Broncos vs Cardinals   Results, Match Player Stats & Records

Denver (4-2) has struggled offensively despite its winning record, with Nix experiencing a difficult third season after leading the Broncos to a 14-3 mark in 2025. He will try to reverse that trend Sunday when Denver visits the Arizona Cardinals (2-4) in Glendale, Ariz.

Three of the Broncos' wins have come against perceived Super Bowl contenders: the Los Angeles Rams, Jacksonville Jaguars and most recently the defending champion Seattle Seahawks. But Denver's stifling defense has been the catalyst for those wins, not the offense.

Last season, Nix threw for 3,931 yards, 25 touchdowns and 11 interceptions while completing 63.4% of his passes. His completion rate has dipped to 60.3% this season, ranking 26th among qualified quarterbacks, while his 5.6 yards per attempt is among the lowest for NFL starters.

The struggles forced head coach Sean Payton to publicly say he is sticking with Nix as the starter.

The third-year player out of Oregon sustained an ankle injury in the AFC Divisional win over Buffalo in January and needed surgery to repair the joint. Nix said he is fully healthy but acknowledged he hasn't played well.

"I've got to play better. We've got to play better," he said Wednesday. "The offense can play better.... I feel like I can overcome some of the stuff that's put us in a bad spot and I feel like I can play better."

Nix has a chance to quiet critics against an Arizona defense that is allowing an NFL-worst 8.6 yards per pass, but it was much better in a surprising 18-16 win at the Rams on Sunday. That snapped a four-game skid for the Cardinals, who have yet to win at home this season (0-2).

"It's one game. It's a total reset next week. It's a 1-0 league," first-year head coach Mike LaFleur said.

After allowing 37 points a game during the losing streak, Arizona held Los Angeles in check for its most impressive win this year. Arizona's offense continued to struggle in the red zone, however, with Chad Ryland accounting for all 18 points on six field goals.

Reaching the end zone won't get easier against a Denver defense that allows 20.8 points per game. But the Cardinals showed they can dial up the defense by pressuring the quarterback. They sacked Matthew Stafford twice and hit him repeatedly during the win.

"I've had to go against this defense enough over the years and it's not fun when it's clicking like that," said LaFleur, who was the Rams' offensive coordinator for three seasons before taking the Arizona job.

Denver's defense will receive a boost from the return of outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper, who was removed from the NFL commissioner's exempt list last week. Cooper missed the first six games after two June arrests involving his former girlfriend. The league's personal conduct investigation remains ongoing.

Last season, Cooper recorded 50 combined tackles and eight sacks.

The Broncos listed cornerback Pat Surtain II (ankle) and running back Jonah Coleman (ankle) as questionable on Friday. Surtain was limited in practice all week, while Coleman practiced fully for three straight days after being designated to return from injured reserve. Running back Tyler Badie (thumb), safety Talanoa Hufanga (ankle) and linebacker Jonah Elliss (ankle) were ruled out after missing practice all week. Coleman was activated on Saturday while Badie and Elliss were placed on injured reserve.

Arizona ruled out running back Jeremiyah Love (ankle), defensive tackle Walter Nolen (ankle), safety Andrew Wingard (knee) and guard Jon Gaines II (knee/ankle). Safety Budda Baker (groin/illness), quarterback Carson Beck (back), cornerback Max Melton (knee) and defensive lineman Darius Robinson (back) were considered questionable.

--Field Level Media