Broncos make good on Von Miller prediction, rout Cardinals 45-10
Oct 18, 2018, 10:14 PM | Updated: 11:41 pm
Von Miller was right.
To the tune of two sacks, four quarterback hits, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery, the prolific pass rusher made good on his promise to kick the ass of the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday night, leading Denver to a 45-10 win on the road.
“I was proud of how he played the game tonight. You can speak those words, but you’ve got to back them up. And he did that tonight,” head coach Vance Joseph said after the game. “His teammates also backed him up.”
Indeed, Miller did not act alone in knocking the Cardinals on their backsides.
Defensively, the Broncos scored 14 points on two first-quarter interceptions returned for touchdowns, including one on the second play of the game.
Denver forced five turnovers — three picks and two fumble recoveries — for the first time since Week 2 of the 2015 season.
The Broncos also sacked rookie quarterback Josh Rosen six times — two for Miller, two for rookie Bradley Chubb, and one apiece for Shaquil Barrett and Zach Kerr.
“My teammates, they played unbelievable today. I’m so proud of those guys,” Miller said after the game.
The Denver offense also played a key role in the butt whipping, with wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders shining in the win.
First, Sanders threw a touchdown pass on a reverse, connecting with rookie Courtland Sutton for 28 yards midway through the first quarter. Then, in the second quarter, Case Keenum connected with Sanders on a 64-yard touchdown to put Denver up 28-3.
It’s the first time a Broncos player threw and caught a touchdown in the same game since John Elway did so in September 1986.
“I had to go and apologize to John. But it feels good,” Sanders said after the game. “… What a great call by Bill Musgrave, and we were able to execute it and score a touchdown, so it felt good.”
Sanders also became just the fifth wide receiver in the Super Bowl era to record a passing touchdown, rushing touchdown, and receiving touchdown in the same season.
Rookie running backs Phillip Lindsay and Royce Freeman also added a touchdown rush each while kicker Brandon McManus added a field goal late, his 14th consecutive conversion this season.
Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @JohnnyHart7.
