Denver Broncos at Arizona Cardinals

Injuries noted

Denver Broncos: Caleb Lohner (IR-R) — Lohner (lower body) was placed on injured reserve by the Broncos on Sunday with a designation to return, Aric DiLalla of the team's official website reports.; Nick Gargiulo (PUP-R) — Gargiulo (knee) was moved to the reserve/PUP list by the Broncos on Sunday, Aric DiLalla of the team's official site reports.; Michael Deiter (IR) — ir; Matt Henningsen (IR) — ir; Levelle Bailey (IR) — Bailey (leg) reverted to the Broncos' injured-reserve list Friday, Parker Gabriel of The Denver Post reports.; Frank Crum (IR-R) — Crum (undisclosed) was placed on injured reserve with a designation to return by the Broncos on Sunday, Aric DiLalla of the team's official site reports.; Jonah Coleman (Questionable) — Official injury report, Wk 7: Questionable (Ankle); practice: Full. The Broncos activated Coleman (ankle) from injured reserve Saturday but continue to list him as questionable for Sunday's game against the Cardinals, Aric DiLalla of the team's official site reports.; Pat Bryant (IR) — Bryant (ankle) was placed on the Broncos' injured reserve Friday.; Pat Surtain II (Questionable) — Official injury report, Wk 7: Questionable (Ankle); practice: Limited. Surtain (ankle) isn't likely to play Sunday at Arizona, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.; Talanoa Hufanga (Out) — Official injury report, Wk 7: Out (Ankle); practice: DNP. Hufanga (ankle) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Cardinals.; Tyler Badie (Out) — Official injury report, Wk 7: Out (Thumb); practice: DNP. The Broncos placed Badie (thumb) on injured reserve Saturday, Aric DiLalla of the team's official site reports.; Jonah Elliss (Out) — Official injury report, Wk 7: Out (Ankle); practice: DNP. The Broncos placed Elliss (ankle) on injured reserve Saturday, Aric DiLalla of the team's official site reports.

Arizona Cardinals: James Conner (IR-R) — Conner (foot) is close to practicing, but the Cardinals aren't expected to open his 21-day evaluation window this week, John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 FM reports.; Tip Reiman (PUP-R) — The Cardinals moved Reiman (ankle) from the active/PUP list to the reserve/PUP list Sunday, Darren Urban of the team's official site reports.; Joey Blount (IR) — ir; Zachary Carter (IR-R) — The Cardinals placed Carter (knee) on injured reserve Sunday with a designation to return, Darren Urban of the team's official site reports.; Kaleb Proctor (IR); Chase Bisontis (IR) — ir; Trey Benson (IR) — Benson (knee) reverted to the Cardinals' injured reserve list Tuesday, David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.; Jameson Geers (IR) — ir; Isaiah Adams (IR) — The Cardinals placed Adams (ankle) on injured reserve Saturday, Darren Urban of the team's official site reports.; Will Johnson (IR) — The Cardinals placed Johnson (neck) on injured reserve Wednesday, Darren Urban of the team's official site reports.; Andrew Wingard (Out) — Official injury report, Wk 7: Out (Knee); practice: DNP. Wingard (knee) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Broncos, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.; Hunter Long (IR) — The Cardinals placed Long (knee) on injured reserve Tuesday.; Paris Johnson Jr. (IR) — The Cardinals placed Johnson (biceps) on injured reserve Tuesday.; Jeremiyah Love (Out) — Official injury report, Wk 7: Out (Ankle); practice: DNP. Head coach Mike LaFleur said Friday that Love (ankle) won't play Sunday against the Broncos, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.; Carson Beck (Questionable) — Official injury report, Wk 7: Questionable (Back); practice: DNP. Beck (back) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Broncos, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.; Budda Baker (Questionable) — Official injury report, Wk 7: Questionable (Groin); practice: Limited. Baker (groin/illness) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Broncos, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.; Max Melton (Questionable) — Official injury report, Wk 7: Questionable (Knee); practice: DNP. Melton (knee) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Broncos, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.; Walter Nolen III (Out) — Official injury report, Wk 7: Out (Ankle); practice: DNP. Nolen (ankle) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's game against the Broncos, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.; Jon Gaines II (Out) — Official injury report, Wk 7: Out (Knee); practice: DNP. Gaines (knee) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's game against the Broncos, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.; Darius Robinson (Questionable) — Official injury report, Wk 7: Questionable (Back); practice: Limited. questionable

QUARTERBACK

• Jacoby Brissett is the projected starting quarterback for ARI

  5.67 Y/A

  Through 6 games in 2026, Jacoby Brissett threw for 1328 passing yards, completed 66.7% of his passes and averaged 5.67 yards per attempt. Last season over 14 games he threw for 3366 yards, completed 64.9% and averaged 6.94 yards per attempt, 23-8 touchdowns to interceptions. This season's 9-6 touchdown-to-interception line is 6 games in.

• Bo Nix is the projected starting quarterback for DEN

  5.55 Y/A

  Through 6 games in 2026, Bo Nix threw for 1049 passing yards, completed 60.3% of his passes and averaged 5.55 yards per attempt. Last season over 17 games he threw for 3931 yards, completed 63.4% and averaged 6.42 yards per attempt, 25-11 touchdowns to interceptions. This season's 6-3 touchdown-to-interception line is 6 games in.

TRENCHES

• ARI: 120.8 rushing yards allowed per game to DEN's 139.8

  19 YPG

  DEN is at 139.8 rushing yards allowed per game over 6 games; ARI is at 120.8 over 6 games. Those are what each defense has allowed in this season's games through Oct 24.

PASS RUSH

• DEN: 3 sacks recorded per game to ARI's 2.33

  0.67 SACKS

  Denver gets 3 sacks a game, and Arizona gets 2.33, both over six games. That's about one extra sack every couple of games, a modest edge. Sack totals depend on how often opponents drop back, so a defense facing teams playing from behind gets more chances. In this game, it points to more pressure on Arizona's quarterback, which matters for sack props and drive-killing negative plays.

PACE & SCRIPT

• DEN: 20.8 points allowed per game to ARI's 29.7

  8.8 PPG

  Arizona is allowing 29.7 a game and gave up 28.7 last season, so this defense is consistently leaky. Denver allows 20.8, a bit worse than last season's 18.3, but still a solid unit. That gap over six games and seventeen games looks durable. At home, Arizona has to outscore people, and Denver's offense should find room.

• ARI: 67.3 offensive plays per game to DEN's 57.3

  10 PLAYS

  Arizona runs 67.3 plays a game to Denver's 57.3, and Denver ran 64.2 last season, so Denver's drop is the bigger change. Six games is enough to take it seriously, but some move back toward last season's pace is likely. If Arizona dictates tempo at home, the game has more snaps, which matters most for totals and volume props.

• ARI: 32:05 time of possession per game to DEN's 28:46

  3:20 TOP

  DEN is at 28:46 time of possession per game over 6 games; ARI is at 32:05 over 6 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 24. Last season DEN was at 31:14 over 17 games and ARI at 29:48 over 17 games.

TURNOVERS

• ARI: 0 fumbles lost per game to DEN's 0.5

  0.5 FUM

  DEN is at 0.5 fumbles lost per game over 6 games; ARI is at 0 over 6 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 24. Last season DEN was at 0.35 over 17 games and ARI at 0.59 over 17 games.

• DEN: 0.5 interceptions thrown per game to ARI's 1

  0.5 INT

  DEN is at 0.5 interceptions thrown per game over 6 games; ARI is at 1 over 6 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 24. Last season DEN was at 0.65 over 17 games and ARI at 0.65 over 17 games.

RED ZONE

• DEN: 52.9% red-zone scoring allowed to ARI's 71.4%

  18.5 PP

  DEN is at 52.9% red-zone scoring allowed over 6 games; ARI is at 71.4% over 6 games. Those are what each defense has allowed in this season's games through Oct 24.

• ARI: 3.83 red-zone trips per game to DEN's 3

  0.83 TRIPS

  DEN is at 3 red-zone trips per game over 6 games; ARI is at 3.83 over 6 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 24. Last season DEN was at 3.35 over 17 games and ARI at 3.59 over 17 games.

MISMATCH

• DEN: 20.8 points allowed a game to ARI's 29.7

  20.8 VS 29.7

  Arizona's defense allows 29.7 points a game over six games, close to 28.7 last season, while Denver gives up 20.8, up from 18.3. The Broncos can score against a defense that has been leaky for two seasons, and Arizona has to win a shootout. With Arizona matching last year, that number looks real. Denver's offense facing that defense shapes the total.

COVERAGE

• DEN: 5.05 yards per play allowed to ARI's 6.05

  1 Y/P

  Denver allows 5.05 yards per snap over 6 games; Arizona allows 6.05 over 6. That full yard means the Cardinals defense has been much easier to move on. Six games is a modest sample and the opponents faced are not on the sheet, so both numbers can shift as the schedule evens out. For this game, Denver's offence looks like the side with the easier path to sustained drives, and the Broncos defense should make Arizona earn more of its yards.

REPLACEMENT

• James Conner (RB) is ir-r for ARI

  IR-R

  Conner is on injured reserve with a designation to return, nursing a foot injury. As of Oct 13 he was close to practicing, but Arizona was not expected to open his 21-day window that week. He remains out against Denver, so the Cardinals' backfield work stays with the backups for now.

• Tyler Badie (RB) is on injured reserve for DEN

  IR

  Denver placed Badie on injured reserve Saturday with a thumb injury, so he misses at least the trip to Arizona. His backfield snaps go to the other Broncos running backs. This is a depth loss more than a game-changer.

• Jonah Elliss (LB) is on injured reserve for DEN

  IR

  Denver put linebacker Jonah Elliss on injured reserve Saturday with an ankle injury, so he misses the Arizona game and at least the next few weeks. The sheet does not say when he got hurt or who takes his snaps. A bettor looking at the Cardinals offense should find out who replaces him in the Broncos' linebacker rotation, because that is where a gap would appear.

PRACTICE REPORT

• Jeremiyah Love

  Out

  Ankle · Did not practice · Out

• Walter Nolen III

  Out

  Ankle · Did not practice · Out

• Talanoa Hufanga

  Out

  Ankle · Did not practice · Out

• Jon Gaines II

  Out

  Knee, Ankle · Did not practice · Out

• Andrew Wingard

  Out

  Knee · Did not practice · Out

• Max Melton

  Questionable

  Knee · Did not practice · Questionable

• Jonah Coleman

  Questionable

  Ankle · Full practice · Questionable

• Budda Baker

  Questionable

  Groin, Illness · Limited practice · Questionable

• Carson Beck

  Questionable

  Back · Did not practice · Questionable

• Darius Robinson

  Questionable

  Back · Limited practice · Questionable

• Pat Surtain II

  Questionable

  Ankle · Limited practice · Questionable

• Devin Duvernay

  DNP

  Did not practice

• Jedrick Wills Jr.

  FP

  Full practice

• Josh Sweat

  FP

  Full practice

• Jaylen Waddle

  FP

  Full practice

• Isaac Seumalo

  FP

  Full practice

• Zach Allen

  FP

  Full practice

• Riley Moss

  FP

  Full practice

• Garrett Williams

  FP

  Full practice

SITUATIONAL

• DEN (4-2) at ARI (2-4)

  -41 PT GAP

  Denver is 4-2 despite being outscored by 11, so this record flatters the Broncos, and they are only 1-2 on the road. Arizona is 2-4 and -52, winless at home in two games, though it won its last time out. Denver's two-game win streak has come without a positive margin to support it. The Cardinals' point total is the bigger red flag, so neither side's record tells the full story here.

• DEN: 44.8 penalty yards per game to ARI's 66

  21.2 YDS

  DEN is at 44.8 penalty yards per game over 6 games; ARI is at 66 over 6 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 24. Last season DEN was at 67.6 over 17 games and ARI at 49.5 over 17 games.

• DEN has 3 more days of rest

  10d vs 7d

  Denver comes off a mini-bye with 10 days, and Arizona is on a normal week. Three extra days is a small cushion: a bit more recovery and install time, with travel on the Broncos' side. It's a minor note, best used as a tiebreaker.

AFTER GARY

• ARI +4.5 → +4.5

  NOW +1.37PP

  Gary's number was 4.5; the market closed at 4.5.