Broncos Defense Comes Up Big Again In Win Over Cardinals

The Denver Broncos have been winning games with their defense, but the script flipped a little yesterday as the Broncos offense finally showed up. That didn’t stop the defense from doing what it usually does, which is limiting points and making plays in the team’s 30-16 win over the Arizona Cardinals. 

What made that achievement even more impressive was the absence of cornerback Pat Surtain II and safety Talanoa Hufanga, as defensive coordinator Vance Joseph once again pushed all the right buttons with his personnel against Arizona to help get the win.

Coach Sean Payton commented about the contributions of Ja’Quan McMillian, who “almost had a couple of [picks] tonight,” according to a piece by Parker Gabriel of the Denver Post. But the new contributor in this one was safety Taylor Rapp, who has elevated from the practice squad twice in the last two weeks and made big contributions on Sunday. 

But Rapp wasn’t taking much credit. He noted that Joseph has “Ph.D.” level knowledge of the game, per Gabriel, and the coordinator breaks down the game and teaches it to defenders so they can understand it at their own level. Academic approach aside, Rapp added that Joseph’s ability to communicate is “second to none.”

The Broncos were facing another top-shelf receiving threat in tight end Trey McBride, and he had a big day against Denver as he caught 10 passes for 111 yards and a touchdown. 

But Joseph had his charges take everything else away, and the strategy worked to perfection. Arizona had just one touchdown in five red-zone trips, according to Gabriel, and the Cardinals went 5-for-17 on third down. They hit Jacoby Brissett 13 times, with defensive tackle Zach Allen being a particularly nasty thorn in the quarterback’s side. 

The icing on the cake started as a goal line stand that quickly sent the Cardinals backward, as linebacker Alex Singleton finished his 19-tackle game with a sack. 

The Broncos could get Surtain back as soon as Sunday when the Kansas City Chiefs come to town, and Hufanga is pushing to return as well. Until then, Payton will be “thankful for the depth,” which has saved his bacon given the offensive struggles until Sunday’s game. 

Denver has a lot of work to do to get back at Kansas City for their opening 31-10 loss back in Week 1, and Joseph will be contributing more than his share, as usual.