Making the Broncos’ task of getting back to the playoffs in 2021 a more viable proposition is the NFL’s sixth easiest schedule. That ranking is buoyed by four games against the NFC East, which is where Denver begins the new season.
Denver Broncos (-2.5)
There is a new quarterback in town and a new sense of urgency that this is the year the Broncos shake off the last five seasons of disappointment and get back to the postseason.
Von Miller is healthy again, and a big part of that urgency. At 32-years-old, and now with an ankle ligament tear to go along with an ACL tear in 2013 and a thumb ligament tear in 2011, he won’t last forever.
This defensive secondary also has all of the pieces in place to be one of the best in football. Justin Simmons and Kareem Jackson are a great safety duo, and Kyle Fuller, Ronald Darby, and rookie Patrick Surtain II are as good a three-some at corner as there is in football.
But it will come down to that new quarterback, Teddy Bridgewater. Part of why he won the job is the way he protects the football. Seasonally that’s an excellent trait, and for Week 1 that will be critical. The Giants also have a very good secondary, and Bridgewater will be good at not giving them any extra breaks they don’t earn for themselves.
New York Giants
The Giants enter Week 1 with one of the biggest question marks in the NFL: Will Saquon Barkley be back, or won’t he?
On the plus side, he did begin football contact last week in practice. On the negative side, he only began contact last week, and no one is willing to say that he will be ready to play by Sunday.
Best case scenario is that Barkley is a game-time decision to play, and he’s then eased back into play with a lighter load than normal. The more likely scenario is that with a long 17-game season ahead, Barkley is given one more week before he plays live football against a real defense.
The Giants did improve their wide receiver group, signing free agent Kenny Golladay and drafting Kadarius Toney. But without a fully healthy Barkley, they won’t be that successful against this great Denver secondary.
Betting Predictions
Broncos (-2.5)
Even as the Broncos compiled an embarrassing 5-11 season last year, they were still 9-7 against the spread. They have an improved offense this year with a healthy Courtland Sutton coming back, and they have more talented depth at running back with rookie Javonte Williams now teamed with Melvin Gordon.
A 2.5-point spread is great value for a team that could get to 10 or 11 wins vs. a team that tops out at eight wins in the worst division in football. Take Denver and lay the points.
Under 42.5
Denver is better on offense, but there will still be limits because of Bridgewater. Add in the great Denver defense, a solid Giants D, and this game has a 20-13 or 24-16 vibe. Ride these defenses and take the under.