The Denver Broncos went on the road and defeated the New York Giants 27-13 in Week 1 of the 2021 NFL season on Sunday. Here are our six primary takeaways from the victory.
1
Teddy Bridgewater was exactly what Denver needed him to be
(Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports)
Bridgewater demonstrated why he won the starting QB job in Denver’s season opener by completing 28 of his 36 passes for 264 yards with two touchdowns and no turnovers. He also rushed three times for 19 yards.
Bridgewater was efficient and he protected the ball, which is exactly what the Broncos need him to do. Bridgewater also proved that Denver’s offense doesn’t have to be a dink-and-dunk attack with him under center — the veteran QB had several impressive deep passes, including a 50-yard bomb that was dropped by KJ Hamler.
Bridgewater appears to be exactly what the Broncos needed at QB.
2
Pat Surtain is going to have some growing pains
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Surtain rotated in on defense as one of Denver’s outside cornerbacks early in the game and he was in coverage on New York’s opening touchdown. Granted, Surtain could have gotten some help from the team’s inside linebackers in the middle of the field, but the cornerback also missed a tackle after allowing a catch to Sterling Shepard.
This doesn’t mean Surtain is going to have a bad season, and it certainly doesn’t mean he won’t become a great cornerback, but it’s probably a good thing that the Broncos have more experienced CBs above him on the depth chart.
3
Von Miller looks like he's back to his old form
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After missing all of the 2020 season with an ankle injury, Miller returned in style against the Giants. Miller had a tackle for loss on third down to force a punt on New York’s opening drive, and he followed that up with a third-down sack on the Giants’ next drive. Miller later recorded another sack, leading a Broncos defense that harassed New York’s offense the entire game.
4
The running back rotation worked well
(AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
The Broncos had a near-perfect split between Melvin Gordon and Javonte Williams in Week 1. Gordon had 14 touches and Williams had 15 touches against the Giants, and that rotation helped both backs stay fresh. Rotating with Williams might have helped Gordon have the energy to break out a 70-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter against a worn-down defense. Overall, the two backs combined for 163 yards in Denver’s season opener.
5
Noah Fant looks like one of Bridgewater's favorite targets
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Take note, fantasy football managers.
Tim Patrick and Albert Okwuegbunam caught Bridgewater’s two touchdown passes, but it was Fant who led the team with eight targets on Sunday. Fant turned those targets into six receptions for 62 yards.
With defenses keying on Denver’s dangerous outside receivers, there’s plenty of room for Fant to make plays in the middle of the field, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see him continue to pile up targets — and catches — throughout the season.
6
Jerry Jeudy's injury could have been worse
(AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
When Jeudy went down with a gruesome injury midway through the third quarter, fans couldn’t help but wonder if it would be season-ending.
Later in the game, NFL Network reported that Jeudy suffered a high ankle sprain. Given how bad the injury looked when it happened, that’s overall good news for the second-year receiver.
Jeudy will miss time, but he should be back this season.
Up next for the Broncos is a road game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, who lost to the Houston Texans 37-21 on Sunday.
