The Cardinals get the Broncos at State Farm Stadium on Sunday, and the challenge is clear: Arizona is an underdog again at home, while Denver arrives at 4-2 and fresh off a win over the world champion Seattle Seahawks.
If the Cardinals are going to make this one uncomfortable, the game will likely tilt on a handful of individual battles. Up front, that starts with rookie right guard Hayden Conner, who is set for his first NFL start with Jon Gaines sidelined by knee and ankle injuries.
Waiting across from him is Broncos defensive tackle Zach Allen, an All-Pro who already leads Denver with 4.5 sacks and 16 QB hits. Arizona does not need Conner to win that matchup outright, but it cannot afford to let Allen take over the game.
Another spot worth watching is on the edge, where Josh Sweat draws Broncos left tackle Garett Bolles. Sweat looked like he had found something last week, finishing with a sack and a forced fumble on a two-point attempt.
Bolles, though, is no easy assignment as an All-Pro left tackle. The question is whether Sweat’s strong showing against the Rams’ backup left tackle was a sign he’s truly back to the level he showed last season, or just a favorable matchup.
The Cardinals also need a cleaner day from Jacoby Brissett. He has thrown interceptions in three straight games and has been picked off five times over the last three weeks.
That puts him directly in the crosshairs of a Broncos defense that has already intercepted Sam Darnold twice in Week 6 and has seven interceptions on the year. Denver has also forced three takeaways in each of its last two games.
In the passing game, Trey McBride remains one of Arizona’s most reliable pieces, entering the week tied for the league lead with 49 receptions. Still, the production has been more about volume than explosion.
He has not averaged more than nine yards per catch since Week 1, and in four of his last five games he has averaged fewer than eight yards per reception. The Cardinals will be asking whether he can finally shake loose against Denver’s linebackers and safeties.
And then there is the run game, where Arizona’s Tyler Allgeier and Bam Knight have a chance to attack a Broncos defense that has given up 4.7 yards per carry this season. Knight ran for 80 yards on 15 carries last week, including a 31-yard burst.
If the Cardinals can’t get the ground game moving, the outlook gets shaky fast. But if they can run it well, they have a real shot at knocking off a 4-2 Broncos team.
In Other News...
Cardinals Forced Into A Defensive Change Before Broncos Game
The Cardinals Week 7 inactive list brought a few expected absences before facing the Broncos, but it also clarified how Arizona would piece together its defense and offensive line going into the matchup. Among the players unavailable were Jeremiyah Love, Jon Gaines, Andrew Wingard, Walter Nolen, Max Melton, Carson Beck and Albert Reese, leaving the team to shuffle both depth and starting roles on a day when availability mattered.
Budda Baker was active despite dealing with a groin injury, giving Arizona an important veteran presence in the secondary. On the other side of the ball, Hayden Conner was set to start at right guard, while Kei'Trel Clark was projected to line up at cornerback opposite Denzel Burke, a combination that shows how quickly the Cardinals have had to adapt their personnel before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Backfield Just Got Murkier Ahead Of Broncos Game
Arizonas backfield picture got a lot thinner this week, with rookie Jeremiyah Love ruled out for Sundays matchup against the Broncos after suffering a high-ankle sprain. The injury leaves the Cardinals without one of the more intriguing young pieces in their offense and forces the team to adjust on the fly heading into a game where rushing production could matter.
With Love unavailable, Arizona is expected to lean on Zonovan Knight and Tyler Allgeier to handle the work in the backfield. The good news for the Cardinals is that Love is not expected to be sidelined for long, with a Week 8 return against the Cowboys on the horizon, but for now the team has to sort through a more uncertain rotation against Denver. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Get A Huge Sunday Boost As Broncos Lose Key Starter
Budda Baker gives Arizona a major lift heading into Week 7, with the veteran safety on the active list after dealing with an illness and a groin issue. The Cardinals also elevated offensive lineman Kingsley Eguakun and defensive lineman Jared Harrison-Hunte as they continue piecing together the roster for Sunday, while the Broncos made their own moves by activating running back Jonah Coleman and outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper.
Denver, however, will have to navigate the game without Patrick Surtain II, one of its top defensive backs, as he sits out with an ankle injury. It adds another layer to a notable weekend for Arizona, which is also inducting Larry Fitzgerald into its Ring of Honor, and even Broncos coach Sean Payton took time to praise Fitzgeralds career. [Read more 🡒]