The Cardinals head into Week 7 with a clear offensive priority: run the ball well enough to keep Denver’s defense from dictating everything.
That plan has to start with balance. Arizona has not exactly been lighting it up on the ground through the early part of the 2026 NFL season, averaging 3.7 rushing yards per attempt, and the passing game hasn’t offered much of a safety net either. Jacoby Brissett is averaging 5.7 yards per passing attempt, with only three more touchdown passes than interceptions.
Even so, there was enough in Week 6 to give the Cardinals something to build on. Arizona rushed for a combined 120 yards last week, and that effort could serve as a useful benchmark when the Broncos come to town.
Jeremiyah Love is listed as questionable, but the backfield showed it can still function if Tyler Allgeier and Bam Knight carry the load. Allgeier, who built his reputation with the Atlanta Falcons over the last four seasons as a hammer behind Bijan Robinson, finished Week 6 with 38 yards. His physical style still gives Arizona a different edge if Nathaniel Hackett increases his touches.
Knight brought his own spark. His elusiveness stood out last week, and his 31-yard run against the Los Angeles Rams is the kind of play that should open the door for more screens and counters. That matters because Vance Joseph is expected to send pressure at Brissett, and Arizona’s best answer may be to keep Denver’s front off-balance before it can tee off.
For Mike LaFleur, the challenge is simple: don’t get too aggressive, and don’t abandon the ground game. If the Cardinals can lean into that approach, they give themselves a chance to avoid negative plays and move closer to 3-4 on the season against what is being called arguably the best defense in the AFC.
In Other News...
Cowboys Interest Puts Cardinals Josh Sweat Situation Under A Harsh Light
Jeremy Fowlers report that the Cowboys could look into a Josh Sweat trade before the deadline adds another layer to a Cardinals edge-rush situation that already carried some intrigue. Sweat missed most of spring and training camp because of an offseason injury, leaving his availability a talking point even before the regular season got rolling, but the veteran defensive end has also become a familiar face in Arizona after signing multiple contracts with the team, including a four-year deal in 2025.
The interest from Dallas also puts a spotlight on how the Cardinals view a player who has been part of their plans and has publicly said he wanted to stay after Week 1. With Arizona already having turned away trade interest in him, the whole situation now sits at the intersection of roster stability and outside demand, which is never a comfortable place for a team trying to hold its edge together during the season. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals' Rams Win Came With Another Discipline Warning
The Cardinals Week 6 win over the Rams brought the kind of momentum Arizona has been looking for, but it also added to a familiar off-field theme for this roster. Two players were cited by the NFL for illegal blocks in the game, another reminder that the margins around a young team can be measured not just in wins and losses, but in the details that come with playing clean football.
Mike LaFleur has already pointed to the teams growth while acknowledging there is still plenty to clean up, and the leagues latest fines fit that message neatly. The Cardinals have taken their share of discipline hits this season, and while the on-field result against Los Angeles was a positive one, the repeat warnings suggest Arizona still has work to do in keeping the whistle from becoming part of the story. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Fans Still Have One Big Question About The Marvin Harrison Jr. Trade
Marvin Harrison Jr.s brief stint in Arizona ended with a move that was always going to spark questions, especially for a fan base that had been waiting to see him become a central part of the offense. Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort addressed the decision publicly and framed it as one made with the bigger picture in mind, saying the organization believed the trade would benefit the team as it continues to move forward with its other receivers.
Still, the deal leaves plenty for Cardinals fans to sort through, because Harrison never got much traction before the move and the return immediately raised the bar on what Arizona expects to get out of the transaction. Ossenforts message was clear enough on intent, but the real test now is whether the Cardinals can turn that extra draft capital into something that justifies parting with a player they had hoped would be part of the long-term answer. [Read more 🡒]