Broncos vs. Cardinals 2014: Arizona aims to remain undefeated against Peyton Manning

Despite playing with a backup quarterback and missing multiple stars on defense, the Cardinals are the last remaining undefeated team in the NFC. The Broncos and their high-powered offense are looking to change that.

by Matt Verderame

Oct 5, 2014, 2:00 PM UTC

Otto Greule Jr

The Denver Broncos are the odds-on favorite to emerge from the AFC and get back to a second consecutive Super Bowl. The Arizona Cardinals did not enter the season with the same designation in the NFC, but suddenly are turning heads after narrowly missing the playoffs in 2013 despite a 10-win season. At 3-0, Arizona is leading the brutally competitive NFC West despite a bevy of injuries.

Denver is 2-1 and coming off a bye week after a tough 26-20 overtime loss in its Super Bowl rematch against the Seattle Seahawks. The Broncos enter Week 5 trailing by a half-game in the AFC West, behind the San Diego Chargers who suffered their only loss to the Cardinals. Denver is finishing up a tough four-game stretch to begin its season, which included contests again three playoff teams from 2013.

Meet the Cardinals

Arizona appeared to have issues on the defensive side of the ball with Daryl Washington suspended for the year after a third violation of the league's substance abuse policy, Darnell Dockett out for the season with a torn ACL and Karlos Dansby gone via free agency to the Cleveland Browns. However, the Cardinals are rolling, allowing the fewest yards in the NFL through four weeks.

The offense has been able to provide enough even with Carson Palmer starting only one of the first three contests. Palmer suffered a nerve injury to his shoulder in Week 1 and has not been able to play since, leaving the quarterback duties to Drew Stanton. Despite completing only 51.6 percent of his passes, Stanton has guided the Cardinals to a 2-0 mark in his starts. Palmer is expected to return this season after seeing a spine specialist, who determined Palmer does not need surgery.

Larry Fitzgerald has seen his numbers decline in recent years, but he is still a dangerous weapon on the outside. Fitzgerald has a streak of 152 games with at least one catch, the longest active streak in the NFL. However, Michael Floyd has emerged as the top target for Arizona quarterbacks. Floyd has only 11 catches, but 252 yards, 143 more than the next Cardinals receiver. Rookie John Brown is also contributing with nine receptions for 109 yards and three touchdowns.

Meet the Broncos

When you are talking about Denver, you are talking about offense. General manager John Elway added to the defense this offseason with signings of T.J. Ward, DeMarcus Ware and Aqib Talib, but the main man wears No. 18. Peyton Manning has been sublime once again, throwing for 814 yards and eight touchdowns in three games. Manning has thrown only one interception while completing 66.7 percent of his passes. The future Hall of Famer is one touchdown pass away from 500 in his career, a number reached by only Brett Favre.

Interestingly though, Denver has not been able to shred defenses like it did in 2013. The Broncos rank 10th in passing yardage per game and an alarming 28th running the ball at 75.3 yards. Without Knowshon Moreno, who left for the Dolphins, Denver is relying on Montee Ball. Ball is off to a slow start, averaging a paltry 3.4 yards per carry. As a team, the Broncos are 29th in the league at 3.2 yards per attempt. On the bright side, Emmanuel Sanders is paying dividends after being signed away from the Steelers, catching a team-high 25 passes for 334 yards.

The defense was remade to be a physical unit that could limiting passing yardage, but it has not gone completely to plan. Denver is permitting 285 passing yards per game, better than only the Jacksonville Jaguars. There are some encouraging signs though: The Broncos are 10th in allowing 6.9 yards per attempt. Von Miller and Ware make up one of the most feared pass-rushing duos in football, and have combined for 4.5 sacks thus far.

Injuries

Cardinals:

Out: LB Glenn Carson (knee), QB Carson Palmer (shoulder)

Questionable: G Paul Fanaika (knee)

Probable: RB Andre Ellington (foot), TE Rob Housler (hip), LB Alex Okafor (thigh), CB Patrick Peterson (illness), DE Frostee Rucker (calf), P Dave Zastudil (groin)

Broncos:

Out: None

Questionable: S David Bruton Jr. (knee), LB Lerentee McCray (knee)

Probable: S Quinton Carter (knee), TE Virgil Green (concussion), K Brandon McManus (groin), LB Danny Trevathan (knee), G Louis Vasquez (ribs)