Giants’ Andrew Thomas wins testy battle against Nik Bonitto

DENVER — Andrew Thomas eliminated Nik Bonitto faster than Bonitto could delete a social-media post.

The most anticipated matchup within the matchup in the Giants-Broncos game was the former second-team All-Pro Giants left tackle Thomas against the NFL’s sacks leader through the first six games (Bonitto, eight).

After finding that Thomas is a brick wall on their first few head-to-head snaps, Bonitto tried his hand against right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor, despite his almost exclusive usage against left tackles thus far in the season. He also dropped into pass coverage more often than expected.

Bonitto upped the ante for himself last week when he wrote on X that he’d never seen a more “delusional fan base” than that of the Giants. He quickly deleted his jab, but not before Giants fans sent the words to the attention of Thomas.

After two injury-plagued seasons, Thomas again is playing like one of the best left tackles in the NFL.

He entered the game having allowed just two quarterback pressures on 130 pass-blocking snaps.

For good measure, Thomas also sealed the entire left side to create a huge lane for Tyrone Tracy Jr. on his 31-yard touchdown.

Bonitto was stifled more by Thomas in the second half and finished with one tackle, none for a loss, and one QB hit.

The big-money Giants secondary took a hit.

Free agent signings Jevón Holland and Paulson Adebo were off the field for most of the second half with knee injuries.

Holland went down in the first half, returned for two plays before the break and was ruled out at halftime. Adebo went down in the third quarter.

Dane Belton filled in for Holland and made one of the biggest plays of the game, stopping Courtland Sutton short of the end zone on a receiver screen completed on fourth-and-goal from the 2-yard line.

Deonte Banks took over for Adebo and immediately was targeted by Broncos QB Bo Nix.

Abdul Carter, who was listed as questionable, went through a pregame workout with position coach Charlie Bullen and was declared ready.

He missed one play in the first half when he was on the ground after a tackle, but it appeared he was healed by the power of trash talk. Carter popped to his feet, jawing with the Broncos before the official pointed him to the bench because of the injury stoppage.

LB Victor Dimukeje made his Giants debut as he returned from a torn pectoral muscle suffered before training camp. He had a key pass deflection when the Broncos ran a tackle-eligible play and had Garett Bolles open in the end zone.

The Giants played without WR Darius Slayton, LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, LB Swayze Bozeman, DL Chauncey Golston, C John Michael Schmitz Jr. and OG Evan Neal.

Neal was a healthy scratch for the seventh time in seven games despite the shorthandedness on the interior of the offensive line.