The Denver Broncos (5-2) secured a two-score victory with a 30-16 win over the Arizona Cardinals (2-5) on Sunday afternoon. Here are five quick takeaways from that showdown in the desert.
1. Now that's the Bo Nix we knew: Six games into the season, Nix had not been running as frequently or as tenaciously as he did through his first two seasons in the NFL, and fans and pundits noticed. Nix had insisted all season that he was healthy and comfortable with his ankle. He proved it on Sunday by ripping off a 52-yard touchdown run, the longest TD run by a quarterback in franchise history. "Do you believe me now?" he said in his post-game press conference. Nix's passing numbers were modest (51.7% for 222 yards with one touchdown), but he did take shots
down the field and ended the game with 295 yards from scrimmage, a season high. If Nix had any lingering concerns about his ankle, Sunday might have been just what he needed to get back on track.
2. The Broncos should hand the backfield over to Jonah Coleman: We now have a seven-game sample size that clearly shows J.K. Dobbins does not have the same juice he had last season. Jonah Coleman, on the other hand, provided a huge spark to the run game after returning from a four-game stint on injured reserve. Dobbins averaged 3.8 yards per carry on six carries while Coleman averaged 6.0 yards per tote on nine carries. Coleman also secured two receptions for 15 yards. Coleman finished the game as Denver's fourth-quarter running back, and coach Sean Payton said after the win that the coaching staff needs to get him more carries. That's the right move.
3. Alex Singleton is a tackling machine: Alex Singleton faced heavy criticism earlier this season after the defense missed 24 tackles in Week 1. Singleton has also struggled at times in coverage, but there's no denying that he is a tackling machine. Singleton went into Sunday's game leading the NFL with 68 tackles and he added a whopping 19 tackles in Arizona (plus two quarterback hits and a sack). Singleton is well on his way to recording the most tackles in the NFL this season.
4. Sunday's game featured questionable officiating: From an extremely questionable pass interference penalty called against cornerback Riley Moss to several missed fouls, the officiating crew had an inconsistent day. Payton let the officials hear it during the game, and he said in his post-game press conference that he told the crew, "You guys are doing your best to tune the TV audience out. You're on a roll." Denver was penalized 11 times for 114 yards, but it wasn't necessarily a one-sided flag fest. Arizona had nine penalties for 59 yards.
5. Broncos were hit hard by injuries: Sunday's victory did come at a cost. Denver wide receiver Jaylen Waddle left with a chest injury in the fourth quarter, and defensive lineman Zach Allen went down with what appeared to be a hamstring injury in the fourth. Allen said in his post-game press conference that he'll be "fine," but Waddle's status is less certain. Waddle was limited at two practices with a chest injury last week, and his status will be a key storyline as the team now prepares for a key AFC West matchup.
Up next for Denver is a home game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 8. The Broncos will look to bounce back after a 31-10 loss to Kansas City in Week 1.
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This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: 5 takeaways from Broncos' 30-16 win over Cardinals on Sunday
