The Giants will open up the 2021 season at MetLife Stadium against the Denver Broncos. The Week 1 matchup will serve as the 14th meeting between the two franchises. The Giants lead the all-time series, 7-6, including a victory in Super Bowl XXI.
The first game between the Giants and Broncos took place in Week 8 of the 1972 season. The Giants rushed for 138 yards and two touchdowns, including 92 yards from Ron Johnson, who also caught three passes for 49 yards and one touchdown. The Giants registered three interceptions of Broncos quarterback Charley Johnson, including one in which Jim Files returned 37 yards for a touchdown, on the way to a 29-17 Giants win.
The two teams met again during Week 12 of the 1986 season, a game in which both teams struggled to get going on offense. Giants kicker Raul Allegre connected on four field goals, and the team's one touchdown came on a 78-yard interception return by George Martin. The Giants emerged with a 19-16 victory.
Of course, the most famous meeting between the two franchises occurred in Super Bowl XXI, which the Giants won 39-20. Phil Simms completed 22 of 25 passes for 268 yards and three touchdowns and was named Super Bowl MVP, while Joe Morris finished with 87 total yards and one touchdown. The Giants sacked Broncos quarterback John Elway four times in this game, led by Leonard Marshall's two. George Martin took down Elway in the end zone for a second quarter safety.
In 1998, the Giants spoiled the Broncos' bid for a perfect season with a 20-16 victory in Week 15 at Giants Stadium. Amani Toomer caught the game-winning touchdown on a 37-yard pass from Kent Graham with 48 seconds remaining in the game. Denver went on to win its second-consecutive Super Bowl.
In 2005, the Giants welcomed the Broncos to East Rutherford for one of the most exciting matchups between the two teams. The Giants trailed 23-16 with just 3:29 remaining in the fourth quarter when Eli Manning and the offense took over from their own 17-yard line. Manning would go on to complete 9 of 13 passes for 74 yards on the drive and threw the game-winning touchdown to Toomer with just 10 seconds left. The Giants won the game, 24-23, in what was one of the first comeback victories of Manning's career.
The most recent contest between the Giants and Broncos was in Week 6 of the 2017 season at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Orleans Darkwa led the game with 117 yards on 21 carries (5.6 avg.) while Evan Engram reeled in five passes for 82 yards and a touchdown, Manning's only one of the game. The defense stepped up in this contest, sacking Broncos quarterback Trevor Siemian four times and intercepting him twice, one of which was returned for a touchdown. The Giants took home the road victory, 23-10.
