Moreno’s TD run, Prater’s 3 field goals give Denver 16-6 lead over Giants

Broncos lead Giants 16-6 after 3 quarters

DENVER — Knowshon Moreno had a short touchdown run and Matt Prater added three field goals and the Denver Broncos took a 16-6 lead after three quarters on Thursday night.

The Broncos are looking to end a four-game losing streak.

The Giants, who were outgained by the Broncos 213 yards to 38 in the first half, got on the scoreboard when Lawrence Tynes kicked a 39-yard field goal with 7:55 left in the third quarter. He added a 52-yarder with 31 seconds remaining in the quarter after Eli Manning’s pass on third-and-24 fell incomplete.

Cornerback Terrell Thomas set up the Giants’ first score when he stepped in front of Brandon Stokley to intercept a pass by Kyle Orton, returning it 24 yards to the Denver 40-yard line.

Manning drove the Giants within striking distance, moving them to the Denver 27. But his third-down pass to Steve Smith was short of the first down, bringing on Tynes.

The Broncos, who started the season 6-0, broke through for the touchdown midway through the second quarter with an assist from the defense. Linebacker Mario Haggan jarred the ball loose from Giants running back Danny Ware, getting increased playing time in the absence of the injured Ahmad Bradshaw, and safety Brian Dawkins recovered for the Broncos at the Giants 38.

Brandon Marshall made a spectacular one-handed grab of a pass from Orton for a 28-yard gain, setting up first-and-goal.

Moreno, who fumbled at the goal line in last week’s loss to San Diego, this time went in with authority on a third-down burst from a yard, putting the Broncos up 13-0.

Around that score, Prater connected on field goals of 47 yards and 32 yards.

He kicked a 26-yarder in the first quarter after an Orton-led drive stalled at the Giants 8, when his third-down pass soared over the head of Marshall in the end zone.

Orton was back as the starter for the Broncos. Chris Simms started in his place a week ago while Orton was nursing a sprained left ankle, though Orton ended up playing in the 32-3 loss to San Diego when Simms was yanked for ineffectiveness in the second quarter.

The Giants, who snapped a four-game losing streak with a victory over Atlanta on Sunday, had problems moving the ball against the Broncos. All three of their first quarter possessions ended in punts.

The Giants were outgained 103 yards to 21 in the first quarter by the Broncos, who had seven first downs to New York’s one.

Broncos outside linebacker Elvis Dumervil, who entered leading the league in sacks, notched his 13th when he took down Manning late in the second quarter to stop a Giants drive. The sack total is a career high for Dumervil, whose previous high was 12.5 in 2007.

The game at Invesco Field was the first Thanksgiving Day game hosted by Denver since 1963, when the Broncos were still members of the AFL.