Eli and Peyton Manning are set to square-off in an inter-conference matchup when the Giants and Broncos collide in Week 2. The Broncos are headed to the Meadowlands with a 1-0 record and hope to add to their win total on Sunday. The hosting Giants, on the other hand, are looking to capture their first win of the season against Denver's high-powered offense. The battle at New Meadowlands Stadium will kick off at 4:25 p.m. ET on CBS.
Broncos vs. Giants 2013 game preview: The Mannings battle in the Meadowlands
Eli and Peyton are set to duel for the third time in their NFL careers in Week 2. Who will come out on top?
Kent Nishimura
Meet the Broncos
Denver is coming off nine days of rest after their 49-27 thrashing of the Baltimore Ravens in Week 2. Peyton Manning threw for 462 yards and a record-tying seven touchdowns against the Ravens in the first game of the 2013 season. He connected with newly acquired wide receiver Wes Welker along with fellow pass-catchers Demaryius Thomas and Julius Thomas for two touchdowns each. Manning is the first quarterback to throw seven touchdowns in a game since 1969.
The Broncos will be without top defender Von Miller, who is serving a suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy. Pro Bowl cornerback Champ Bailey may also be absent from the game as he rests a foot injury.
Meet the Giants
The Giants got off to a sloppy start in a 36-30 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. During the contest, Eli Manning threw for 430 yards and four touchdowns, but he also contributed three interceptions. Starting running back David Wilson also struggled with turnovers, as he was benched after two fumbles in the game. Not all was bad on offense, though. Wide receivers Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz combined for 232 receiving yards and three touchdowns.
While the defense gave up 24 of the 36 points to the Cowboys, the unit did have two sacks, an interception and a forced fumble. New York's defense also prevented Dallas from converting a two-point conversion late in the fourth quarter. The Giants have improved the interior of their defensive line by adding former Eagles defensive tackles, Cullen Jenkins and Mike Patterson.
Local Takes: Broncos
Jon Heath of Mile High Report believes the Broncos are just starting to click and that there is room for improvement in Denver:
While the Broncos were impressive in their debut, there was some rust and there are obviously areas where the team can improve, both on offense and defense. Following a game in which they blew out their competition, the fact that the Broncos haven’t even peaked yet has to be a scary thought for the rest of the NFL.
Local Takes: Giants
Ed Valentine of Big Blue View believes that the Giants’ improved defense will help New York win games moving forward:
The Giants’ defense -- Entering the season the defense, 31st in the league a season ago, was the major worry. That doesn’t look like the case right now. Nothing that happened Sunday night can be blamed on the defense. Dallas had the ball for 37:10. That was the fault of the offense for not being able to stay on the field, not a defense that played admirably. The Cowboys gained only 3.8 yards per rushing play. The defense allowed only 23 of the 36 points Dallas scored, with two of those scores coming directly off turnovers by the offense. The Cowboys averaged 4.5 yards per play to 8.1 for the Giants.
Follow for Fun
Be sure to check out SB Nation’s team blogs, Mile High Report and Big Blue View, for more analysis and highlights from the game.
Add these fine follows to your Twitter timeline:
#nyg The Giants' odds of winning the 2014 Super Bowl have dropped from 25-1 entering the season 33-1, per @BovadaLV
— Ed Valentine (@bigblueview) September 12, 2013
#FantasyFootball Waiver Watch for week 1 of the NFL season.... http://t.co/3WdUX9XjYg
— Dennis M. Esser (@coachesser) September 12, 2013
#Broncos have apparently liked what they've seen from Manny Ramirez, as they signed him to a two-year extension today.
— Jon Heath (@JonHeathNFL) September 12, 2013
Denver #Broncos Fans: Three Reasons to Dislike the New York #Giants @Jezru http://t.co/iMfsx3nSvU
— MileHighReport (@MileHighReport) September 12, 2013
Predictions
Is this game being hyped too much? Or not enough? Answer the question. Now, think about what your answer says about you.
The pick: Broncos
Odds
The Broncos are favored by 4.5 points on the road against the Giants, according to OddsShark.com.
Next Week
More from SB Nation NFL:
See More:
