Despite deploying one of the NFL’s most underwhelming offenses, the Denver Broncos are 4-2 and firmly in the mix for their division heading into Week 7. They’re on the road this time as they face the Arizona Cardinals, who are just 2-4 but have already showed an ability to play spoiler against better teams. What can we expect in this interconference clash?
Kickoff is set for 4:05 p.m. ET in Arizona. Read on for a full betting preview, prediction and pick for Broncos vs. Cardinals in NFL Week 7.
Broncos vs. Cardinals prediction, preview
It’s hardly been a good season for the Broncos despite their 4-2 record. The diagnosis is simple, really. After making the AFC Championship Game last year, both sides of the ball have now regressed. The offense produces 19.0 PPG, just 26th in the NFL. Head coach Sean Payton took over play-calling duties from offensive coordinator Davis Webb just a few weeks into the season, which is encouraging, but never a good sign in the bigger picture. Bo Nix’s play under center is abysmal, throwing for just 1,049 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions while appearing reluctant to use his athleticism and run – he’s just 29th among quarterbacks in EPA/dropback, too. Jaylen Waddle leads the team in receiving but has only 22 grabs for 228 yards and one score, though the quarterback play hasn’t helped. Courtland Sutton has been very quiet, and in the backfield, J.K. Dobbins’ efficiency has cratered even though he continues to see high volume. Overall, the unit ranks just 26th in EPA/play, so improvement needs to happen if they’re to be taken seriously come playoff time. On the other side of the ball, a once-dominant unit still ranks 10th in EPA/play allowed, but has cratered to 29th in EPA/rush allowed in turn. The Broncos are giving up 20.8 PPG, the league’s 10th-best mark – yet it just doesn’t seem good enough compared to what we’ve seen in the past.
The Cardinals lack any kind of real expectations for this season, instead looking to just win a couple of games in year one under head coach Mike LaFleur while coasting to the upper end of next year’s draft. They’re 2-4 with wins over the Chargers and Rams, both of whom have underwhelmed but were still expected to be contenders heading into this season. Offense is the key for this team, though the 21.0 PPG rank just 24th in the NFL. Still, they’re 17th in EPA/play and 11th in success rate, so they’re doing some things well enough to play competitive football. Jacoby Brissett has 1,328 passing yards and a 9-6 TD/INT ratio, providing just enough to sustain drives and get downfield. Rookie first-rounder Jeremiyah Love has been ruled out, though, so Tyler Allgeier and Bam Knight will lead this backfield again. The star of the show is Trey McBride, who has 49 receptions for 361 yards and three touchdowns, but it’s worth noting that wideout Michael Wilson has drastically underperformed over the last two weeks following a hot start – that’s likely due to a role change following the trade that sent Marvin Harrison Jr. to Houston. If the offense isn’t clicking, this team probably isn’t doing much, either. While they held the Rams to just 16 points last week, the defense is still allowing 29.7 PPG on average, which falls 31st in the league. The EPA/play sits 29th overall with an explosive rate that tumbles all the way to 31st, too.
Broncos vs. Cardinals pick, best bet
As of the time of this article’s writing, DraftKings Sportsbook lists the Broncos as a -4.5 favorite on the road with -225 odds to win on the Moneyline; the Cardinals are a +185 home underdog to win outright with the game total set at 43.5 combined points.
If there’s ever a get-right spot for a poor-performing offense, this appears to be it. Can Denver capitalize on this opportunity to strike some vigor into its attack? There’s a pretty solid chance that this group can. While Nix hasn’t looked good whatsoever this season, a date with a defense that ranks 30th in EPA/dropback appears as good a chance as any to take some layup throws and get back on the right foot. For what it’s worth, Arizona runs zone at one of the highest rates in the NFL, and Nix has been better against that coverage than he has against man schemes. He isn’t likely to truly pop, but he should be able to put forth one of his better games of the year. It’s also a plus if the Broncos get Jonah Coleman back from IR – he’s questionable after his activation – and former DPOY Patrick Surtain II is also questionable with a chance to come back after missing a couple of games, too. Denver is simply a better team and is positioned to straighten things out here, so I like them to cover here. Were Love healthy for Arizona, maybe it’d be a different story for the Cardinals.
