Glendale, Ariz. – New stadium, same old Cardinals.
Talk about a cure for what was ailing the Broncos. The Cardinals couldn’t beat them when they played in St. Louis and after they moved to Phoenix, and still can’t beat them now that they’re called the Arizona Cardinals.
No really, we’re not exaggerating. The Broncos’ 37-20 victory at newly opened University of Phoenix Stadium on Sunday was their seventh in eight games against the Cardinals. The other ended in a tie and, presumably, a whole bunch of Broncos losing their jobs.
Never in the 30-plus years the teams have played were the Broncos happier to see the Cardinals than they were Sunday. Denver went into the game in the throes of a four-game losing streak, matching their longest of the Mike Shanahan era. Another loss and the Broncos would have fallen to .500 after an impressive 7-2 start.
Not to worry, Bronco Nation. It was obvious from the game’s earliest moments that Denver was going to win this one. The Broncos scored on their third play on a 54-yard Jay Cutler-to-Javon Walker pass, and things only got worse for the Cardinals moments later.
Champ Bailey’s seventh interception of the season on Arizona’s next play gave the Broncos the ball on the Cardinals’ 26. The play set up the first of three Jason Elam field goals, this one from 30 yards out.
The Broncos went ahead 13-0 after a 17-play, 78-yard drive that started late in the first quarter. But just when it looked like the game might turn into a blowout, the Cardinals bounced back with 10 quick points.
Neil Rackers’ 49-yard field goal got Arizona on the board, and Tatum Bell produced the Cardinals’ first touchdown. Bell was running off left tackle deep in Denver territory when he was hit by defensive end Chike Okeafor. Bell’s fumble was scooped up by another defensive end, Antonio Smith, who jogged four yards into the end zone for the score.
As things turned out, that would be one of the few highlights of the day for the Cardinals.
The Broncos led 16-10 at the half and extended their lead to 23-10 on a 10-yard touchdown pass to Rod Smith from Cutler. The touchdown came moments after Cutler had found his fellow rookie, tight end Tony Scheffler, for a 29-yard gain to the Arizona 23.
With the victory, the Broncos improved their record to 8-6 and revived their hopes of earning an AFC wild-card berth. But things don’t figure to be quite as easy Sunday when they face Cincinnati at Invesco Field.
