kenny Golladay, Darius Slayton and Sterling Shepard give Jones three dangerous aerial options to attack opposing secondaries.

The 3-4 defense of the New York Giants is led upfront by nose tackle Austin Johnson, who is flanked by defensive ends Dexter Lawrence and Leonard Williams. The linebackers are led by Lorenzo Carter, Blake Martinez and Tae Crowder. Martinez is questionable but is expected to play on Sunday. Jabrill Peppers and Logan Ryan are the two starting safeties, while James Bradberry is excellent in pass coverage and will start at one cornerback, while Adoree’ Jackson will start opposite Bradberry.