As the Denver Broncos prepare to host the New York Giants on Sunday Night Football, many experts are predicting a double-digit win for the Broncos. With the Giants limited by a plethora of injuries, particularly at the wide receiver position, many expect the 3-1 Broncos to easily dispatch the 0-5 Giants.
Without star receivers Odell Beckham, Jr. and Brandon Marshall, as well as an injury to slot receiver Sterling Shepard, the Giants have little offensive firepower to challenge an already dominant Broncos defense. Despite the Broncos being overwhelming favorites, head coach Vance Joseph is keeping his team focused and prepared, so they don’t fall victim to the “trap game” mentality.
When asked about how his team is preparing to face the Giants, coach Joseph gave insight as to how he and his coaching staff are approaching the game against the 0-5 Giants: “That’s a good question. We have to put ourselves in [head coach] Ben McAdoo’s shoes. He’s got to use his resources: the tight end, the two backs [and specifically] 34, Shane Vereen. He’s a guy who can do multiple things in the run and pass game. So we have to put ourselves in his shoes and kind of figure out what his plan’s going to be versus our defense. It’s going to change some, but the foundation of what they’ve done the last two months, that can’t change. But what’s next for him? We have to get ahead of that and have an answer for it.”
One of those resources mentioned was rookie tight end Evan Engram, whose raw athletic ability has already produced results in his rookie season with the Giants. Through five games, Engram has totaled 200 yards and a touchdown on 19 catches. Engram’s style of play has already caught the attention of coach Joseph, commenting on what makes Engram a threat to his defense: “Speed. He can start and stop [in his route running], he’s a guy who has great ball skills. He can create issues for you with a back or a safety if you’re not ready for it.”
Joseph continued: “I watched the game last week and in the third and fourth quarter — he’s actually playing a Z-receiver and he looked very comfortable doing that. That’s one thing we have to be prepared for — him lining up as a receiver and not a tight end.”
As the only remaining receiving option from the Giants’ original starting lineup, Engram could be poised for a big game and could see a lot of targets from quarterback Eli Manning.
While the Giants will look to feature one of their young stars in the passing game, they will be without one of their veteran stars in former-Bronco Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. Rodgers-Cromartie was suspended indefinitely from the team after leaving the team’s practice earlier in the week.
Without of their key members in the secondary, coach Joseph was asked if the suspension changed the way they were planning on attacking the Giants’ defense. Coach Joseph made it very clear that the Broncos’ focus was on their own 53 players, not the other team’s:”It does not matter. It does not matter; the only team we’re [worried about] is the Broncos. Who [the other team] is playing on game day does not matter to us. Our concern is with the Broncos only.”
Donning their fan favorite all-blue uniforms, the Broncos will look to remain within striking distance of the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West. While the Giants will look to do everything in their power to avoid falling to 0-6, the Broncos should not overlook a team fighting for life in 2017 and a coaching staff possible fighting for their jobs.
A loss to a team without a win would cause alarm to the Broncos’ playoff chances. Based on coach Joseph’s confidence in his team’s preparation, it appears they will not be overlooking the Giants heading into Sunday night.
