The trash talk is mounting ahead of Sunday’s matchup between the Denver Broncos and New York Giants.
Earlier this week, Broncos linebacker Jonathon Cooper commented on Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart’s celebrations and the “chain” he wears — a clear sign that the rookie is getting under his opponents’ skin.
The jabs continued Thursday when fellow Broncos linebacker Nik Bonitto appeared to take a shot at Giants fans in a since-deleted post on X.
“I’ve never seen such a delusional fan base,” he wrote.
Giants Pass Rusher Responds to Broncos Linebackers
It didn’t take long for Bonitto’s remarks to circulate on social media, eventually finding their way to Giants pass rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux.
“Hold on,” Thibodeaux wrote, “what I miss?”
Giants fans quickly brought him up to speed, and Thibodeaux took note of Bonitto’s comment — and his apparent confidence.
Thibodeaux then posted a GIF of Denzel Washington in his award-winning role as detective Alonzo Harris during the climatic scene of the iconic film “Training Day.”
Giants fans may be a little jacked going into this game because they are coming off a surprising victory over the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles on “Thursday Night Football” last week.
Rookie sensations Dart and running back Cam Skattebo have brought excitement to New York. With a 2-4 record (they also have a victory over the Los Angeles Chargers), the Giants were looking for bulletin board material and the Broncos delivered.
Broncos Defense Ready to Pounce on Dart and Skattebo
Giants fans are feeling confident about their matchup with the Broncos. However, they might be overlooking Denver’s defense — the league leader in sacks. The Broncos also rank first in both third-down and red-zone defensive efficiency.
Denver boasts the NFL’s second-ranked scoring defense, allowing just 15.8 points per game, while sitting sixth against the run and third against the pass. When evaluating Vance Joseph’s unit, it’s hard to find any real weaknesses.
Leading the charge is Bonitto, who tops the NFL with eight sacks. He may feel that vocal Giants fans aren’t giving the Broncos’ defense the credit it deserves.
As for Cooper — freshly named AFC Defensive Player of the Week following Bonitto’s win the previous game — he didn’t seem too concerned about Dart when speaking at Wednesday’s news conference.
“Once you have played enough in this league, you’ve seen enough good quarterbacks. We play one of the best quarterbacks twice a year, every single year,” Cooper said. “So once you go against that, you kind of get a feel of the game, and you know what you need to do. You have to make him feel uncomfortable in the pocket, can’t let him get that confidence and that ego going. We just have to take care of that.”
Broncos LB Nik Bonitto Calls Out ‘Delusional’ Giants Fans in Deleted Post