Week 7 · 2026
Bo Nix Breaks Free as Broncos Pull Away in Arizona
Denver Broncos 30 at Arizona Cardinals 16
A Narrow Lead
Bo Nix saw an opening in the middle of the field, and he made it count. Late in the first half, Denver held a small lead over Arizona when Nix ran through the open lane. He raced 62 yards untouched for a touchdown, turning a close game into a 13-6 Broncos lead. Before that burst, both teams had worked hard for every point. Denver kicker Wil Lutz made field goals from 48 and 43 yards, while Arizona answered with two short kicks by Chad Ryland. Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett led long drives, and tight end Trey McBride made catches even with defenders close by. Yet Arizona could not reach the end zone, the scoring area behind the goal line.
Nix Finds More Space
Nix’s long run changed the pace, but Denver needed to keep going after halftime. The Cardinals had held the ball for long stretches, so the Broncos had to make their chances matter. Nix scrambled away from pressure, then threw a short pass to RJ Harvey. Harvey ran 52 yards for a touchdown, giving Denver a 20-6 lead. Arizona refused to fade away. Brissett connected with McBride for a 7-yard touchdown late in the third quarter. McBride finished with 10 catches and 111 yards, showing how often Arizona turned to him when it needed a play.
The Goal-Line Stand
Denver answered quickly before the third quarter ended. Marvin Mims Jr. made a 47-yard catch, setting up J.K. Dobbins for a 1-yard touchdown run. Lutz later added a 31-yard field goal, and the Broncos carried a 30-13 lead into the final minutes. Still, Arizona pushed all the way to Denver’s 1-yard line with less than two minutes left. The Broncos stopped Brissett on a quarterback sneak, a short run by the quarterback, and then brought him down for a sack. That stand sealed Denver’s 30-16 win and showed its determination when the game was still in reach. Nix passed for 222 yards, ran for 73 more, and accounted for two touchdowns as Denver improved to 5-2. Arizona fell to 2-5, but its late drive showed the fight it can bring to its next game.