I’m dealing with a mean sinus infection right now and I don’t know if the sensation of my eyeballs wanting to pop out of their sockets is coming from that or having watched this game.That was as much of a disaster as could be in the first half. The first drive alone saw a inside run into an 8 man box, followed by a timeout, then the first pick six. It was all downhill from there. (On the bright side I started the Broncos DST in my home fantasy league...) A couple of deep touchdown passes and another pick 6 off a miscommunication between Rosen and Nelson later and this team would find themselves in a Super Bowl-sized first half deficit. All to a very pro-Denver crowd.I’d say to hope the coaching staff is able to make adjustments and show some semblance of life at the half, but having gone listless on third down and completely shut out in the third quarter this season... well... It looks like the offense will truly have to pull a rabbit out of their head to pull off a miraculous W and overcome a 32 point deficit, but things don’t look good my friends.<doc-sep>It is time. The Arizona Cardinals one and only prime time game of 2018 is here and they get the 2 and 4 Denver Broncos. It is Cardinals, Broncos on Thursday Night Football! In all honesty, this is a game the Cardinals should win, but it feels like such an uphill battle this season that it doesn’t feel right to predict that. If you want any last minute reading to get your ready, we have plenty from the week. We talked about the potential end to the Mike McCoy era after only seven games. Kyle took a look at two of the biggest problems that have been plaguing the Arizona Cardinals. Walter explained the lack of use of Larry Fitzgerald, but also why Fitz would defend Mike McCoy. It wasn’t a joke, the Arizona Cardinals really do run the ball up the middle more than any other team in the NFL. Rebecca Toback of SB Nation thinks this could be an entertaining game, even if we disagree. Finally, John took a look at what it would take for the Arizona Cardinals to pull out a victory on Thursday Night Football. Redbird Thunder will be your MC tonight, I am otherwise indisposed, so enjoy the game and Go Cardinals!<doc-sep>Von Miller promised an ass kicking and the Denver Broncos delivered in a 45-10 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday Night Football. The Broncos moved to 3-4 with a critical AFC West showdown on the road against the Kansas City Chiefs next week. They’ll need to bring the same kind of game there as they did in this one in Arizona. First Quarter The Broncos win the opening coin toss and elect to defer to put their defense on the field first against the Cardinals. After a poor return, the Cardinals were setup with poor field position at their own 17. David Johnson took the first carry for no gain on first down. From an empty set, Josh Rosen didn’t like what he saw and called a timeout. Rosen came out of the timeout and threw on second down, but Derek Wolfe tipped the pass that was intercepted by Todd Davis who returned it 20-yards for the touchdown. Broncos 7, Cardinals 0. The Cardinals quickly went three and out to give the ball right back to the Broncos with good field position. Case Keenum handed off to Royce Freeman on first down for a couple of yards. Freeman took a second straight hand off for a couple of more yards to set up a third and six. Keenum was flushed out of the pocket on third down and found Demaryius Thomas open over the middle for the first down. Thomas got the ball again on the next play for a quick eight yard catch and run. Then an inside hand off to Phillip Lindsay was turned into 22-yard gain and another first down. Nice carry by Lindsay. He is such an explosive runner. #DENvsAZ pic.twitter.com/83djSZ5MD7 — Joe Rowles (@JoRo_NFL) October 19, 2018 After an offsides penalty, the Broncos broke out some trickery with an end around to Emmanuel Sanders who stopped and threw it deep to Courtland Sutton for a 28-yard touchdown pass to open the game up for Denver. Broncos 14, Cardinals 0. The Cardinals next drive was helped along by the referees on a Domata Peko penalty that resulted in 15 more yards. Peko didn’t even touch Larry Fitzgerald, but he dove near him, so that was enough. A seven yard pass by Rosen and a big run by Johnson put the Cardinals just outside the Broncos 30-yard line midway through the first quarter. After an incomplete pass, Rosen went to shotgun on second down handing off to Johnson on a delay for a six-yard gain. Rosen looked to the end zone for Chad Williams, but had the pass broken up by Bradley Roby to force the field goal attempt. Broncos 14, Cardinals 3. On the Broncos next drive, a short run on first down was followed by a Keenum pass into the flat to Sanders that went for five yards. Then on third and two, Keenum tossed it outside on a screen pass to Thomas who was blown up as soon as he made the reception for no gain and a punt. Johnson was stuffed for a loss on first down, but Fitzgeral somehow made a catch with Justin Simmons all over him for 10-yards. On third and one, Rosen hit Chris Harris Jr. right in the gut for the interception that would be promptly returned for a touchdown. Broncos 21, Cardinals 3. The quarter ended with a three and out forced by the Broncos, with Rosen being sacked and frustrated. Second Quarter The Cardinals will punt to the Broncos to start the second quarter. On the first play from scrimmage, Case Keenum used play-action to find Sanders wide open down the field for the 64-yard touchdown pass. The rout is on for Denver. Play action shot play by Keenum to Sanders for a 64-yard touchdown. #Broncos 28 #Cardinals 3 #DENvsAZ pic.twitter.com/xkfFBLMbEh — Joe Rowles (@JoRo_NFL) October 19, 2018 Broncos 28, Cardinals 3. With the Broncos defense having a rookie quarterback right where they want them at this point, the Orange Rush was on. The Cardinals did nothing on their next drive and on the ensuing punt fell right into the ankle of DaeSean Hamilton who went down. The penalty gave the Broncos the ball at their own 21-yard line. After a short two-yard run by Lindsay, Keenum made a poor throw to Sutton who was open for the incompletion. On third and eight, Keenum had no where to go with the football and was forced to throw it away. Rosen continued to be read by the Broncos secondary like an open book with his first two passes broken up by Harris and then Roby. Then on third and 15, Shaquil Barrett burst through the middle to throw Rosen to the first for the sack. After an incompletion on first down, Keenum handed off to Lindsay who bounced it inside then outside for a 10-yard gain. Let's just hope Bill Musgrave keeps calling these kind of run plays. Lindsay can make magic happen. #DENvsAZ pic.twitter.com/NWytEofJF9 — Joe Rowles (@JoRo_NFL) October 19, 2018 After a three-yard gain on the next play, Freeman got the ball again for the first time in a good while and it went for two-yards. On third and five, Keenum was immediately pressured by the blitz and was forced to throw the ball away. Rosen completed his first pass for five yards, but Von Miller crashed the edge and Shelby Harris batted the pass at the line. Then on third down, a Johnson run up the middle goes for three yards and a punt. With great field position, had Sutton wide open down the field, but an underthrown ball was easily broken up by the trailing cornerback. On second down, Keenum went back to the air again and found Thomas outside at the sticks for the first down. Freeman looked like he was going to be stuffed for a big loss on first down, but bounced off a tackle tho the outside to gain four-yards. Keenum hung in on the next play taking a huge hit to deliver a pass to Matt LaCosse over the middle for a 12-yard gain and another first down. A few plays later, the Broncos had a first down at the Cardinals 32-yard line where Freeman made a nifty run inside for four-yards. On second down, Keenum handed off to Freeman again who had no blockers and was stuffed for no gain. On third and five, Keenum faced the blitz up the middle again and barely got the ball off to Lindsay who turned it up field for a seven-yard gain and a first down just outside the red zone. Keenum does a nice job setting up this screen to Lindsay. #DENvsAZ pic.twitter.com/ZDLdHtYL91 — Joe Rowles (@JoRo_NFL) October 19, 2018 From an empty set, Keenum was indecisive and threw it away as Hassan Reddick was in his face. Keenum then took the sack on the second down with just a minute left in the first half. A perfect route by Thomas on third down resulted in a first down reception at the 10-yard line. Jeff Heuerman caught the ball in the end zone, but was called for offensive pass interference despite the defender actually slipping on the play instead. From first and goal from the 20, Keenum found Sanders underneath who broke a tackle for a 13-yard gain to the Cardinals seven yard line. Keenum went up high for Sutton who was interfered with and the penalty was actually called to setup a first and goal for the Broncos. Freeman would punch it in from one-yard out on the next play to put the Broncos up huge heading into the halftime. Broncos 35, Cardinals 3. Freeman with a gritty run to put the #Broncos up 35 to 3. #DENvsAZ pic.twitter.com/ax6mNgBsgE — Joe Rowles (@JoRo_NFL) October 19, 2018 Third Quarter Since the Broncos deferred when they won the coin toss, they will receive the ball first to start the second half leading 35-3. Freeman should have been tackled before he even got the ball on the first drive, but made some incredible jukes to gain nine-yards on second down. A run like this shows how special Royce Freeman really is.<doc-sep>
Thursday Night Football, Week 7. Tonight the Denver Broncos make a short trip through the American Southwest to take on the Arizona Cardinals. These two teams are currently two of the NFL bottom dwellers. The Broncos come into the game with a 2-4 record, a slowly fading defense, a below average quarterback in Case Keenum and a couple of nice rookie running backs in Royce Freeman and Phillip Lindsay. Broncos general manager John Elway is beginning to come under some fire as his team gradually declines and he has been unable to find a long term answer at quarterback. Tonight Elway gets a close up look at the one that got away, as the Broncos opted to take an edge rusher in Bradley Chubb over Cardinals rookie quarterback Josh Rosen in the 2018 draft. Depending on the arc of Rosen’s career and how long it takes for the Broncos to find their next top quarterback, that decision could come back to haunt John Elway and the Broncos. The Cardinals come into the game vying for the worst team in the NFL mantle. The Cardinals have a possible future franchise quarterback in Rosen, and a nice rookie receiver in Christian Kirk. They also have aging future Hall of Fame receiver Larry Fitzgerald and star running back David Johnson. That’s the makings of a decent offense at the skill positions, but the offensive line and the coaching have conspired to turn that offense anemic thus far. The Cardinals once proud defense is in the midst of rebuilding, making the 2018 season all about future development for the moribund Cardinals team. It’s the Broncos and the Cardinals in a southwestern matchup of two recent Super Bowl contenders both in the midst of rebuilding in tonight’s Thursday Night Football action. Enjoy the game everybody.