Typical Broncos preseason game (in 2025)...trying some basic things out, right out of the gates...mostly trying to get R.J. Harvey more ‘vanilla’ reps...as they dance with/toy with the opponent in the first series or two -- and then after some early ‘messin’ around’, they decide to ‘crush’ the opponent as such: https://youtu.be/SL6ND8PfJQ0?si=GY2rf3nZoxrIp1BU&t=31
The Cardinals have very little depth...and they were helpless against the Grand Canyon of depth the Broncos have by comparison. The best thing about this 2025 Cardinals football team is...their schedule.
Player News...
-- So, we open the game with Denver’s mostly 2nd-team offense vs. Arizona’s 2nd-team defense...with one twist -- the Broncos used their full RB depth chart...and what they revealed here, combined with what they revealed last week, gives us a nice picture of the direction the Broncos are going at RB...and there’s one kinda shocker on here, maybe more, depends if you’re keeping up with the Broncos backfield this preseason.
Here was their RB rotation in this game...
In the game first, R.J. Harvey (3-18-0/1, 1-2-01)...he was in every snap for the first two drives...similar-ish heavy pattern for RJH. They have been getting Harvey up to speed to be the lead RB for Week 1+ for 2025. This part is obvious.
The next RB in...drum roll, please...Tyler Badie (4-14-0, 2-16-0/2). Sean Payton’s new favorite RB.
Number 3 in the game, J.K. Dobbins (0-0-0/0). You don’t go into a game like this, as a veteran RB, in the 3rd-series, behind Tyler Badie, play a few on-and-off a few snaps, and never touch the ball...that doesn’t happen unless you don’t matter much to the game plan/team. They guaranteed this guy $2M for some reason...now it looks like $2M down the drain. They may have to keep him on the 53-man roster for a bit so Payton doesn’t look too stupid for this signing. It feels like the end of the road for Dobbins is upon us...
The fourth RB in was last year’s Tyler Badie (Payton fave), Jaleel McLaughlin (3-48-0).
In the game 5th was their 2nd-best RB, according to me...and Ross, Blake Watson (10-34-0, 4-20-0/4).
In the game 6th, does anyone remember the great Audric Estime (9-20-0)? Remember when he started that one time against KC...and Denver lost on a blocked field goal...and Estime was the RB of the year/week off waivers the following week...and then chucked back to waivers soon after by his new FF owners? Yeah, that guy is the #6 RB for the Broncos right now.
It looks like the Broncos plan for the season start is: Harvey as the default lead, but switching in and out some with Tyler Badie as the probable #2 or co-#2 with Jaleel McLaughlin. JK Dobbins or Estime will be the #3 who rotates in with their RB trio/quad. Blake Watson can safely go to the practice squad...no one will claim him from Denver yet.
-- Broncos WR/TE report...
A few days after this game, the Broncos traded a very solid DeVaughn Vele, but it made sense. Because...
Troy Franklin (4-67-2/5) really does look transformed.
And Pat Bryant (4-70-0/5) is proving to be a real deal.
Vele had no shot to play much for Denver this year, too much talent on the depth chart now...but he can start eventually for the Saints.
Also noteworthy, the key starters got the game off...Nix...Sutton...AND Marvin Mims, definite #2 WR starter. Franklin and Bryant will rotate as #3s for a bit.
Evan Engram (1-58-0/1) DID play, which was odd with key starters sitting...but Engram wanted to play, because last week he didn’t get a touch. He got one touch and almost took it to the house...then he was gone after two snaps.
The Broncos have a really nice 4-deep WR group
-- I literally have NO Arizona notes from this game. They were so generically ‘meh’, then Denver started putting the hammer down and it went worse and worse. No player stood out. Trey Benson sat out, which is a good sign for him.
I’d just say -- the Cardinals 2nd-team unit...is the worst 2nd-unit in the NFC West. LAR, SEA, SF...all their 2nd-teams have looked really good this preseason. Arizona’s not so much. The case for them to win the NFC West is all schedule...and Stafford being hurt...and Darnold turning back into a pumpkin...and the 49ers ripping their team apart his offseason via free agency and injuries. Very DEPENDENT heavy team for 2025 -- is Arizona.
-- Just one last bit of love for the Denver defense...their 2nd/3rd-team defense might be a top 15 unit in the NFL. This defense is something special. Don’t downplay it. You’ll regret it.
