Denver Broncos: Ranking 2018 Games for Difficulty
Where are the Cardinals these days?
Denver holds an 8-1-1 record all-time versus Arizona. The lone loss came in the 2010 season, the last time the Broncos visited Phoenix.
This is a much different Cardinals team, however. Gone is Head Coach Bruce Arians, replaced by Steve Wilks, the former Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator/assistant head coach. Carson Palmer gives way to bridge starter Sam Bradford. Waiting-in-the-wings first-rounder (#10) Josh Rosen earned high praise coming out of UCLA.
As it stands, we don’t really know these Cardinals. Bradford’s mobility and offensive coordinator Mike McCoy seem tailor-made for the elite Bronco pass rush. Arizona legend and holdover Larry Fitzgerald can still make defenses pay as the timeless wideout posted a career high 109 catches for 1,156 yards last season.
Arizona has the oldest starting lineup in the NFL. They finished 27th in total yardage on defense but managed 14th in scoring defense. With the emergence of Denver’s rookie class and the rise of Jeff Heuerman, Denver should have a much-improved red zone offense.