Being a displaced Broncos fan certainly has it’s drawbacks, but there are times, when living so far from Denver that it has its merits. This last Sunday, I took the 4.5-hour drive down to MetLife Stadium to watch the Denver Broncos take on the New York Giants.

On the way down I was on the lookout for other fans on their way to the game. Maybe I was arriving too early or was too focused on not missing my GPS directions, but the only group of fans I saw before I entered a 30-mile radius of the stadium was a lone Jeep where four really large Giants fans were squished all together in their blue jerseys. Mad respect to them.

If you think trying to navigate around the stadium is difficult in Denver, I urge you to find your way to MetLife Stadium. It was damn near comical as our group tried to get from our parking lot across the highway to the stadium. With the stadium in sight, we wandered this way and that trying to figure out where we were going. Eventually, some kind Giants fans who seemed trustworthy, despite their Mark Bravaro jerseys, took pity on us and told us about the massive land bridge that we had incorrectly suspected had something to do with the train.

Once on the side of the highway that featured the actual stadium, we were on a mission to meetup with Denver-based Broncos super-fan @milehighgreco from Twitter.

Where was he? Parking lot B-2. Seems easy enough, right? Wrong. We navigated through barricades and walkways, eventually walking entirely around the stadium trying to locate this parking lot. For future reference, those wanting to access the B parking lot must enter the C parking lot and then take the land bridge over to B. I pity the poor bastards that have to find this lot in a car. You legitimately have to know where it is to get there or you’ll never find it.

...and find it we did!

New York based Broncos fan @Thatguy00352752 had worked all night as an airline mechanic, dropped his kids off for care, packed up his truck with a television, beer, and snacks and set up a great tailgate in the shadow of the stadium. Broncos fans are the best fans because they’re generous and passionate “Freddy P” was certainly all of those things.

I will say that from the outside, MetLife isn’t much to look at. It’s a brutal steel structure that is seemingly just plopped out in the windy wilds of New Jersey. Inside, however, it’s pretty amazing. As fans of a team that proudly plays in an uncovered stadium, MetLife gets a bunch of respect from me for how intimate it feels and how loud it can get. It’s a crushing shame that Peyton and the boys didn’t make more of a ruckus against the Seahawks in that Super Bowl.

There were two things quickly evident about the crowd in New York: Giants fans were late arrivers and that Broncos Country showed up in force.

It was a tremendous honor to be in New York the weekend America commemorated the 20th Anniversary of the attacks on 9-11.

When it became clear that the route was on, not even a $12 Bubba Burger with, Lord help me, “Signature Stadium Sauce” could keep the fans from fleeing the stadium. A trickle at first...

...then in droves.

With the Giants fans all cleared out, pretty much only the Broncos fans remained.

This team deserved every bit of adulation they received. Broncos Country is awesome.

Despite how nearly impossible it is to walk from the parking lot to other parking lots or the stadium itself, I have to say that attending a game at MetLife should be on everyone’s bucket list... especially when they win. Giants fans are some of the nicest I’ve encountered and the stadium, from the inside, is something to behold. My buddy, his kid, and I had such a tremendous time, we won’t forget it or the Broncos victory.

Seriously, though, how great was that win!?

HORSE TRACKS

Denver Broncos' Jerry Jeudy expected to miss 4-6 weeks with high ankle sprain, source says
Jerry Jeudy is expected to miss four to six weeks with a high ankle sprain suffered in Sunday's Week 1 win vs. the Giants, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Melvin Gordon III nominated for Week 1 FedEx Ground Player of the Week honors
Gordon iced the Broncos’ win over the Giants with a long touchdown run and eclipsed 100 yards.

Next-Day Notebook: Vic Fangio reflects on Pat Surtain II’s rookie debut
"He’s too good of a player to only play in the dime package," Fangio said.

The NFL back at full-capacity, mask policies differ by team
Orange and blue clad tailgaters are back at Empower Field at Mile High, and about the only mask around here during the preseason was the one Miles the mascot wore over his head.

Paul Klee: Let the Broncos ownership rumors begin: Jay Z, not Jeff Bezos, should be first | Paul Klee | denvergazette.com
Hmmm. Maybe this is why Jay Z was buttering up then-Gov. John Hickenlooper at a Broncos Super Bowl party in 2014, Paul Klee writes. Let the ownership rumors begin.

Meet Broncos diversity coaching fellow Mateo Kambui
This year, the Denver Broncos named Mateo Kambui as the first Marlin Briscoe Diversity Coaching Fellow. The fellowship is named in honor of the first Black quarterback to start during the Super Bowl Era, Marlin Briscoe.

Teddy Bridgewater makes the first impression Denver Broncos hoped to see - Denver Broncos Blog- ESPN
Bridgewater finished with a league-best 95.7 QBR during his debut with the Broncos and was "in total control," according to coach Vic Fangio.

Denver Broncos vs. Jacksonville Jaguars picks, predictions NFL Week 2
The Denver Broncos and Jacksonville Jaguars face off on Sunday in a Week 2 NFL game. Which team will win?

Report: Jeff Bezos, Jay-Z are potential suitors to buy Broncos - ProFootballTalk

LOOK: Ravens' Marlon Humphrey unknowingly records an interception against the Raiders - CBSSports.com
You have to see it to believe it

NFL Week 1: Cardinals good, Bills bad, Packers ugly
With the opening Sunday of the 2021 season in the books, Adam Schein identifies the good (Arizona Cardinals), the bad (Buffalo Bills) and the ugly (Green Bay Packers) from a wild, unpredictable Week 1.

Derek Carr rallies Las Vegas Raiders past Baltimore Ravens in wild OT win - 'Hope this is a sign of things to come'
Derek Carr finished the first regular-season NFL game played in front of fans in Las Vegas' history with 435 passing yards and two touchdowns, including the 31-yard strike to Zay Jones to seal the win in overtime.

Washington Football Team places Ryan Fitzpatrick on IR with hip injury
The Washington Football Team placed quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick on injured reserve Monday because of the hip injury he suffered Sunday.

San Francisco 49ers to put RB Raheem Mostert on IR; CB Jason Verrett has torn ACL
Niners running back Raheem Mostert is headed to injured reserve and is expected to miss eight weeks with chipped cartilage in a knee, and cornerback Jason Verrett is out for the rest of the season with a torn ACL.

Cleveland Browns center and NFLPA president JC Tretter calls for discipline against Kansas City Chiefs assistant who shoved player
Browns center JC Tretter, who is also president of the NFLPA, said while he doesn't condone his teammate Ronnie Harrison Jr.'s actions, he thinks Chiefs assistant coach Greg Lewis should be disciplined for his role in a sideline skirmish.

Former San Francisco 49ers LB Parys Haralson, who also played for New Orleans Saints, dies at 37
Former San Francisco 49ers linebacker and director of player engagement Parys Haralson, who also played two seasons in New Orleans, died Monday. He was 37.

Julio Jones' 'dumb (expletive)' penalty encapsulates Titans' terrible day vs. Cardinals
Tennessee's acquisition of Julio Jones was hailed as a move that could push the Titans toward legitimate Super Bowl contention. In Week 1, it didn't do much more than set them back, at least on one regrettable snap.

The First Read, Week 2: What Browns can learn from loss to Chiefs; plus, stock up/down, more
Are the Browns bound for greatness, despite collapsing against the Chiefs? Jeffri Chadiha explores that topic and more in his First Read ahead of Week 2 of the 2021 NFL season.

Saints signing Kenny Stills to their practice squad - ProFootballTalk

Matt LaFleur says Aaron Rodgers drama didn't influence blowout loss to Saints - ProFootballTalk