DENVER – Ryan Lindley threw for two touchdowns for Arizona in a 32-24 victory over the Denver Broncos on Thursday night.
Now, this summer’s trendy Super Bowl pick heads into next week’s NFL Kickoff against defending champion Baltimore after losing both of its “Doom & Gloom” pass-rush partners. Elvis Dumervil went to the Ravens in free agency after a fax foul-up, and Von Miller will begin serving a six-game suspension.
Together, they accounted for 29½ of Denver’s league-leading 52 sacks last season.
How the Broncos make up for their absences will go a long way in determining if Miller’s Super Bowl guarantee he made back in February was bold or blather.
Gerell Robinson caught five passes for 99 yards, including a 25-yard touchdown pass from rookie Zac Dysert for Denver.
With their opener less than a week away, the Broncos, who also saw two of their executives suspended this summer after DUI arrests, will get a jumpstart on their cuts Friday.
Before getting hurt, linebacker Lerentee McCray made a strong case for extending Denver’s streak to a full decade in which at least one undrafted player made the 53-man roster in Week 1. McCray started at Miller’s strong side spot and had a sack and a forced fumble in the first half. But he was helped off the field with a right ankle injury with four minutes left in the third quarter.
On the next play, Lindley threw a 55-yard touchdown pass to Jaron Brown.
The Broncos responded with Lance Ball’s 69-yard gain on a screen and Dysert’s keeper from 7 yards that put Denver back on top, 24-17.
Denver tight end Jake O’Connell’s second fumble of the night led to Mike Thomas’ 13-yard touchdown catch from Lindley, whose 2-point conversion pass to Andre Ellington gave Arizona its first lead at 25-24 with less than 6 minutes remaining.
Stepfan Taylor added a 15-yard touchdown run with 1:05 left.
Miller was among Broncos starters who didn’t play but went through a workout 3½ hours before kickoff. Also in that group was rookie running back Montee Ball. Absent was Ronnie Hillman, who had fumbles that were returned for touchdowns in back-to-back games.
Hillman started for Denver and got the first two carries, gaining 14 yards, before Jeremiah Johnson took over and capped the opening drive with a 9-yard burst up the middle.
Brock Osweiler’s 45-yard pass to Robinson set up a 27-yard field goal by Matt Prater before the Cardinals countered with Ryan Williams’ 1-yard touchdown run and Jay Feely’s 52-yarder to knot the score at 10 at halftime.
Williams and Lindley were among the Cardinals players on the bubble hoping their performances make a difference when the final cuts are made Saturday.
After getting sacked eight times in the preseason, Osweiler had better protection, and it showed as he completed 7 of 11 throws for 108 yards without an interception or sack.
Phillips car stolen from downtown Denver
DENVER – A police report shows Broncos linebacker Shaun Phillips reported his vehicle was stolen from downtown Denver over the weekend.
The Denver Post reports that according to the police report, Phillips said his $120,000 Range Rover was taken sometime between 1 a.m. and 6 a.m. Sunday from Larimer Square.
Phillps previously played for the San Diego Chargers and signed with Denver as a free agent in April.
