DENVER, CO - AUGUST 16: Jarrett Stidham #8 of the Denver Broncos warms up before the NFL Preseason 2025 game against the Arizona Cardinals at Empower Field at Mile High on August 16, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)Photo: Justin Edmonds / Getty Images Sport / Getty Images
Broncos kicked off to the visiting Arizona Cardinals to start the game.
Jacoby Brissett started the game for Arizona and after an initial first down, Jonah Ellis tackled Michael Carter for a 5 yard loss and the Cardinals offense never recovered. Arizona pinned the Broncos inside their own 3 yard line.
Starting from the shadow of their own end zone, Jarrett Stidham took over and on the 2nd play of the drive, found Evan Engram on a crosser and the Broncos starting TE took the ball past midfield for a 58 yard gain. On the next play, Stidham hit Pat Bryant for a 29 yard gain and the very next play RJ Harvey ran it in with ease from 8 yards out for the first score of the game. Broncos lead 7-0 with 10:49 remaining in the 1st quarter, drive lasted a total of 2:02.
Brissett and the Cardinals offense found some footing on their next drive, mixing in some quick passes and rushing from Michael Carter, marched down the field and from 16 yards out, Simi Fehoko beat Damarri Mathis for a 16 yard touchdown over the middle to tie the game 7-7 with 3:53 remaining in the 1st quarter. Drive was 11 plays and took 6:56 off the clock.
Stidham back to work from the Broncos 35 yard line and after an initial first down by illegal hands penalty, Stidham finds Pat Bryant over the middle on 3rd and 15 for a 16 yard gain to keep the drive alive. Bryant would add ANOTHER 16 yard catch to get the Broncos to the Arizona 27 yard line. Two plays later, Stidham hit a streaking Troy Franklin down the left sideline for a walk in touchdown. Broncos regained the lead 14-7 with 1:14 remaining in the 1st quarter. Drive was 8 plays, 65 yards and took 2:39 off the clock.
Clayton Tune was now in at QB but didn't find any success against this Broncos defense as they quickly went 3-and-out, punting it back to Denver who would start from their own 23 in the waning minute of the 1st quarter.
Stidham still in at QB but now Tyler Badie was the starting back and he became the engine early on. Biggest play of the drive was a run by Jaleel McLaughlin for 36 yards to get the Broncos all the way down to the Arizona 11 yard line. Broncos got the ball down to the 2 yard line and were going to go for it on 4th down but a false start penalty negated that opportunity so Denver settled for a 26 yard field goal, extending the lead 17-7 with 10:35 remaining in the 2nd quarter. Drive 11 plays, 70 yards and took 4:43 off the clock.
Tune still in at QB and Arizona was able to gain their initial 1st down on a check down to Carter that Levelle Bailey made a terrific tackle on or else it would've gone for a much bigger gain. The drive soon fizzled though and the Cardinals punted it back to Denver for a touchback. Broncos would start their next drive from their 20 yard line with 7:13 remaining in the 1st half.
Broncos offense went 3 and out with their next opportunity to possess the ball and sent it right back to Arizona.
An illegal use of hands penalty gave the Cardinals an initial first down but they weren't able to do much more with the ball and from midfield punted it to the Broncos offense who would have 2:32 remaining in the 1st half to try and add to their lead.
Troy Franklin had a 16 yard reception to give the Broncos their initial first down of the drive to get things going. Michael Bandy had another 16 yard reception to get the drive near midfield. A 29 yard DPI set the Broncos up inside the 30 yard line and couple plays later, from 17 yards out, Stidham hits Troy Franklin in the back of the end zone for another touchdown, extending the lead 24-7 with 45 seconds remaining in the 1st half. Drive was 6 plays, 88 yards and took 1:47
Arizona barely ran time off the clock and Tune was called for intentional grounding on 3rd down when Denver brought the house. Courtney Jackson returned the punt to the Denver 42 yard line with 18 seconds remaining and 1 timeout. Stidham with completion to Sherfield for 6 yards getting the Broncos to midfield with 6 seconds remaining. Franklin caught a 7 yard pass setting up a 64 yard FG attempt at the buzzer but it missed right.
Broncos offense started with the ball in the 2nd half and Sam Ehlinger was in at QB. The offense was bailed out on a 3rd and long with an illegal contact penalty to keep the drive going but a couple plays later Ehlinger was sacked to kill the drive on 3rd down. Denver punted it to Arizona and they started their drive after a touchback at the 20 with 9:34 remaining in the 3rd quarter.
Clayton Tune and the Cardinals offense quickly went 3 and out, punting it right back to the Broncos who, after a Courtney Jackson 26 yard return, would start their next drive at their own 28 yard line.
On the first play of the next drive, Blake Watson ran off Right Guard for 9 yards but Nick Gargiulo was rolled up on and then carted off the field. A couple of quick passes to the backup TEs got the Broncos to midfield and then Ehlinger handed the ball off to Courtney Jackson on a jet sweep and he took it inside the Red Zone for 30 yards. The drive fizzled though and the Broncos would settle for a 35 yard field goal, extending the lead 27-7 with 3:57 remaining in the 3rd quarter.
Arizona's offense went back to work with Tune but Jordan Turner was able to get an early sack to put them behind the sticks. Unfortunately, an illegal block penalty by the Broncos on 3rd down gave the Cardinals a chance to keep the drive going. A couple plays later, Arizona's Bryson Green dropped a pass that would've given the Cardinals a first down so they punted it back to Denver with 5 seconds remaining the 3rd quarter, starting from their own 8 yard line.
The Broncos offense from deep in their own territory put together an outstanding drive with completions to Michael Bandy, Caden Prieskorn and Courtney Jackson to march into the Red Zone. Denver opted to go for it on 4th and 4 from the Arizona 8 yard line but Ehlinger's pass fell incomplete and Denver turned the ball over on downs with 9:43 remaining in the game. Nice drive though, 10 plays, 84 yards, taking 5:22 off the clock.
Taking over at their 8 yard line, Clayton Tune was sacked again by Jordan Turner putting Arizona behind the sticks again and then the 3rd down pass came up short of the sticks. Cardinals punting again...Newton returned it to the 40 yard line with 7:44 remaining in the game.
The Broncos offense, once again, went right down the field on an 8-play drive but Caden Prieskorn caught a pass and turned it upfield for an 18 yard gain and then fumbled the ball at the 1 yard line into the end zone for touchback. Tough break. 3:30 remaining in the game.
Broncos finished the game with a 27-7 win over the Arizona Cardinals to move to 2-0 in the preseason!
The next broadcast will be on Saturday, August 23rd as the Broncos travel to New Orleans to face the Saints. Coverage begins at 8am MTN.
Below are postgame interviews with Jarrett Stidham and Troy Franklin: