The Arizona Cardinals had a chance to turn a gritty win over the Los Angeles Rams into something more. Instead, Sunday brought a hard reset.
A 30-16 loss to the Denver Broncos left the Cardinals at 2-5 and exposed the same problem that keeps haunting them: the offense can move the ball without finishing drives, and the defense can’t survive when it gives up chunk plays. Arizona had just beaten the Rams 18-16 and looked like it might be finding something on defense. That optimism took a hit fast.
Denver had been searching for answers on offense for most of the season, but the Broncos looked far more comfortable against Arizona. The Cardinals held them to 13 points in the first half, yet still allowed 377 total yards by the end of the game. Bo Nix completed just over 50% of his passes, but averaged 7.7 yards per attempt, his best mark since Week 2 against Jacksonville.
The ground game hurt Arizona too. Denver rushed for 159 yards on 26 carries, good for 6.1 yards per attempt, and Nix added a 62-yard run of his own as the Cardinals’ defense disappeared on the play. In all, Arizona gave up explosive gains of 62, 52 and 47 yards, including the longest run and completion of Denver’s season.
That made for a brutal afternoon, especially with Larry Fitzgerald’s number retirement ceremony taking place in front of mostly Broncos fans. The bigger issue, though, was the same one that has followed the Cardinals all season: they can’t pair even average offense with sound defense at the same time.
Arizona’s offense moved the ball well enough to create chances, but not well enough to turn them into points. The Cardinals reached the Denver 20 five times and came away with three field goals, one turnover on downs and one touchdown while already trailing 20-6 in the second half.
That leaves them 1-for-10 in scoring touchdowns over their last 11 red zone attempts.
Trey McBride finally got Arizona into the end zone, and his score snapped a six-quarter stretch without a touchdown. He was the clear standout on offense, finishing with 10 catches for 111 yards.
Jacoby Brissett completed just over 56% of his passes and threw for 272 yards, but the numbers only told part of the story. He averaged 5.7 yards per attempt, and 67 of those passing yards came on the final drive.
That possession reached first and goal at the Denver 1, then stalled completely. Arizona ran seven plays without gaining a yard, including two that were wiped out by penalties and another that lost four yards on a sack.
Denver’s defense deserved credit, but the Cardinals made things easier than they needed to be. When long drives keep ending in field goals, the final score usually takes care of itself.
The Cardinals can clearly advance the ball. They just can’t finish.
Brissett has played like a backup, the offense still lacks rhythm, and the team doesn’t seem close to a wholesale fix. Changes feel inevitable, but Arizona is sticking with Brissett and has been reluctant to make major shifts to its staff or approach.
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 🡒]