The Broncos have a chance to make it three straight when they meet the Cardinals in Week 7, and the matchup points straight at Denver’s offense. Arizona is coming off a stunning win over the Rams, but this is a game where the Broncos should have the edge if a few key players do what they’re supposed to do.
That starts with Bo Nix.
For Denver to avoid another slow, messy outing, Nix needs to play clean football against one of the league’s weakest pass defenses. The Cardinals have allowed the highest opposing passer rating in football this season and have already given up 16 passing touchdowns in six games.
Denver has faced a brutal schedule so far, which helps explain some of the offensive frustration, but that can’t be the excuse this week. This is the kind of matchup where the Broncos need their quarterback to look sharp, efficient, and in control.
Jaylen Waddle also needs to be part of the answer. His production has been uneven all season, with 138 receiving yards in Week 2 standing out as the lone big exception.
In every other game, he’s been held under 40 yards. That doesn’t fit a player described as the Broncos’ most explosive weapon, yet he has only been “forced” the ball once this year.
Against a Cardinals secondary that has already allowed 56 catches, 917 yards, and 10 touchdowns to wide receivers, Waddle should have room to hit on the kind of chunk plays that can tilt a game.
Then there’s J.K. Dobbins, whose season has been a grind.
The running back’s vision still appears intact, and Denver hasn’t had many negative runs, but the burst through the hole just hasn’t looked like last year’s version. There’s at least reason to think a matchup like this could help him break out, especially after he flashed some of that old form against the Chargers a couple of weeks ago.
If Dobbins can get going, it changes the whole shape of the offense and opens things up for everyone else.
The Broncos don’t need a masterpiece to beat Arizona. They just need those three offensive pieces to do their jobs, and do them well.
In Other News...
Broncos Enter Two Games That Could Shape Their AFC Push
Denvers 5-2 start has the Broncos firmly in the AFC playoff mix as the season approaches its midpoint, and the next stretch looks like one of the most important of the year. The schedule turns quickly with a home date against Kansas City followed by a road trip to Carolina, giving Sean Paytons team a chance to strengthen its place in the race before the calendar flips toward November.
The timing adds another layer of intrigue, because the Week 10 bye also lines up with the trade deadline, putting these two games right in the middle of roster-construction season. How the Broncos handle this brief but telling stretch will say plenty about where they stand, both in the standings and in how aggressively they might need to think about reinforcing the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Win Came With An Injury Scare Fans Will Hate
The Broncos had plenty to feel good about after a 30-16 win over the Cardinals, but the postgame mood came with a dose of concern. Denver took care of business on the scoreboard, yet the kind of injury trouble that can change a week fast started to pile up, with receiver Jaylen Waddle leaving after what looked like a shoulder issue.
Later in the game, defensive tackle Zach Allen also went down with a hamstring strain, adding to the uneasy finish. Allen was able to walk off on his own, and he said he would be fine, but Denver will still be watching closely as it sorts through the health of two players who matter to both sides of the ball. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Just Raised The Stakes For Their Showdown With Kansas City
Denvers latest win over Arizona did more than keep the momentum rolling, it sharpened the picture in a division that suddenly looks very much up for grabs. The Broncos improved to 5-2 with a multiple-score victory, and the wider AFC West landscape has shifted enough that every result now feels bigger than the last.
Kansas Citys loss to Seattle only added to the intrigue, while Las Vegas and Los Angeles continue to search for steadier footing. With the standings tightening and the race at the top taking shape, Denvers next trip into the spotlight arrives with real division consequences hanging over it. [Read more 🡒]