The Denver Broncos are looking for their third win in a row, and the team is already set to finish up their four-game series against the NFC West this year. The Arizona Cardinals come into Week 7 having taken down the Los Angeles Rams in shocking fashion in Week 6.
Denver is the better team, though, as we have seen the defense really step up these past couple of weeks, and it may only be a matter of time before the offense erupts, as the Broncos have played a massively tough schedule thus far that is only now beginning to get a bit easier.
If the Broncos hope to win in Week 7, they'll need a trio of key offensive players to step up and shine.
The Denver Broncos need a trio of offensive players to step up in Week 7
Bo Nix, QB
We recently talked about why this has to be a get-right game for quarterback Bo Nix and the offense. In the eyes of some, Nix has played benchable football this year, and some of those folks also think that the Broncos are winning in spite of Nix.
Well, all the Broncos have to do in Week 7 is go up against one of the worst passing defenses in football. The Cardinals defense has allowed the highest opposing passer rating this year, and they have already surrendered 16 passing touchdowns in six games.
The Broncos have, to be fair, dealt wiht a ton of top scoring defenses thus far, so there is at least a reason why this unt has struggled. That can't be the case in Week 7, though, as the Broncos really cannot justify getting into another ugly, low-scoring game.
If there is any week this year where the offense looks its best, it has to come against a team that has get-right game written all over them, and to at least silence the critics for a week and begin to remove these concerns, Nix needs to play efficient football.
Jaylen Waddle, WR
Outside of 138 receiving yards way back in Week 2, wide receiver Jaylen Waddle has been held under 40 yards in every other game this year. With the Cardinals pass defense being so porous, Waddle getting some run in Week 7 makes all the sense in the world.
The odd thing here is that Waddle should be the Broncos 'easy button' on offense, but for whatever reason, the team has only 'forced' him the ball once this year. Despite being the most explosive player on the team, and the best overall playmaker, Waddle has instead been used like a WR2 on an average team.
This year already, the Cardinals defense, according to Pro Football Reference, has given up 56 receptions for 917 yards and 10 touchdowns to wide receivers. That averages out to be over 16 yards per reception given up to receivers.
Waddle himself is a big play waiting to happen, and he has the matchup in front of him.
J.K. Dobbins, RB
The J.K. Dobbins' experience this season has been rough, to say the least. While his vision still seems to be there, as the Broncos don't have a lot of negative runs, Dobbins doesn't appear to be nearly as explosive through the holes that he was last year.
Some have fairly wondered if he's simply regressing physically. While that may indeed be the case, there is also a non-zero chance that being able to play one of the worst defenses in the sport allows Dobbins to enjoy a breakout game. We did see flashes of the old Dobbins a couple of weeks ago against the Los Angeles Chargers, so perhaps there is still some juice left in the tank.
The Broncos being able to run the ball does allow the passing offense more space to produce, so as a normal, functioning NFL offense would do, establishing the run first will be key. Dobbins was flat-out awesome last year in his 10 games, and it's not wild to think that there is some of that magic left.
Add us as a preferred source on Google