Denver Broncos 2013 Opponents - An Historical Perspective: New York Giants

The Giants, over the last five meetings between Denver and New York, have been a team that the Broncos have dominated in Denver but lost to on the east coast. Denver is 3-2-0 over the last five meetings. The average margin of victory in the three wins was fifteen points while the average margin of defeat in the two losses was 2.5 points.

Denver Broncos Schedule

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The first of the five meetings took place in Denver on Week 11. The Broncos jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. New York closed the gap to 14-6 on two, second quarter field goals. Denver answered with two field goals of their own -- one in the third quarter and one in the fourth -- to make it 20-6 before the Giants scored their first touchdown in the fourth quarter. The Broncos added a late touchdown for the final 27-13 margin.

Denver did not face the Giants again until 1998 when the two teams met in the Meadowlands on Week 15. The Broncos entered the game riding a thirteen game winning streak. New York stopped that streak in its tracks. The teams traded field goals in the first quarter. Then after taking a 6-3 lead in the second, the Broncos fell behind 10-6 at the half. Denver closed the gap to one point (10-9) in the third but fell further behind 13-9 early in the fourth quarter. The Broncos responded to New York's field goal with a seven-play, 76 yard touchdown drive that consumed 3:28 of the clock and gave Denver a 16-13 lead. A Giants fumble was followed by a Broncos punt and New York got the ball back with 1:49 left on the clock at their own 14-yard line. On their next possession, New York's Kent Graham completed four of six passes, the final one being a 37-yard touchdown strike to give the Giants a 20-16 lead. The Broncos got the ball back at their own 42-yard line with 0:41 left on the clock and one time out. Five plays later, Denver had the ball 1-10-NYG30 with 0:05 left on the clock. Unfortunately, Elway's pass fell incomplete and the Giants walked away with the victory.

The third meeting came in Denver as the Broncos' opening game of the 2001 season. The defenses dominated the first half as the Broncos forged a 14-7 halftime lead. Both teams compiled yards (New York had 128 first half yards while Denver had 230) but neither team was able to capitalize. Each team added a third quarter touchdown that made the score 21-14 at the end of three quarters. The Broncos opened the game up in the fourth quarter, posting ten points on their first two possession in that quarter, to take a 31-14 lead. The Giants were able to rally for a 90-yard drive late in the fourth to close the gap to 31-20 (the extra point attempt failed) with 1:48 left in the game. Denver quarterback Brian Griese was able to kneel down three times to run out the clock and preserve the victory.

An Historical Perspective: Baltimore Ravens

Denver and the Giants met again on Week 7 of the 2005 season, this time in the Meadowlands. The Broncos entered the game riding a five-game winning streak (which had followed an opening day loss). This was a closely fought contest that saw the Broncos take 3-0 lead in the first quarter then lose it to trail 7-6 at the end of that quarter. Denver regained the lead 13-7 in the second and led 13-10 at the half. The Broncos extended the lead to 20-10 in third quarter then 23-10 in the fourth. New York answered that fourth quarter field goal with a 65-yard touchdown drive to close the gap to 23-17. Denver missed a field goal on their next possession but were able to end the Giants' following possession with an interception. A 3-and-out gave New York the ball 1-10-NYG17 with 3:29 left in the game. The Giants marched down the field and scored with ten seconds left on the clock to take a 24-23 lead. A fumble on the ensuing kick-off -- the Broncos' returner had tried to lateral the ball was recovered by New York to assure the win.

The most recent game between these two teams came in Denver on Week 12 of the 2009 season. This was Josh McDaniels' inaugural season as Denver's head coach. The team had raced out to a 6-0-0 start only to lose their next four games. Then the 6-4-0 Giants came to town. The Broncos scored first on a field goal in the first quarter. They added 13 more points in the second quarter to take a 16-0 lead into the locker room at halftime. The Giants narrowed the lead to 16-6 on two third quarter field goals. The Broncos iced the win with 10 fourth quarter points.

Overall, Denver is 5-5-0 in the regular season versus the Giants and 0-1 in the postseason. How do you like the Broncos chances in September?