BRONCOS STOP SLIDE, CRUSH CARDINALS
B Broncos crush Arizona, end their fourgame losing streak B Denver bolts to 353 halftime lead, improves record to 34
GLENDALE, ARIZ . » Von Miller and Vance Joseph knew what they were talking about, Miller promising domination and Joseph predicting a Thursday night game was just what the Broncos needed.
They realized the awful Arizona Cardinals represented the perfect elixir for a team desperate to end a fourgame losing streak.
Before thousands of Broncos fans at State Farm Stadium who roared in approval from start to finish, the Denver players responded with their most complete performance of the season (and probably the Joseph era) in a 4510 victory over the Cardinals.
What a time to be at their best. On Tuesday, Miller said the Broncos were going to “kick their (butt).”
“Von set the tone early with the comments he made and we kept talking about how we’re a family and a team and we had to back him up,” Denver safety Justin Simmons said. “And that’s what we did.”
A city “on fire,” as Joseph called it Tuesday, can take a small breath. And so can Joseph. Not that his head coaching job was in jeopardy, but a fifth consecutive loss might have prompted general manager John Elway to order staff and/or personnel changes. The players, meanwhile, can go into their free weekend knowing the season has hope with a 34 record.
“We finally played to our potential as a team, but obviously, we can keep building on this,” Denver linebacker Brandon Marshall said.
The Broncos aren’t a great team, but they did what even average teams should do by pounding an inferior opponent.
“It’s a good win for our football team,” Joseph said. “It’s been a tough, tough two weeks. These guys work so hard. They didn’t complain about the short week and they came in and played their game of the year.”
It raises the obvious question: Where the heck was this team all season?
The team that produced two defensive touchdowns, the team that scored on a trick play and a long pass and the team that put together two 70yard scoring drives … all in the first half, after which the Broncos led 353.
Regardless of where this performance came from, it had better stay here.
The schedule does not get any easier — at Kansas City (51) and vs. Houston (33, with three consecutive wins) before the Broncos’ bye week. A split of those two games will make November interesting; a surprising sweep will really spice things up. Denver’s performance Thursday was a perfect formula.
The Broncos scored their most points since a 4714 win over the Chargers in the 2014 finale. It was their highestscoring road game since a 5148 win at Dallas in 2013.
A team previously awful on the road under Joseph’s watch ended this game at halftime.
In a tour de force first half, the Broncos:
• Scored at least 35 firsthalf points for the seventh time in franchise history and the first time since a 4929 win over Kansas City in 2010 that was coach Josh McDaniels’ final win.
• Led by 32 points at halftime; it was the secondlargest in team history, behind only a 352 lead over Philadelphia in 1998.
• Scored on an Emmanuel Sanders 28yard pass to Courtland Sutton and a 64yard catch by Sanders.
• Returned two interceptions for touchdowns (20 yards by Todd Davis and 53 yards by Chris Harris) in a game for the first time since 1989 (fourth time overall).
• Outgained the Cardinals 23782 in yards.
Let us say it again: That was all in the first half.
The Cardinals couldn’t get out of their own way in any phase, Josh Rosen looked like a rookie quarterback, Mike McCoy an overmatchedandprobablyfiredsoon offensive coordinator and their defense played without any regard for details.
The thoroughness of the game began right away.
First play — Domata Peko and Derek Wolfe stuffed David Johnson for no gain. Second play — Wolfe deflected a Rosen pass that was intercepted by Davis (the first of his 62game career), who scored. Fiftynine seconds in, the Broncos led 70.
Davis’ interception was the first of five takeaways by the Broncos, interceptions by Harris and Bradley Roby and two forced fumbles by Miller.
The game got out of hand so quickly, the Broncos’ rush defense didn’t even have a chance to show their fixes after allowing 323 and 270 yards in losses to the Jets and Rams in the past two weeks.
The Broncos’ offense was successful in keeping up with the defense.
On their first possession, they converted a thirdand6 when Case Keenum threw 10 yards to Demaryius Thomas.
Two plays later, Sanders took the pitch from Keenum and instead of running down the right sideline, threw to Sutton, who made a diving catch in the end zone.
The 140 lead was the Broncos’ largest of the season. It only got bigger.
Harris’ interception, helped by safety Will Parks colliding with a Cardinals receiver, made it 213. The KeenumtoSanders bomb made it 283. And looking to close out the first half with a long drive, the Broncos delivered a 15play, 70yard march that consumed 6:39 of the clock.
“We wanted the whole country to know tonight who we are and what they’re up (against),” left tackle Garett Bolles said. “They all better be ready, because we’re coming.”
A new test will be administered next week: Can the Broncos handle prosperity unlike how they followed their 20 start with a monthlong losing streak? At least they get to ask that question.