Broncos vs. Cardinals Preview and Free Pick

Last Updated on August 15, 2025 8:59 am by Erwin Noguera

Week 2 of the NFL preseason brings us a matchup between two teams that won their opening games: the Denver Broncos will host the Arizona Cardinals.

The Broncos are coming off a dominant 30-9 victory over the San Francisco 49ers, bouncing back after an early deficit, though most of their points came from field goals.

Meanwhile, the Cardinals faced a tougher challenge but also came out on top, defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 20-17.

This Thursday, the teams held a joint practice, and both head coaches have already confirmed they will not play their starters in this game, meaning we could see plenty of surprises.

Denver Broncos vs. Arizona Cardinals Betting Odds and Info

Why Bet on the Denver Broncos?

Last season, the Denver Broncos reached the postseason but were eliminated in the Wild Card round by the Buffalo Bills. This year, they aim to take it further.

In their first game, they crushed the San Francisco 49ers 30-9 at Levi’s Stadium. The first quarter ended 9-0, but they turned things around afterward, with 12 points coming from kicker Wil Lutz. Among the quarterbacks, Jarrett Stidham threw two touchdown passes, while Sam Ehlinger, who arrived from the Indianapolis Colts, threw another.

Wide receiver Trent Sherfield, who joined from the Minnesota Vikings, scored one of the touchdowns, while rookie Caden Prieskorn from the Ole Miss Rebels added another. The third was caught by tight end Lucas Krull.

Why Bet on the Arizona Cardinals?

The Arizona Cardinals are a team looking to improve on last NFL season, when they finished third in the NFC West and 10th overall in the NFC with eight wins and nine losses.

In their first preseason game, a fourth-quarter field goal by Chad Ryland secured a 20-17 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. Quarterback Jacoby Brissett, who arrived from the New England Patriots, threw two touchdown passes, caught by Emari Demercado and Xavier Weaver. The wide receiver, now in his second year, is hoping for more playing time after limited opportunities last season.

The Cardinals’ first-round draft pick, defensive tackle Walter Nolen from Ole Miss, has been dealing with a calf injury for about a month and will miss this game. Head coach Jonathan Gannon confirmed that his recovery is on schedule and he has not suffered any setbacks. According to various reports, he is expected to be ready for the first games of the regular season.

Final Betting Analysis: Broncos vs. Cardinals

Two teams aiming for much more than they achieved last season both started their preseason with a win. However, since both head coaches have already announced they will go with backups and reserves, we’re leaning slightly toward the Denver Broncos, as they’re playing at home and we believe they have a better roster.

The numbers at Gambyl Exchange have the Broncos as the favorite, with their Moneyline at -170, while the Cardinals are at +145.

This will be the third straight year they meet in the preseason. In 2024, the Broncos won 38-12, while in 2023, the Cardinals won 18-17. In both years, the home team came out on top.

Go for a win for the Broncos. If you bet $100 at -170, you will gain $59 for a total payout of $159.

Broncos vs. Cardinals Betting Pick: Broncos