@Broncos Coverage • Senior Editor @MileHighHuddle • Co-Host @TheMHHPod • Member @TheFWAA
Joined March 2009
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Takeaways from #Broncos' win over the Cardinals:
* Much more cohesive offensive and playcalling today. Payton had Arizona's defense largely off-balance and his screen call to Harvey was literal perfection. The entire operation just seemed more ... competent than previous weeks.
* Though he didn't put up Star Wars numbers, Bo Nix finally seemed to shake some of those confidence woes and appeared less tepid and conservative as both a runner and a passer. This could be the turning point for the season that he DESPERATELY needed.
* It helped Nix that he got a modicum of support from his backfield. Coleman looked spry and explosive. His vision and one-cut ability is on a different level compared to J.K. Dobbins. Coleman must -- and will -- be RB1 before too long (assuming Denver isn't trading for JT/Saquon).
* Rather than Taylor, the Broncos' top trade target has to be Quenton Nelson. Ben Powers is increasingly becoming a detriment to the offensive line, and there's a legitimate argument that Denver's running game won't thrive unless they upgrade the weak links up front.
* My only gripe with Payton is that he turned way too cute with the playcalling at the end of both halves, the latter of which got Jaylen Waddle injured. I get that he was probably feeling himself a bit, but his situational coaching awareness has always been vulnerable.
* The defense, for my money, has been the NFL's best over the last three weeks. And this is WITHOUT All-Pro guys in Pat Surtain and Talanoa Hufanga. They are flying to the ball, tackling at a much better rate, and quickly developed ascending talents in Kris Abrams-Draine, Jahdae Barron, and Que Robinson. Hats off, VJ. Hats off.
* The 2026 Cardinals are the farthest cry from the 1985 Bears, but this was a quote-unquote "inferior" opponent who the Broncos were expected to dispatch handily. And they did. Unlike weeks past, I never got the feeling that Denver was in danger of losing. They did what good teams do.
* That point cuts both ways, however. Next week's opponent, the Chiefs, are the farthest cry from the Cardinals and obviously present a more difficult matchup. Denver must carry over this momentum and crank it another notch -- if only to avenge that brutal Week 1 defeat.
* Speaking for myself, today's win was a nice salve for some of the Broncos' wounds -- but not all. Of course you'll have people playing it down, saying, "It's just the Cardinals." Do this again next Sunday, and everyone will begin feeling healthier about this team again.
* The Broncos have a defense capable of winning the Super Bowl. If the offense starts to carry their weight consistently, this remains a club that can make a deep run this postseason.
Broncos won.
Chiefs lost.
Today was a good day.
Updated Week 7 NFL Playoff Chances, via Kalshi:
96% — Niners
95% — Bills
90% — Chiefs
85% — Vikings
78% — Jags
72% — Broncos
71% — Bears
70% — Bengals
68% — Ravens
67% — Patriots, Lions
57% — Seahawks
55% — Rams
51% — Steelers
48% — Packers
47% — Giants, Cowboys
42% — Falcons
40% — Browns
36% — Panthers
27% — Texans, Bucs
14% — Eagles
13% — Commanders
12% — Saints, Raiders
6% — Colts
5% — Jets
3% — Cardinals
2% — Chargers
1% — Titans, Dolphins
They changed playcallers.
They had their QB returning from surgery.
They had the NFL's toughest schedule to open the year.
They had injuries everywhere and are still without Patrick Surtain II and Talanoa Hufanga.
Yet they came back against a good Jaguars team.
Yet they beat the Rams' supposed Super Team.
Yet they defeated the reigning Super Bowl champs.
Yet they're now 5-2, one win away from retaking control of the AFC West.
Pretty remarkable.
The #Broncos are now 5-2 and the Chiefs are now 5-1.
And they'll meet next Sunday in Denver 👀
In today's win, #Broncos QB Bo Nix became the fifth player in NFL history to have passing and rushing touchdowns of 50+ yards in the same game.
Nix joins Justin Fields and Lamar Jackson, Cam Newton, and Ace Parker of the 1938 Brooklyn Dodgers as the only players who've accomplished that feat.
(via @NextGenStats)
This dude is the worst. Holy shit.
Craig Wrolstad will be the referee for Broncos-Cardinals in Week 7.
Denver has a 6-9 record in games officiated by Wrolstad — including last year's loss to the Colts on a controversial leverage call.
Wrolstad's crew is averaging 17.6 accepted penalties per game this season, about 17% higher than the league mark.
You can feel Bo Nix’s confidence rise with each pass. The tentativeness is disappearing in real time.
We really might have our franchise QB back.
Hopefully this proved to Bo that he can play like he did last season and nothing bad will happen again.
Massive confidence booster in an area where he needed it most.
The biggest trick the “experts” ever pulled was convincing us that the Broncos offensive line is elite.
The @NFL legitimately has it out for Riley Moss.
Never seen anything like this bullshit.
