It’s a backups bonanza in the Mile High City tonight, with the Denver Broncos and Arizona Cardinals expected to prioritize evaluating their reserves.
Though Denver pushed all the right buttons with a 30-9 victory in its opening preseason game, my Cardinals vs Broncos prediction signals a stop-start matchup here, with consistent offense in short supply.
My NFL picks weigh up this August 16 battle, with the regular season just a few weeks away.
Cardinals vs Broncos prediction
Cardinals vs Broncos Best bet: Under 38.5 (-110)
With players all over the field auditioning for roles on the final 53-man roster, the stakes are high – but it might be tough to say the same about the quality of the football tonight.
The Denver Broncos and Arizona Cardinals seem content to play the long game with their starters here, having logged some reps last weekend, so the big names will likely be watching from the sidelines. That leaves second-string offenses to build chemistry on the fly, and I prefer the Under in this Week 2 preseason clash.
Arizona’s reserves only scored three points in the second half of last weekend’s 20-17 win over the Kansas City Chiefs, in part due to struggles for the backup offensive line. That total fell short of tonight’s 38.5 O/U line, despite Kyler Murray, Marvin Harrison Jr., and Trey McBride all seeing some action.
Denver had an easier time moving the ball in its first preseason contest, with Jarrett Stidham tossing a pair of TD passes to paper over a patchy Bo Nix outing. Still, I see the Broncos chewing up the clock in the ground game here as they try to get more clarity on their running back pecking order.
That could mean exciting flashes of rookie RJ Harvey, who’s turned heads with some of his training camp plays.
Of course, the trickle-down effect of second-stringers stepping into starting roles is that their backups become true end-of-the-roster options. I expect the defenses to get the upper hand, especially in the second half, and turn this into a low-scoring scrap.
Cardinals vs Broncos odds
- Spread: Cardinals +3.5 (-110) | Broncos -3.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: Cardinals +155 | Broncos -190
- Over/Under: Over 39.5 (-110) | Under 39.5 (-110)
How to watch Cardinals vs Broncos
| Location: | Empower Field at Mile High, Denver, CO |
| Date: | Saturday, 8-16, 2025 |
| Kickoff: | 9:30 p.m. ET |
| TV: | NFL Net |
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