The Denver Broncos finally pieced together a full 60 minutes of football, smashing the Arizona Cardinals 30-16 on Sunday at State Farm Stadium. It was their fifth victory of the 2026 campaign, moving them to a solid 5-2 and keeping them right in the thick of a super competitive AFC playoff race. While there’s still work to do, what we saw on offense, especially on the ground, laid down some serious building blocks for what’s next.
Denver’s Ground Game FINALLY Clicked
If you watched the first half, you know the run game wasn’t exactly a priority. But something clicked after the break. The Broncos came out with a huge emphasis on the ground game in the second half, and boy, did it pay off. They racked up 159 rushing yards, their highest total all season, and only their third time eclipsing the 100-yard mark. Head Coach Sean Payton loved what he saw. He talked about having a “good plan relative to some of the gap schemes” and wanting “to be in a little bit more base personnel” to keep the Cardinals out of nickel looks. Quarterback Bo Nix even sparked the whole thing with a massive 62-yard touchdown scamper late in the first half. That play completely threw the Cardinals’ defense off balance, and they gave up splash play after splash play for the rest of the game. Payton definitely switched up his playcalling in the second half, dedicating himself to running the ball with authority and dictating the pace.
Jonah Coleman Is The Real Deal
Seriously, rookie running back Jonah Coleman looked *fantastic*. In his first game back since the Jacksonville Jaguars matchup, Coleman absolutely impressed. He piled up 54 yards on just 9 carries, averaging a sweet six yards a pop. This fourth-round pick led all backs with 30 snaps, half of Denver’s total offensive snap counts, blowing past RJ Harvey’s 16 and J.K. Dobbins’ 14. After that performance, it’s clear: Coleman needs to be the lead back in that Broncos backfield. His decisiveness at the line of scrimmage and his ability to break tackles made a huge, huge difference yesterday. Payton even told reporters he needs to find a way to get him more touches. With the run game finally hitting high gear, Bo Nix also rebounded. His overall completion percentage might not have been stellar, but this third-year quarterback played his most aggressive game of the season. He was stepping up in the pocket, dialing up great throws down the middle, and even taking some deep shots.
The Broncos are 5-2, firmly in that AFC playoff mix. You gotta think the focus now is on keeping that run game humming and letting Coleman shine. Payton’s got to get him more touches, and watching how Nix continues his aggressive playmaking with that new ground game support is definitely something to keep an eye on.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Mile High Report.
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