Denver Broncos vs Arizona Cardinals Picks and Predictions for Sunday October 25 2026
Arizona beat the Rams Sunday without scoring a touchdown. Six field goals. Chad Ryland probably needed an ice pack for his kicking leg by the time he got home. The Cardinals won 18-16, and they’ll gladly take it after losing four straight. Now Denver comes to Glendale with a defense that doesn’t give quarterbacks much time to get comfortable.
The Broncos visit State Farm Stadium on Sunday, October 25, 2026. Kickoff is at 4:05 PM ET on CBS. Denver is favored by 4.5 points, and the total is 43.5. State Farm Stadium has a retractable roof, so we’ll have to see whether it’s open Sunday. For more matchups, check out our free NFL picks.
Denver Broncos Have Been Winning With Defense
Denver is 4-2 after beating Seattle 17-14 in overtime Thursday night. The Broncos haven’t been blowing anybody away offensively, but they’re winning games. That’s what matters in October. They had to grind out that one against the Seahawks, and the defense made enough plays to give them a chance. Denver has won four of its last five, and the two losses came against good competition. Sean Payton has to like where his team sits, even if the offense still gives him headaches.
The Broncos have been getting after quarterbacks, and that’s a bad matchup for an Arizona offensive line that’s had trouble protecting its passer. Denver’s offense has been a different story. The running game hasn’t been dependable, and Bo Nix has spent too much time trying to make something happen with defenders in his face. The good news is he hasn’t been giving the ball away much. Against Arizona, Denver doesn’t need to get fancy. Run the ball enough to keep the defense honest, take the short throws, and don’t hand the Cardinals another afternoon of easy field-goal opportunities.
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Nix has been doing a decent job protecting the football, although Denver needs more explosive plays from its passing game. The bigger concern is the secondary. Pat Surtain II has been dealing with an ankle injury, and Talanoa Hufanga has also been sidelined. Those are two important pieces when you’re facing a quarterback who can throw it around. Riley Moss has been bothered by a rib injury as well. Denver’s pass rush can cover up some problems, but not all of them.
Arizona Cardinals Finally Got A Win
Arizona is 2-4 after beating the Rams 18-16. The Cardinals were down 16-15 with less than a minute left before Jacoby Brissett got them into field-goal range. Ryland kicked the winner as time expired. That’s a nice road win, but let’s not pretend the offense was terrific. Arizona moved the ball for 338 yards and still couldn’t get into the end zone. Six field goals will win you a game once in a while. It’s not a great plan for the whole season.
The Cardinals have been giving up too many points. Before Sunday’s win, they’d allowed at least 30 in four straight games. Denver isn’t a high-powered offense, but the Broncos can take advantage if Arizona keeps giving up long drives. The Cardinals also have trouble finishing their own possessions. Brissett can move the ball between the 20s, but somebody has to score touchdowns. Denver’s defense isn’t going to make that easy.
Brissett completed 24 of 35 passes for 218 yards against Los Angeles. Bam Knight ran for 80 yards on 15 carries, and he gave Arizona some decent production on the ground. The Cardinals are still dealing with injuries, including James Conner and offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr. Those are significant losses. Conner would give them a more dependable running game, while Johnson’s absence makes pass protection harder. That’s a rough combination against Denver’s front.
Denver Broncos vs Arizona Cardinals Picks and Predictions
Denver Broncos -4.5 (-110)
I’ll lay the 4.5 with Denver. Arizona deserves credit for beating the Rams, but six field goals don’t convince me the Cardinals have figured out their offense. Denver’s defense should make life difficult for Brissett, especially with Arizona having problems up front. The Broncos aren’t scoring a ton themselves, which is the part that worries me about laying more than a field goal. But I trust Denver to take care of the ball and make Arizona work for every yard. If the Broncos get a lead, the Cardinals could have a hard time catching up. Denver by a touchdown.
Under 43.5 Points (-105)
Give me under 43.5. Denver just played a 17-14 overtime game. Arizona scored 18 against the Rams, all on field goals. Neither offense has been particularly good at finishing drives. The Cardinals should struggle against Denver’s pass rush, and the Broncos haven’t been lighting up the scoreboard either. A couple of defensive turnovers could change things, especially if one gets returned for a touchdown. But I see a lot of punts, some field goals, and not much reason to expect 50 points. Denver 24, Arizona 13.
Final Picks: Denver Broncos -4.5 (-110) and Under 43.5 Points (-105)
This preview was completed October 20, 2026. Betting lines, injuries, and roof status may change before kickoff.
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