The game plan for Denver to win the battle of backup QBs, beat Arizona

The Denver Broncos only have four games left in their lost 2022 season. After the regular season has concluded, I believe we’ll see much-needed changes to the coaching staff. The front office will be untouched, but perhaps add more scouts later in the year, and Russell Wilson will return as the quarterback for next season.

The 3-10 Broncos are going to be without Wilson this week as they are at home to face the hapless Arizona Cardinals. That means Brett Rypien will be under center for the Broncos, and the momentum the offense showed last week may not be able to continue. I want to see Rypien put together a good game, but this is a downgrade for the offense overall.

The Cardinals have many negative things swirling around their franchise now. Like the Broncos, there may be changes to the coaching staff in the offseason – and I think there will be changes in their front office as well. Also like the Broncos, the Cardinals will be working with their backup quarterback in Week 15. This is a game of two teams who had different plans for this season, and now they’re both looking towards next year.

How will the Broncos attack the Cardinals on both sides of the ball? Let’s take a look.

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When the Broncos Run the Ball

It’s kind of rinse/repeat on what the Broncos should do when it comes to running the football on Sunday. Whether they follow that plan is up in the air. Latavius Murray is the starter, and he can attack a defense as a runner and receiver out of the backfield. Marlon Mack is the primary back, and he’s capable in both departments as well.

Murray should lead the way on the ground for the Broncos. In fact, the rushing attack should lead the way but it seems like I say that every week, yet the Broncos continue to pass the ball more than they run. The offensive line has some injury issues, although left guard Dalton Risner should be back in the starting lineup. I’d like to see the O-Line take over with some powerful run-blocking to wear down a Cardinals’ defense that tends to get gassed with some late collapses this season.

Short passes can essentially be long handoffs in the Broncos’ offense, and that’s where Mack comes into play. Mack proved last year on a 66-yard catch-and-run that he has the speed and vision to take it to the house. I like Mack as the team’s primary receiving back, but I also would like to see him get 10 carries or so. Overall, 20 touches for Murray and 15 touches for Mack makes the most sense. We’ll see if the Broncos even approach that modest number for the two combined.

66 YARDS TO THE 🏡!

📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/0CfeWUO10a

— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) December 11, 2022

With Rypien under enter, the Broncos need to lean on their rushing attack more than ever before. I’d like to see that happen, which could mean big days for both Murray and Mack in Week 15.

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When the Broncos Pass the Ball

Rypien is not a great backup quarterback, but the Cardinals are inconsistent on defense and there’s not a lot of film on him for them to study. What do we know about Rypien? First, he’s a smart quarterback who understands defenses and knows the system like the back of his hand. Second, Rypien has good accuracy and pass placement when it comes to short-and-intermediate passing. Finally, Rypien doesn’t have a strong arm.

Okay, then we know what the Broncos must work with. They need to get Rypien into a rhythm with short-to-intermediate passing. He’s quite capable as a dink-and-dunk passer, so utilize that to steadily march down the field while also relying on your running game. Rypien is adversely affected by pressure, so make sure to get the ball out of his hands quickly.

He’s got two security-blanket targets in WR Jerry Jeudy and TE Greg Dulcich. Jeudy is coming off a 3-touchdown performance against the Chiefs, including one from Rypien, last week. The Broncos might have figured out the way to unlock Jeudy’s potential on the field, and that could continue in Week 15. Dulcich’s chemistry with Wilson was a bit off this year, but he might have better chemistry with Rypien. Before the pressure gets to him, and the Cardinals do have talent to get after the passer, Rypien needs to find Dulcich as a relief-valve target in the middle of the field.

HAT TRICK, @jerryjeudy! 🎩

📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/zL62e2iJO6

— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) December 11, 2022

We’ll need to see Rypien lean on his security-blanket targets like Jeudy and Dulcich. If he does that, Rypien should have no problem moving the ball through the air against the Cardinals.

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When the Cardinals Run the Ball

When healthy, James Conner is tough to stop, and he’s got a nose for the end zone. He had 15 rushing touchdowns last year, but that number sits at only five this year because Conner has missed time due to injury. He’s healthy now, and Conner has compiled over 200 yards rushing over the last two games. Going over the century mark is quite possible against Denver.

The Broncos need to sell out to stuff the run. They need to stack the box and force the Cardinals to beat them with Conner bottled up. Like the Broncos, the Cardinals will want to dink-and-dunk their way down the field and lean on the rushing attack. The Broncos need to be ready for that and dealing with QB Colt McCoy is a lot easier of a gameplan than preparing for superstar QB Kyler Murray.

Since Murray is done for the year with an ACL injury, the Cardinals rushing attack loses some of its electricity. McCoy used to be able to get around a little bit earlier in his career and in his college career at Texans, but that was then, and this is now. McCoy is nowhere near a threat to run, while Murray is one of the most dangerous runners in the league. Now, more than ever, the Cardinals are going to lean on Conner. If you stop Conner, then you stop the Cardinals.

NOT TO BE DENIED 😤@JamesConner_ x #ProBowlVote pic.twitter.com/ev3an6Vxnn

— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) December 13, 2022

Conner brings physicality to the field the Broncos will have to match. Since they have their own quarterback issues, expect a healthy workload for Conner – if the Cardinals can keep things close – on Sunday.

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When the Cardinals Pass the Ball

McCoy is not a bad backup, and he’s okay as a starting option because of his decade-plus experience in the NFL and his knowledge of the Kliff Kingsbury system. I’ve often called offensive football the “declaration of influence” in the NFL. The Cardinals use multiple formations and personnel packages to run a simple number of plays. They’re trying to fool you before the snap – something they could do better with Murray and won’t be able to do as effectively with McCoy.

They have two superstar receivers in WR DeAndre Hopkins and WR Marquise Brown. Hopkins spent the first six weeks of the season on the NFL’s suspended list, but he’s back to his old dominant self on Sundays. Brown, a college teammate of Murray, has the speed and quickness to score anytime he touches the ball. Without Murray, the team might try some end-around plays to a guy like Brown just to test the defense – or at least to slow down the pass rush with jet sweep motion.

While Hopkins and Brown get a lot of attention (for good reason), with McCoy running the show we could see more from veteran WR Robbie Anderson. We’ve seen a strong connection between McCoy and Anderson, something that may show up on Sunday against the Broncos. Like Hopkins and Brown, Anderson has a ton of speed and can blow by unsuspecting defenders. In addition to the wide receivers, I like rookie TE Trey McBride. The Colorado State product was my no.1 tight end in the 2022 NFL draft, and he’s getting an opportunity to make plays with veteran TE Zach Ertz out for the season due to injury.

Only needed 👆@chosen1ra x #ProBowlVote pic.twitter.com/EYZ3aHhCme

— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) December 13, 2022

The Cardinals have many weapons when it comes to their passing game. It will be interesting to see how they try to shake these talented players free against a Broncos defense that is playing good football.

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