RUN GAME COMES TO CRASHING HALT
Only four teams in the NFL entered Sunday surrendering more rushing yards on the ground per game than the 139 yards the Giants were giving up, on average, during an 0-5 start.
That unit, depleted by a few key injuries, should have presented a chance for Denver’s improved rushing attack to get on track.
That wasn’t the case Sunday night. Denver managed only 46 yards rushing on 17 carries, a paltry 2.7-yard average.
The Broncos had rushed for no fewer than 111 yards in any of their first four games, but they never found a rhythm Sunday night. The longest run was a 9-yard scramble by Trevor Siemian.
The Broncos had successfully used C.J. Anderson, Jamaal Charles and Devontae Booker during their Week 4 win over the Raiders. But there was not a hot hand to ride against the Giants. And with the Broncos trailing by three scores in the fourth quarter, the rushing attack was officially grounded.
Thomas a bright spot.
Demaryius Thomas had one of the quietest games of his career in the Broncos’ 16-10 victory over the Raiders in Week 4, catching just one pass for 11 yards.
Thomas bounced back Sunday night against the Giants. He caught 10 passes for 133 yards, representing the lone bright spot in a Denver offense that couldn’t produce any sustained rhythm.
With the Broncos trailing 10-0 midway through the second quarter, Thomas leaped over Janoris Jenkins to haul in a 40-yard pass from Siemian on third down that set the Broncos up at the Giants’ 10-yard line.
The reception made Thomas just the seventh active NFL player to eclipse the 8,000-yard career receiving mark.
Thomas returned from a lower leg injury to eclipse the 100-yard mark for the first time this season. But he lost a fumble in the fourth quarter after gaining a first down on a fourth-down play.
Kicking struggles.
Brandon McManus signed a three-year contract extension hours before the Broncos’ season opener Sept. 11. Not much has gone right for Denver’s kicker since.
McManus missed a 35-yard fieldgoal attempt in the first quarter Sunday night, his fourth miss of the season. The early struggles are notable for a kicker who missed only five field goals all of last season, when he went 29-of-34.
It was already the second wayward attempt on a kick of shorter than 40 yards for McManus. He was a perfect 19-of-19 from inside that distance in 2016.
McManus also missed a 53-yard attempt in the third quarter that was partially blocked.
“We’ll address it with him but sitting here right now, he’s our guy,” Broncos coach Vance Joseph said.
Injury report.
Broncos right offensive tackle Menelik Watson suffered a calf injury in the second quarter and did not return. He was replaced by Billy Turner, who was active for the first time this season.
Wide receiver Cody Latimer (knee) and Paxton Lynch (shoulder) missed the game because of injury. The healthy inactive players were running back De’Angelo Henderson, offensive tackle Donald Stephenson, defensive end Zach Kerr, cornerback Lorenzo Doss and nose tackle Kyle Peko.