An eventful first half at Mile High Stadium was highlighted by two huge TD receptions by Denver WR Demaryius Thomas, helping to stake the Broncos to a 21-13 halftime lead over the Arizona Cardinals.
Our Cardinals/Broncos Halftime Quick Hitters
Injuries to Arizona starting QB Drew Stanton (suspected concussion) and Broncos starting RB Montee Ball (groin) changed the complexion of the game, as both teams were left to scramble to fill the gaps left behind. Cardinals rookie QB Logan Thomas would get Arizona as close as four, but Denver would pull away with a vengeance for a 41-20 blowout victory.
Turning Point: Peyton Manning being Peyton Manning. The future Hall-of-Famer (31-of-47, 479 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT) picked up his 500th career touchdown pass in the first quarter en route to four touchdown passes on the day (all to guys with the last name of Thomas).
His fourth one to TE Julius Thomas (a 12-yard connection) effectively sealed Denver's victory midway through the fourth quarter, handing Denver a 34-20 lead at home against a rookie quarterback who was subsequently forced to (unsuccessfully) go into gunslinger mode.
Key Stat: The Arizona Cardinals went three-and-out on five drives for a combined six yards before Logan Thomas found RB Andre Ellington for an 81-yard score on a pass that was just inches away from being a horrible mistake. After that? They went three-and-out on their next three drives for two total yards. A little bit of feast, but a whole lot of famine.
Broncos MVP: WR Demaryius Thomas did damage, plain and simple. After a substandard start to the season even by his own expectations, Thomas absolutely went off - snagging eight catches for a franchise-record 226 yards and two touchdowns. He almost singlehandedly snuffed out the Arizona threat on Sunday with one of the greatest games by a wide receiver that you'll ever see.
Cardinals MVP: RB Andre Ellington was held in check all day long on the ground (16 carries, 32 yards, 1 TD), yet he was still effective as a receiver with four catches for 112 yards and the aforementioned TD. Full credit for that touchdown goes to Ellington for creating enough of a mismatch to turn rookie Logan Thomas' heave-and-a-prayer into six.
What’s Next? The Arizona Cardinals will have to pick up the pieces and figure out how their offense will look going forward, especially taking into account Stanton's potential concussion. They have one week to do so before locking up with the Washington Redskins at home.
Denver, on the other hand, will steamroll into New Jersey next Sunday to face a New York Jets team seemingly in complete disarray.
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