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DENVER -- New York Giants head coach Ben McAdoo relinquished his play-calling duties this week so he could focus all his attention on helping his injury-battered team regroup. The decision to have offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan handle the play-calling chores worked out just fine in the Giants' 23-10 upset of the Denver Broncos on Sunday night. It was New York's first win in six games this season.
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"I was able to give all of myself to the men in that locker room," McAdoo said of turning over the play-calling to Sullivan. "I thought the team and the whole locker room needed me this week. I needed to be at my best for these players and coaches."
New York made a total of seven personnel changes in the starting lineup on both sides of the ball, primarily because of a slew of injuries, which included the loss of four wide receivers.
McAdoo said dealing with the team's mindset in the face of all the injuries and managing the personnel changes required his full attention, leading him to ask Sullivan to take over the play-calling. He hasn't decided whether to make the change permanent, however.
Quarterback Eli Manning said he already had a degree of familiarity with Sullivan's play-calling style, so the transition went smoothly.
"It's not different for me," Manning said. "I'm used to hearing Coach Sullivan in my ear. He calls plays all the time in practice. ...
"I talked to him and we had conversations earlier in the week and knew we were going to have to grind it out a bit with the run. We knew it wasn't going to be totally pretty, but we had some good opportunities, and the guys made some nice plays and we had some nice adjustments."
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Broncos kicker Brandon McManus missed one field-goal attempt and had another blocked in another tough outing at home.
McManus made a 28-yarder in the loss to the Giants, but overall he has converted just 5 of 10 field-goal tries in four home games.
"I still have confidence in myself," McManus said. "Kicking is a rhythm thing, but our rhythm isn't off. It's still very fluid in what we do. I haven't missed a kick in practice or warmups this season. It's just the games, and right now in the games I stink."
Broncos head coach Vance Joseph said he continues to have faith in McManus.
"He basically missed two tonight," Joseph said. "We'll address it with him, but sitting here right now, he's our guy."
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Giants rookie tight end Evan Engram had a team-leading five catches for 82 yards and a touchdown, helping to pick up the slack for a receiver corps badly depleted by injury.
Head coach Ben McAdoo said Engram's development was accelerated by necessity and that the first-round pick's talent and temperament will help him handle it.
"He's a rookie. We can't continue to treat him like a rookie," McAdoo said. "He's a guy that's going to have to make plays for us and be a big part of our offense moving forward."
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The Broncos lost wide receivers Emmanuel Sanders and Isaiah McKenzie to right ankle injuries in the second half.
Sanders had to be helped off the field, and McKenzie was driven off the field in a cart.
Joseph said both Sanders and McKenzie would undergo MRI scans to determine the severity of their injuries.
"The initial X-rays were both negative. We're lucky there," Joseph said. "We'll know more after the MRI results come in (Monday)."
Right tackle Menelik Watson also left the game with a right calf injury.
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Giants cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie missed the game after being suspended for abruptly leaving practice earlier this week.
McAdoo said he plans to meet with Rodgers-Cromartie and "revisit the situation."
Whether Rodgers-Cromartie rejoins the team remains to be seen.
"Nothing is set in stone yet," McAdoo said.
