Giants Expected to Open Season vs. Broncos

 According to Art Stapleton of the Record, and later reported by Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post, the Giants will begin their 2021 campaign at home against the Denver Broncos on September 12 at 4:25 on FOX. 

This is an interesting choice considering both the Broncos and Giants are coming off of subpar seasons, and there is no guarantee as of yet that the Broncos will acquire disgruntled Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers -- although it is rumored that the Broncos are his preferred destination, if Green Bay should acquiesce. 

More importantly the game marks the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. 20 years ago, the Giants opened the 2001 season on Monday Night Football in Denver. That game took place the night prior to the terrorist attacks, and was the last NFL game in our pre-9/11 world. 

This year's contest will take place on the day after the 20th anniversary. 

Will fans be in the ballpark is another question. With states loosening up their COVID restrictions, there is a good chance we could see close to 100 percent capacity at MetLife Stadium for the season opener. 

Of course the Broncos and Giants are no strangers to seeing each other early in the schedule. The last time these two teams met at MetLife Stadium in 2013, it was a Week 2 game that featured Manning Bowl III between Eli and Peyton Manning -- a game Denver won 41-23. 

The Broncos have won three of their last five match-ups against the Giants dating back to 2001.  Their most memorable matchups were Giants victories; of course Super Bowl XXI in 1986, which the G-Men won 39-20, and in 1998 the Giants won a come-from-behind game in Week 13, 20-16 at the Meadowlands. 

Fans hoping to see the Giants face-off with the Eagles will have to wait, the Giants see them in Week 12. The Giants also host the Cowboys in Week 15. The rest of the schedule will be available soon, certainly before the 8 p.m. full schedule release. 

The Giants-Broncos game, could also indicate that the Jets are starting their season on the road.