Thanksgiving Football Preview: New York Giants at Denver Broncos

The New York Giants travel to Denver to face the Broncos on Thanksgiving night. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:20 pm and the game can be seen on NFL Network. Best of luck finding an open bar on Thanksgiving evening, football fans.

Injuries: The Giants will again be without linebacker Antonio Pierce due to the bulging disk in his neck. Running back Ahmad Bradshaw has missed practice all week because of his injured ankle. Bradshaw has also been seen wearing a protective boot. He is technically a "maybe" for Thursday's game but I wouldn't expect to see him out there.

Bad news, Giants fans. Denver quarterback Kyle Orton will play on Thanksgiving.

The Giants will win...

because the Broncos are officially a lost cause. After starting the season 6-0, Denver has lost four straight. The Broncos lost by double digits in each of those four contests, which included a ten point loss to the lowly Washington Redskins. You can't just blame Denver's problems on the fact that Kyle Orton has been less than 100 percent the past few weeks. The Broncos' defense has disappeared, giving up 27 points to the Redskins and 32 points to the Super Chargers.

The Giants' offense appears to have returned to form, even with an injured Ahmad Bradshaw most likely on the sideline. Eli Manning's career day against the Falcons last Sunday, along with the play of Mario Manningham and Hakeem Nicks, was a glimpse at how good this passing game can be. It's highly likely that Manningham and Nicks will both just keep improving. Scary.

The Giants will lose...

because they have to play in the Denver air after just a few days of rest. The "Mile High" syndrome may seem like a cliché but it's a very real problem for visiting teams. The Giants defense isn't necessarily the most healthy group of eleven guys. There's also no denying the fact that the defense missed Antonio Pierce being out on the field, especially when an audible was needed.

The Denver Broncos are going to win again sometime in 2009. Much like last Sunday's Giants-Falcons contest, this is a must-win for the Broncos. The Broncos were embarrassed in Denver last week and that won't happen on Thanksgiving night.

The Giants secondary outside of Corey Webster has been horrendous this past month and that trend continued against Atlanta. Is there anybody, anybody wearing a football Giants uniform, that can stop Brandon Marshall? I say "no."

Prediction:

I just don't have a ton of confidence in Big Blue this week. Sure, the Giants can put points on the board against Denver. What reason do you have to believe that New York can keep Denver out of the end zone, especially in the fourth quarter? If this is a one-score football game with four minutes left, I'm fairly certain New York will give up the game losing touchdown. Prove me wrong, Giants, and make this a happy Thanksgiving for New York football fans.

Broncos 27
Giants 24