Final: Denver Broncos 41 Arizona Cardinals 20

Oct 5, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Arizona Cardinal quarterback Drew Stanton (5) during the first half against the Denver Broncos s at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

In the toughest matchup of the season for the Arizona Cardinals, they would take on the Peyton Manning lead Denver Broncos in the Mile High City of Denver. With the Cards undefeated (3-0) they would go against a Denver team that were 2-1 going into Sunday. The Cardinals’ defense has been absolutely stellar this season but how would they fare against the top-notch offense of the Denver Broncos?

Well, not too well unfortunately. Injuries to quarterback, Drew Stanton, and defensive linemen, Calais Campbell, really hurt the Cardinals as they tried to keep up with the fast attack of the Manning-lead Bronco offense. Cardinals quarterback, Logan Thomas, would have to take over for Drew Stanton but would not jump-start the Cardinal offense. It also would not help with Cardinals’ receivers having a total of 8 dropped passes.

Manning would have a field day with over 400 yards passing and half of that being thrown to Demaryius Thomas.

The final would be 41-20, Denver Broncos.

Game Recap:

The game began with the Cards having possession of the ball and would march down the field on their first possession for a 12-play, 6 minute drive which would end in a short 33-yard field goal by Chandler Catanzaro for the Cardinals. Stanton would be 5-8 for 41 yards passing on the drive. Cards would be up 3-0.

On the Denver Broncos’ first offensive possession, they would do similar things as they would also take a march down the field but, unlike the Cards, the Broncos would get a passing touchdown from Peyton Manning to Julius Thomas. This would be Manning’s 500th passing touchdown making Manning one of two quarterbacks to ever reach 500 touchdown passes. The other quarterback was Brett Favre. The Broncos would now take the lead, 3-7.

The Cardinals would get the ball back and quarterback, Drew Stanton, would launch a ball down the field for wide receiver John Brown in the end zone which would be slightly overthrown and it would have been a touchdown for the Cards if Stanton just had a little less juice on the throw. The Cards would still move the ball into field goal range which would be a 48- yd attempt for Catanzaro. The field goal would be right down the middle as Catanzaro would bring his season total to 11-11 on field goal attempts this season for the rookie. This would make the score 6-7, Broncos.

Unfortunately for the Cards, they used all of their 1st half timeouts in the 1 quarter and, actually, it was all on their first two possessions of the game.

After a couple of punts by both sides, the 2nd quarter would begin with the Broncos having the ball. They would not have it too long, though, as Manning would throw an interception to Jerraud Powers to give the Cards great field position to begin their next drive.

The Cards would not take advantage of the good field position, though, as they would go three and out and punt the ball back to Denver.

Manning would start to find a grove as he would begin to launch the football down the field for big gains of 31 and 30 yards as they would get a passing touchdown to Demaryius Thomas. The drive would be 7 plays for 80 yards in just 3:13. The Broncos would now have the lead, 6-14.

The Broncos would eventually get the ball again on offense and it would end quickly with another interception by Manning as he would try to throw a screen pass to his running back which would be intercepted by Calais Campbell of the Cardinals who sniffed out the screen play. This would set up the Cardinals with a 1st and goal and, with just a simple running play to Andre Ellington, the Cards would get a touchdown making the score 13-14, Broncos.

With just two minutes left to go before the half, the Broncos would get another opportunity to get points on offense and this would be a opportunity they would most certainly convert on. On the Broncos first play, Peyton Manning would throw a 86-yard pass to Demaryius Thomas for a touchdown. The score would now be 13-21, Broncos, heading into halftime.

Oct 5, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) reacts to his 500th touchdown pass with quarterback coach Adam Gase in the first quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

The Broncos would begin the 2nd half by moving the ball slowly down the field into the red zone but the Cards’ defense would stand tall and hold the Manning lead Broncos to just a 44-yard field goal attempt which would be good for the Broncos. The score would now be 13-24 in favor of the Broncos.

On the Cards’ next possession, it would not be Drew Stanton at quarterback but, instead, rookie Logan Thomas. This would be because Stanton would have to be evaluated for a concussion. Logan Thomas would go 3 and out in his first NFL action.

Cardinals defensive linemen, Calais Campbell, would also be injured with a knee injury.

The Broncos would get the ball back and move down the field which would end in a 53-yard field goal attempt which would be no good leaving the score, 13-24 Broncos.

Then, on a remarkable catch, Logan Thomas would connect with Andre Ellington in between defenders where Ellington would break free and run for a 81-yard touchdown giving the Cards more points on the board with the score now being, 20-24 still Broncos heading into the 4th quarter.

Here is the link to the Logan Thomas to Andre Ellington pass play

With the Broncos back in possession of the ball at the start of the 4th quarter, the Broncos would get past mid-field but would, again, have to settle for another field goal attempt and, this time, from 41 yards out which would be good by McManus. Score now 20-27, Broncos.

After another three and out by the Cards, the Broncos would get the ball back and move the ball down the field like they have been doing all day but, this time, they would get a 12-yard passing touchdown to Julius Thomas now giving the Broncos a 20-34 lead mid-way through the 4th quarter with the Cardinals still having Logan Thomas at quarterback.

The Cards would continue to be stagnant on offense and punt the ball right back to the Broncos late in the 4th quarter.

With another Bronco possession, Manning would continue to dominate with another passing touchdown, this time, to Juwan Thompson. Broncos would put the dagger in the Cardinals’ heart as the score would now be 20-41, Broncos.

Quick Stats:

Arizona Cardinals:

QB – Drew Stanton: 11-26, 118 passing yards

QB – Logan Thomas: 1-8, 81 passing yards, 1 passing touchdown

RB – Andre Ellington: 16 carries, 32 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown, 4 receptions, 112 receiving yards

WR – Larry Fitzgerald: 3 receptions, 57 receiving yards

CB – Jerraud Powers: 7 tackles, 1 pass deflection, 1 interception

K – Chandler Catanzaro: 2 for 2 on field goals

Denver Broncos:

QB – Peyton Manning: 31-47, 479 passing yards, 4 passing touchdowns, 2 interceptions

WR – Demaryius Thomas: 8 receptions, 226 receiving yards, 2 receiving touchdowns

TE – Julius Thomas: 6 receptions, 66 receiving yards, 2 receiving touchdowns

LB – Von Miller: 3 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 2 tackles for loss, 3 quarterback hits

K – Brandon McManus: 2 for 3 on field goals

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