The Denver Broncos are set to face their fourth NFC West opponent of the season, and we're only in Week 7. The Arizona Cardinals (2-4) will provide the opposition, fresh off their win over the Los Angeles Rams this past Sunday.
The Cardinals have been competitive this season under first-year coach Mike LaFleur and could be a dangerous opponent for the offensively-challenged Broncos. The defense could be licking its chops to face Bo Nix after how he looked the last time he took the field against the Seattle Seahawks.
That was last Thursday night, meaning the Broncos will have had 10 days to prepare for this one. That will be an advantage for the team, but the Broncos will also need to follow these three keys to avoid a letdown in the desert.
Broncos' keys to victory vs. Cardinals
1. Find success in the running game
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Broncos have been putrid at running the football this season, averaging just 84.2 yards per game. However, the Cardinals are allowing 120.8 yards per game on the ground, so coach Sean Payton needs to make a concerted effort to get the run going in this one.
It would be huge for the Broncos if they were able to get Jonah Coleman back for this one. The rookie has been designated to return from injured reserve, but this week might be a bit too soon for a notable role. If that is the case, the combination of J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey needs to play at a higher level than they have to this point in the season.
2. Slow down Trey McBride
Cardinals tight end Trey McBride has been targeted 65 times this season in the passing game. Only CeeDee Lamb and Jaxon Smith-Njigba have seen the ball come their way more often in the NFL this fall.
Jacoby Brissett will throw the ball to McBride left and right in this game, as the Cardinals don't have the scariest group of wide receivers and the Denver defense should be able to negate them rather easily, even if Pat Surtain II remains sidelined. But McBride could feast against the inside linebackers.
The Broncos need to do a good job of making sure McBride is kept in check in this one, forcing Brissett to throw the ball to the likes of Kendrick Bourne and Jaylen Brooks instead.
3. Rely on defense to carry the weight
The Cardinals should be one of the weaker defenses the Broncos have seen this season, but Denver's too far out of rhythm to expect any kind of offensive explosion in this game. Instead, controlling time of possession and building a comfortable lead and forcing the Cardinals to play more desperate is the easiest way for them to win this game.
The Broncos don't need to put up 30+ points or pile up 400 yards of offense to win. Payton needs to call a clean game, Nix needs to limit mistakes, and the defense can bully its way to a win on the road.
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This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: 3 keys to victory for the Broncos against the Cardinals
