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Broncos vs Giants Thanksgiving Game – Photo Essay

When the 2009 NFL schedule was announced, I was thrilled to see that my favorite team, the New York Football Giants, were coming to my adopted home state of Colorado to play the Denver Broncos this season.  Not only would it be the first time I would get to watch my Giants play at Mile High – the site of some classic match-ups from the ’80s-’90s (remember the Gary Reasons goal line hit on Bobby Humphrey in the snow?) – but it would be on Thanksgiving Night!

I immediately put out feelers for game tickets, and invited my parents to spend Thanksgiving at my new home in Colorado.  It seemed like a perfect holiday plan.  And up until Thursday night at about 6:20pm MT, it was.  It was at that point that my beloved Giants decided to crap all over our Thanksgiving celebration, by not even showing up for the game and putting on one of the more miserable displays I’ve ever had the misfortune of seeing in person. If you watched the game, you already know, and I’m not going to get into a breakdown of what went wrong (hint: everything. lowlights here).  For me, it was just brutal, while for the Broncos fans in the house, it was a full-on party.

But the holiday wasn’t a total loss, and I still have much to be thankful for. We were blessed with box seats and pre-game field passes by the Denver Post – clearly a signal of our growing influence in the sports blogosphere.  Or maybe my girlfriend got them for us.  Whatever.  In addition to free food and booze throughout the game, we were able to snap some decent photos from field level during warm-ups. Here are the best of those shots, with some commentary as to what you’re seeing. I hope you enjoy it more than I enjoyed the game.

All photos by ArtieFufkin.

Pre-game field passes = extra special surprise. Much thanks to the Denver Post team for taking such good care of us!

Aaron Ross fielding punts. Moments after this pic was taken, an errant punt bounced out of bounds and into my hands. As I handed it back to Aaron, I looked him square in the eye and said "Go get 'em Aaron!" He said nothing ... there was a general sense of lethargy from the Giants the entire night

Plenty of Giants fans in attendance for this game ... a short time later, they would all be miserable

And the Broncos take the field ... for warm-ups

CONTINUE AFTER THE JUMP FOR MORE PHOTOS FROM THE BRONCOS/GIANTS

The Broncos front 7 gets ready ... you could sense an intensity from this bunch even before the game.

This defense would have their way with the Giants O-line all night

The Giants were apparently talking about pie recipes pre-game

The Broncos DBs - including newest addition Ty Law - warmed up right in front of us

Champ Bailey getting ready to shut down Eli Manning and the Giants offense

Brian Dawkins seems to be reborn in Denver. I still hate him, though

Mixing it up in DB tackling drills

Undeniably, one of the best in the game

Miles Bronco (and mini-Bronco) take on a Steve Smith fan

Brandon Marshall talks smack for the cameras. His one-handed grab later in the game was simply incredible.

Kyle Orton to Eddie Royal

Orton to Brandon Stokley. These two hooked up for a TD later in the game.

Stokley & Royal prepare to run free in the Giants secondary

The Broncos run a few plays to get loose

... and it's game time!

From here, things start to get fuzzy ... must have been all the tryptophan

I'm pretty sure this one fell incomplete (side note: that IN-COM-PLETE chant they do at Mile High is probably the worst in sports. Just sayin')