DENVER -- Terrell Davis' long road back from two years of injuries ended just as Ed McCaffrey's began.

	Watching Ed McCaffrey suffer a broken leg was not a pretty sight for the Broncos or their fans.

Davis' powerful legs were coming back. He could feel it. Returning as the starter after coming back from a reconstructive knee surgery and a cracked foot, Davis planned to dazzle the frenzied crowd at the new Invesco Field at Mile High with his fancy footwork.

He accomplished his goal, but had to watch as a teammate took that first wobbly step down the path of a serious injury.

On a second-and-9 early in the second half, Denver's Brian Griese rifled a high pass that McCaffrey pulled in with one hand. New York safety Shaun Williams crashed into McCaffrey's legs so hard that he injured a thigh. For McCaffrey, the scene was worse.

His left leg snapped from the torque of the way it landed on the new grass field.

"A leg is not supposed to do the things his leg did,’’ Davis said.

Standing nearby, Davis and wide receiver Rod Smith knew something bad had happen. An ABC camera caught McCaffrey on the ground muttering some words such as, "It's broken, it's broken.’’

Broken was the tibia and fibia, ending McCaffrey's season and sending him to immediate surgery Monday night following the Broncos' 31-20 victory over the Giants.

On the night that the Broncos regained a 101-yard running back, they lost a 101-catch receiver. How cruel the fates of pro football work.

"I saw it and got choked up because I've been through that,’’ Davis said. "Ed worked so hard this off-season and one play takes it all away. I could empathize with that. It's a long road back. It's tough. I've been there.’’

Most of these Broncos have been tested. Griese won a Monday night game last year playing with a third-degree shoulder separation that ended his season. Davis has had his personal hell. And, now they had to deal with the loss of a great friend and warrior on the opening Monday night of the season.

"It's kind of a bittersweet feeling for me because we won the game, but lost a great football player,’’ a down Griese said after the game. "I can't say enough about Ed McCaffrey. He's one of my best friends. It was hard for me to get back out there and concentrate.’’

Griese admitted he felt responsible for the injury. Those thoughts kept flashing through his mind throughout the game.

"I've never been in that situation before,’’ Griese said. "I was responsible for my friend getting hurt.’’

But the game had to go on. Griese had responsibilities to compose himself. Smith had to make the immediate switch from split end to McCaffrey's role as the flanker. Eddie Kennison, the third receiver, had to move into Smith's spot at split end.

To make it work, Smith had to be coached even though he's been around seven seasons. Griese explained every route so Smith.

As a group, Griese, Davis and Smith watched McCaffrey being carted off. It was now up to them. They got focused. Davis busted an 18-yard run to the outside to move the Broncos to the Giants' 28. He then ran right tackle for 3 yards.

Griese called a "go’’ route down the right side line and hit Smith for a 25-yard touchdown that opened a 21-14 lead. After that, the Broncos rolled. Davis got his 101 yards. Smith finished with nine catches for 115 yards. Griese completed 21 of 29 passes for 330 yards and three touchdowns.

"From that point on, everything was personal,’’ Smith said of how he looked at his opponents. "I had to find ways to make plays and get everybody else up.’’

Smith focused on the plays he had to learn. His mind flashed back to tapes. He remembered that Giants veteran cornerback Dave Thomas never turned when the ball was in the air, so he knew Griese could get him a touchdown pass that would be virtually unchallenged.

Davis was so focused on what he was doing that he didn't even know that Smith had to undergo a position change. After all, Davis not only had to fight back from injuries, but he had to fight back the doubters. Hamstring and knee problems kept him sidelined through most of camp. He regained the starting job with a flurry in the final two preseason games.

Now, it was showtime.

"I know when I'm on the field, I'm going to do things,’’ Davis said. "I prepared hard. I've worked extremely hard. I know how important it is to make something happen.’’

The Giants complicated Davis' return by stacking the inside of their defense to take away his favorite inside running plays and his cutback lanes. The Giants employ the 46, the old Bears defense. The line in the middle is stacked, so Davis had to start breaking his runs to the outside.

The more he did that, he was able to gain 74 yards on nine carries in the second half.

"I saw Terrell smile again for the first time in a while,’’ Smith said. "On some plays, he'd gain 1 yard or 2. On the next, he'd lose a couple of yards. But then he'd start getting some breakout runs. He gets better when he gets his timing back.’’

Broncos coach Mike Shanahan plans to use Davis as the main back on most playing downs, trying to get him at least 16 carries a game. Based on Shanahan's feel for the game, he'll insert Mike Anderson or Orlandis Gary. Against the Giants, Shanahan used Anderson on some plays at the end of drives when Davis tired, turning Anderson into a potential touchdown back.

Anderson, who signed a four-year, $10 million contract extension Saturday, got six carries for 10 yards and a touchdown. Davis finished with 101 yards on 21 carries. Soon, the Giants wore down and fell behind, 31-14.

McCaffrey's injury, though, dampened the postgame celebration for the Broncos.

"Obviously, it always hurts to lose a great player like Eddie,’’ Shanahan said. "Everybody knows what Eddie has meant to this football team, but we're going to have injuries and you've got to step up. I think that's what we did tonight. Everyone worked together and found a way to get the job done.’’

How ironic, though. The day was supposed to be reserve for Davis. The crowd enjoyed his return. He had made his comeback from the long road.

Following the late night surgery Monday, McCaffrey's tough road was just beginning.

John Clayton is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.