The discourse surrounding Broncos quarterback Bo Nix after Week 6’s overtime win over the Seahawks was negative, but that’s unlikely to be the case after this Sunday’s game.
Nix ran for a 62-yard touchdown and went 15-of-29 for 222 yards and another touchdown to lead the Broncos to a 30-16 road win over the Cardinals. The win extends the team’s winning streak to three games and leaves them at 5-2 heading into next Sunday’s home game against the Chiefs.
The Chiefs blew the Broncos out in Week 1, but a Denver win next week would set up a good race in the AFC West over the second half of the season. More of the big plays that the Broncos used to fuel Sunday’s win would make that a likelier result.
In addition to Nix’s touchdown, the Broncos saw running back RJ Harvey break a short pass for a 52-yard touchdown and wide receiver Marvin Mims picked up 47 yards to set up a JK Dobbins touchdown run. Those are three of the four longest plays of the year for the Broncos and the team will be looking to build on that in the weeks to come.
A less positive development for the Broncos were a pair of late injuries. Wide receiver Jaylen Waddle hurt his chest and defensive lineman Zach Allen hurt his hamstring late in the fourth quarter and neither player returned. That will make their status something to watch as they head into their date with Kansas City.
The Cardinals got 10 catches for 111 yards and a touchdown from tight end Trey McBride, but they never really recovered from failing to score touchdowns on two first half trips inside the Broncos’ 10-yard-line. A last-ditch effort in the final two minutes brought them back to the Denver 1-yard-line, but the Broncos defense held and the game came to an end after Nix kneeled out the clock.
Arizona is now 2-5 and they’ll head to Dallas for a game against the Cowboys next Sunday.
Cardinals Clips
Explosive plays were in short supply for the Broncos in the first six weeks of the season, but they’ve found them in this Sunday’s trip to Arizona.
Quarterback Bo Nix’s 62-yard touchdown run in the second quarter staked the team to a 13-6 halftime lead and they came up with two more in the third quarter. Running back RJ Harvey caught a short pass from Nix and followed his blockers to an untouched 52-yard touchdown that put the Broncos up by 14 points.
After a Cardinals touchdown turned it back into a one-score game, Nix found wide receiver Marvin Mims for a 47-yard gain that set the Broncos up inside the 10-yard-line. A pass interference penalty moved them to the 1-yard-line and running back JK Dobbins scored on the next play.
That was also the final play of the third quarter and the Broncos are now up 27-13 in Arizona.
The Cardinals defense was able to hold the Broncos in check for most of the first half of Sunday’s game in Arizona, but one big play has made the difference for the visiting team.
Broncos quarterback Bo Nix broke loose for a 62-yard touchdown run on a scramble in the second quarter. That broke a 6-6 tie and the Broncos forced a pair of Cardinals punts to head into halftime with a 13-6 lead.
Denver only managed 98 net yards on their other 28 offensive plays in the first two quarters and they were 1-of-7 on third downs on their way to three punts of their own. Nix is 10-of-19 for 72 yards through the air and their eight non-Nix running plays have netted 30 yards.
The Cardinals haven’t been any better on offense. They have 117 yards and both of their field goals came after drives that moved inside the Broncos’ 10-yard-line. Their eight plays inside that territory have resulted in four yards and falling short in that area joins Nix’s big plays as the reason why the Cardinals are trailing at home.
Ryan Fitzpatrick might have a higher opinion of Bo Nix than he did the last time he saw the Broncos quarterback on the field.
Nix broke loose for a 62-yard touchdown run late in the second quarter of Sunday’s game in Arizona and the Broncos lead the Cardinals 13-6 as a result. It was the longest play of the season for the Broncos and it was their first run of at least 20 yards all year.
Nix only had 37 rushing yards this season before that big play and the lack of threat as a runner had some wondering if his ankle was all the way back from last season’s injury. That question was part of a diatribe from Fitzpatrick last Thursday that concluded with the Prime Video talking head calling Nix’s play “garbage” so far this season.
Sunday’s touchdown certainly didn’t fit that description and the Broncos hope that it’s a sign of things to come for the quarterback.
The Broncos will be without cornerback Pat Surtain II again on Sunday.
Surtain was listed as questionable to play against the Cardinals after returning to practice this week, but he landed on the team’s inactive list on Sunday afternoon. It is the third straight game that Surtain has missed with an ankle injury.
Quarterback Sam Ehlinger, safety Talanoa Hufanga, offensive lineman Kage Casey, tight end Dallen Bentley, defensive lineman Jordan Jackson, and defensive lineman Tyler Onyedim are the other inactives for Denver.
Safety Budda Baker is active for the Cardinals after being tagged as questionable due to a groin injury and an illness. Cornerback Max Melton was also questionable and he will not play due to a knee injury.
Running back Jeremiyah Love, offensive lineman Jon Gaines, safety Andrew Wingard, and defensive lineman Walter Nolen were ruled out on Friday. Quarterback Carson Beck and offensive lineman Albert Reese are the other inactives.
The Cardinals last won at home on September 14, 2025. On Sunday, they’ll hope to keep their franchise-record home losing streak from reaching double digits.
As their reward for last week’s upset win in L.A., where the Cardinals have more victories this year than the Rams and Chargers combined, the Cardinals get the 4-2 Broncos. Who had three extra days to recover from their overtime win against the Seahawks.
A win by the Cardinals would match their total from last season (three). A loss by the Broncos would match their total from last season (also three).
Arizona’s effort will be fueled by tight end Trey McBride, who needs four catches to get to 400 career receptions. If he does it, he’ll be the second-fastest tight end in NFL history to 400 catches, needing only 73 games. Hall of Famer Kellen Winslow got there in 72 games.
The Broncos could get cornerback Patrick Surtain II back this week.
Surtain is questionable with his ankle injury.
He has not played since Week 4 when he was injured against the 49ers. Surtain had a third consecutive limited practice on Friday after returning to practice this week.
Running back Jonah Coleman (ankle) also could return.
Coleman, who went on injured reserve after Week 2, had his 21-day return-to-practice window opened Wednesday. He has had three consecutive full practices.
The Broncos ruled out running back Tyler Badie (thumb), outside linebacker Jonah Elliss (ankle) and safety Talanoa Hufanga (ankle). None practiced this week.
Wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (chest) improved to a full participant on Friday after being limited in Denver’s first two practices of the week. Waddle was not assigned a game status.
Cornerback Riley Moss (ribs) was also a full participant on Friday and not given an injury designation.
If the Cardinals are going to stop their nine-game home losing streak, they’re going to have to do it without one of their top young offensive players.
Running back Jeremiyah Love (ankle) has officially been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Broncos, head coach Mike LaFleur said in his Friday press conference.
Love missed last week’s win over the Rams with the injury.
In five games this season, Love has rushed for 245 yards with a touchdown, averaging 3.7 yards per carry. He’s also caught 11 passes for 36 yards with a TD.
LaFleur also ruled out defensive tackle Walter Nolen (ankle), safety Andrew Wiggins (ankle), and guard Jon Gaines (ankle).
Gaines suffered his injury during Thursday’s practice.
Additionally, quarterback Carson Beck is dealing with back spasms. He was limited in practice on Wednesday and did not participate on Thursday.
Cardinals running back Jeremiyah Love is improving, Mike LaFleur said.
Love, though, did not practice Wednesday.
Love has not practiced since Oct. 9 due to a lingering ankle injury. He injured the ankle in Week 4, played 36 of 73 snaps in Week 5 and missed the Week 6 win over the Rams on Sunday.
The Cardinals also practiced without safety Budda Baker (groin/illness), defensive lineman Walter Nolen III (ankle), offensive lineman Isaac Seumalo (rest), outside linebacker Josh Sweat (rest), cornerback Garrett Williams (knee), offensive lineman Jedrick Wills Jr. (illness) and safety Andrew Wingard (knee).
Rookie quarterback Carson Beck (back), cornerback Max Melton (knee) and safety Wydett Williams Jr. (concussion) were limited.
The Cardinals claimed offensive tackle Albert Reese off waivers on Wednesday, the team announced.
The Panthers waived the undrafted rookie on Tuesday.
The Cardinals did not announce a corresponding move.
Reese made the Panthers’ initial 53-player roster, but he was inactive for every game this season.
The Cardinals have rookie Jayden Williams at left tackle, with Paris Johnson out for the season, and Elijah Wilkinson at right tackle. Veteran Jedrick Wills recently signed with the team, but he missed practice on Wednesday with an illness.
Their other top reserve tackle is second-year man Josh Fryar.
