ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Broncos are headed east to start the 2021 season.
Denver will open its 2021 campaign on the road against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium in Week 1. The game will kick off at 2:25 p.m. MT on Sunday, Sept. 12 and will be aired on FOX.
For only the second time in the last five years, Broncos fans won't have to wait an extra day to see their team kick off the season. In 2017, 2019 and 2020, the Broncos opened the year on "Monday Night Football" in the second game of a Week 1 double-header.
Broncos fans will have to wait at least a week to see their team in person, though. Denver last opened its season on the road in 2019, when the team traveled to play the Raiders on "Monday Night Football." The Broncos had started their season at home in nine of the last 10 seasons.
At MetLife Stadium, the Broncos will face off against the Giants for the 14th time in franchise history. The Broncos hold a 6-6 regular-season record vs. New York, but they have won just twice on the road against the Big Blue. Denver earned a decisive 41-23 win during the team's last game at MetLife Stadium, which was also the final matchup between Peyton Manning and his brother Eli.
The Broncos are slated to play the Giants in 2021 as part of the schedule formula rotation that will see Denver face off against all four NFC East teams. The Giants finished 6-10 in 2020 but earned a second-place finish in the NFC East.
The Giants are led by second-year head coach Joe Judge, quarterback Daniel Jones, running back Saquon Barkley, free-agent addition Kenny Golladay and defensive lineman Leonard Williams. New York also added Florida wide receiver Kadarius Toney in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft and selected Georgia edge rusher Azeez Ojulari in the second round.
Denver's new-look secondary should get an early test, as Golladay, Toney, Sterling Shepard, Darius Slayton and former top-10 pick John Ross form a talented receiving corps. The Giants also feature a pair of former Pro Bowlers at tight end in Evan Engram and Kyle Rudolph.
Several former Broncos are also currently on the Giants' roster, including cornerback Isaac Yiadom, running back Devontae Booker, punter Riley Dixon and long snapper Casey Kreiter.
Broncos Offensive Coordinator Pat Shurmur also has a connection to New York, as he served as the team's head coach from 2018-19.
The remainder of the Broncos' 2021 schedule will be released on Wednesday at 5:45 p.m. MT.
