New York Giants vs. Denver Broncos: Prediction, preview, pick to win

NEW YORK GIANTS (0-5) AT DENVER BRONCOS (3-1)

GAME SNAPSHOT

KICKOFF: Sunday, 8:30 p.m. ET, Sports Authority Field at Mile High. TV: NBC, Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, Michele Tafoya (field reporter).

SERIES HISTORY: 12th regular-season meeting. Broncos lead series, 6-5. The Broncos have won the last two meetings by a combined score of 87-29, including a 41-23 thumping at MetLife Stadium in 2013. The Giants are 1-4 against the Broncos in regular-season road games.

KEYS TO THE GAME: The Giants' offense has no choice but to pick up the pieces after last weekend's devastating turn of events that claimed four of their five receivers. However, they're facing a Broncos defense that has very few weaknesses and is coming off a bye week.

With the new receivers -- Tavarres King, Ed Eagan and Travis Rudolph -- set to get a crash course in chemistry with quarterback Eli Manning, two players who might find themselves with bigger roles are tight ends Evan Engram and Rhett Ellison.

Engram is third on the team with 200 yards on 19 receptions. Because of his versatility, don't be surprised if he lines up more as a receiver. Ellison has six receptions for 50 yards for the Giants, who have underutilized him in the passing game. Regardless, Ellison has shown he can run very sharp routes and has been reliable when the ball has come his way.

The Giants' defense has been a leaky unit, both against the run and the pass, so it's important that it try to take the Broncos' skill players out of rhythm early.

Given the Giants' injuries at wide receiver and their inability to generate an explosive passing game the last time they had to play without wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., it would seem that the Giants' only shot at an upset would involve a heavy dose of Engram, an unexpectedly potent ground game against the Broncos' league-leading run defense and the Broncos self-destructing with turnovers.

That's why protecting the ball is key to the Broncos' efforts. They let the San Diego Chargers back into a Week 1 game that should have been a comfortable win because of fourth-quarter giveaways. If the Broncos avoid pitfalls of their own making, they should have enough firepower on both sides of the football to soundly beat the battered Giants.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH:

--Giants RT Bobby Hart vs. Broncos OLB Von Miller. The MVP of Super Bowl 50 probably will spend the majority of his snaps across from Hart, who struggled against the Chargers' speed rushers last week in his return from an ankle injury. Hart has allowed 13 pressures, including two sacks, according to Pro Football Focus. Miller, meanwhile, has four sacks in his last three games.

--Giants TE Evan Engram vs. Broncos LB Brandon Marshall, S Darian Stewart and S Justin Simmons. With the Giants' receiving corps decimated by injuries, Engram could represent the Giants' best threat of an upset. The Giants use the 240-pound Engram in space, and he has the capability to cause mismatches, although he finished last week without a reception. After limiting Chargers tight ends Antonio Gates and Hunter Henry to just 17 yards on two receptions in Week 1, the Broncos have surrendered 228 yards and two touchdowns on 22 receptions to tight ends in the last three games.

FRIDAY INJURY REPORT

NEW YORK GIANTS (New York did not conduct a practice on Friday. The Friday practice report is an estimation.)

--Out: LB Jonathan Casillas (neck), DE Romeo Okwara (knee), RB Paul Perkins (ribs), C Weston Richburg (concussion), WR Sterling Shepard (ankle), DE Olivier Vernon (ankle)

--Questionable: S Landon Collins (ankle)

DENVER BRONCOS

--Out: WR Cody Latimer (knee), QB Paxton Lynch (right shoulder)

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: Giants WR Roger Lewis. With Odell Beckham Jr., Brandon Marshall, Dwayne Harris and Sterling Shepard all set to miss the game, Lewis suddenly finds himself at the top of the receiver depth chart. The 6-foot, 203-pound Lewis, who has earned a game day uniform every week more for his work on special teams than in the offense, has eight receptions for 102 yards and one touchdown this season. The score came in the second quarter last week after Shepard and Marshall were injured. Lewis' biggest vice thus far has been his inconsistency. This is a golden opportunity for him to solidify his spot on this team.

FAST FACTS: Giants QB Eli Manning has 1,594 passing yards, 17 TDs and seven INTs in his past six vs. the AFC. In his past two on the road, he has 654 yards, five TDs and two INTs. ... Giants rookie TE Evan Engram aims for his fourth straight road game with at least four receptions. He ranks third among NFL rookies with 200 yards and fourth with 19 receptions. ... Giants DE Jason Pierre-Paul has 6.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and two recoveries in his past five AFC road games. ... Giants S Landon Collins aims for his fourth game in a row vs. the AFC with at least seven tackles. Since 2016, he is the only player with 150 tackles (161) and five INTs (5). ... Denver QB Trevor Siemian has six TD passes in his past two games vs. the NFC. In his past six home games, he has 1,485 passing yards, 12 TDs and four INTs. ... Denver RB C.J. Anderson has 585 scrimmage yards (97.5 per game) and six TDs (four rushing) in his past six games vs. the NFC.

PREDICTION: It's hard to see the winless and almost receiver-less Giants summoning enough offense against the league's No. 1 defense.

OUR PICK: Broncos, 24-10.

--Chris Cluff