Broncos-Giants first quarter update: Denver stumbles out of the gates against New York

The Denver Broncos received the opening kickoff, but some very predictable offense ended with a very predictable three and out to start the game. The New York Giants did exactly what they wanted to do after deferring the opening winning coin toss tot he struggling Broncos offense.

To open their first series, Eli Manning and the Giants looked to get rookie Evan Engram into the passing game early. Brandon Marshall broke up the first attempt going Engram’s way. Justin Simmons could not stop Engram the next time on third down giving up the completion.

After another couple of first downs on a screen pass and an out pass, the Giants were moving into the Broncos side of the 50. Engram again burned the defense, this time for a 20+ yard gain to setup a first and goal opportunity.

On third and goal from the five-yard line, Manning was sacked by Shaquil Barrett after the No Fly Zone closed all of the holes in their defense to force the field goal attempt.

Giants 3, Broncos 0.

A first down from Trevor Siemian to Demaryius Thomas to open up the next Broncos drive was wiped off by an offensive hold from Allen Barbre to back the offense up. Three plays later, Denver would punt again after Siemian was stripped-sacked by Jason Pierre-Paul.

From their own 30-yard line, the Giants quickly found themselves in a third and 12 situation as the Broncos defense woke up. A draw play later and the Giants would have their own three and out.

After a fortuitous catch-interference call on the Giants on what could have been a huge turnover for Isaiah McKenzie on the punt return, the Broncos are setup with solid field position to start their next drive.

Siemian would hit Emmanuel Sanders on an intermediate throw and Sanders would take the run after catch into Giants territory all the way down the 22-yard line.

On the next play, Siemian would nearly hit A.J. Derby who almost came up with another circus one-handed catch. Jamaal Charles would make the third down attempt a more reasonable four yards after a solid second down carry. Siemian threw a very high arch pass that was overthrown. Not a good throw that brought Brandon McManus out to tie things up, but he shanked the kick.