The Broncos' defense has carried the team. Now QB Bo Nix wants to shoulder the load vs. Cardinals

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Denver's ball-hawking defense has made it one of the better NFL teams so far this season.

Now the Broncos hope quarterback Bo Nix and the rest of the offense will start producing so they can truly become one of the league's elite.

The Broncos (4-2) travel to face the Arizona Cardinals (2-4) on Sunday with questions about their offense, particularly Nix, who has underwhelmed in his third season as the team's quarterback. The 26-year-old has thrown for 1,049 yards and six touchdowns while completing 60.3% of his passes — which are all on track to be career lows.

Broncos coach Sean Payton put some of Nix's problems on himself, saying he has to provide a better gameplan and leadership as each game unfolds.

“I think he’s seen a lot," Payton said of Nix. "I shared this with you guys, and I’ll say it again: I have to be better just relative to in the course of the game. Each game takes on a different feel or style, if you will. Collectively, I think his play will be a byproduct of all of us doing our jobs better.”

Nix threw for just 107 yards in last week's 17-14 overtime win against the Seahawks. The quarterback appreciated Payton shouldering some of the blame, but added that he has to do his part as well.

“He’s been a really good leader right now," Nix said. “We need that. I think it goes back to us. I have to play better. We have to play better. The offense has to play better. He’s going to take his (blame) and that’s what great leaders do. I feel like I can overcome some of the stuff that is putting us in a bad spot, and I feel like I can play better.”

The Cardinals snapped a four-game losing streak last week with a surprising 18-16 road win over the Los Angeles Rams. Arizona's defense was aggressive in its best performance of the season and Chad Ryland kicked six field goals, including the 43-yard game winner as time expired.

Arizona is trying to snap a nine-game home losing streak that's lasted more than a calendar year.

Quarterback Jacoby Brissett said it was good to get back in the win column against the Rams, but referenced one of first-year coach Mike LaFleur's favorite sayings: “Humility is a week away.”

“He said that after the game and I think that applies so much because the Broncos don’t care what we did last week and we don’t either,” Brissett said. "It’s finding a way to go 1-0 this week.”

Denver (4-2) at Arizona (2-4).

When/where to watch: Sunday, 4:05 p.m. EDT, CBS

Latest odds: Broncos by 4 1/2.

Against the spread: Broncos 4-2; Cardinals 3-3.

Last week: Broncos beat Seahawks 17-14 in OT; Cardinals beat Rams 18-16

Last meeting: Broncos beat Cardinals 24-15 on Dec. 18, 2022, in Denver.

Series record: Broncos lead 10-1-1

Broncos DL Zach Allen vs. the Cardinals' offensive line: Allen's having another great season, following up on last year's All-Pro selection with 4 1/2 sacks through six games this year. He played the first four years of his career with the Cardinals after being selected in the third round out of Boston College in 2019 and left the desert in free agency after the 2022 season. Allen will go against a reworked Cardinals offensive line, who have rookie Jayden Williams starting at left tackle after starter Paris Johnson Jr. was lost for the season because of a torn left biceps suffered three weeks ago.

— Former Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald — who recently entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame — will be inducted into the team's Ring of Honor at halftime on Sunday and his No. 11 jersey will be retired.

— Ryland accounted for all 18 points after connecting on all six of his field goal attempts in last week’s win over the Rams. The six field goals and 18 total points are both career highs.

— The Cardinals have lost nine straight games at State Farm Stadium, which is their longest home skid since the team moved to Arizona in 1988. Both of Arizona's wins this season have come at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, after wins over the Chargers and Rams.

— The Cardinals' offensive line allowed zero sacks against the Rams last weekend.

— The Broncos are coming off a five-sack performance against Seattle Seahawks QB Sam Darnold, whom they hit another 17 times. In all, a dozen different Broncos hit the quarterback. And now they get Jonathon Cooper back from the commissioner’s exempt list, which should funnel more quarterbacks toward Nik Bonitto.

AP Pro Football Writer Arnie Stapleton in Denver contributed to this story.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

Arizona Cardinals kicker Chad Ryland, right, celebrates with Blake Gillikin (12) after an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams in Inglewood, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)

Arizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur walks on the sideline during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals in Inglewood, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7) passes against the Los Angeles Rams during the first half an NFL football game in Inglewood, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton looks at a play sheet during the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks in Denver, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Geneva Heffernan)

Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix walks on the field after a win over the Seattle Seahawks in an NFL football game in Denver, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Geneva Heffernan)

As the Seahawks prepare to face former teammate Kenneth Walker III, they may be getting some help with their own running game.

Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet may play for the first time this season Sunday when Seattle hosts the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs. He participated in a full practice Wednesday and was placed on the active roster Thursday.

His return couldn't come at a better time for the Seahawks, who are coming off a 17-14 loss to the Denver Broncos last Thursday night. It was the third loss this season for the defending Super Bowl champions.

The Seahawks' run game has struggled for much of the season and they could use Charbonnet, who tore his ACL in January and spent the first six games of the season on the physically unable to perform list.

"There is a possibility that you can see him on Sunday in some capacity," Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said this week.

Seattle is ranked 18th in the league with an average of 107.2 total yards on the ground this season. They have five rushing touchdowns. Rookie Jadarian Price, who was expected to help, is out with a chest/shoulder injury.

Charbonnet rushed for 730 yards and 12 touchdowns for the Seahawks last season before he was injured.

Of course, one of the reasons why Seattle's run game has dipped this season is the loss of Walker, their Super Bowl MVP who went to the Chiefs as a free agent in the offseason.

"But I think there’s mixed emotions. We’re happy for him, but also, we’re trying to figure out ways to stop this guy, too," Macdonald said.

Walker rushed for 128 yards and two touchdowns in Kansas City's 22-6 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. It was the fourth game he's topped 100 yards rushing this season. Walker is averaging a league-leading 133 yards rushing per game and has scored a combined eight touchdowns so far.

Walker became the Seahawks' top back after Charbonnet was injured, and ran for 135 yards in the Super Bowl against the Patriots to earn MVP honors.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid expects Walker to treat his return to Seattle as he does every game.

“I think the boys there will try to get after him a little bit. But he’s a pretty level-headed guy. The way he plays, you’re going to get a good rep when he gets the ball in his hands,” Reid said. "He kind of has one speed: He’s coming at you. It doesn’t matter who he’s playing or where he’s playing.”

The Seahawks' run defense is allowing an average of 96 yards a game, with four total rushing touchdowns. Seattle has not allowed a rusher to go 100 or more yards in 35 straight games, the league's longest current streak.

Kansas City (5-0) at Seattle (3-3)

When/where to watch: Sunday, 8:20 p.m. EDT, NBC.

Latest odds: Seattle by 2 1/2 points.

Against the spread: Chiefs 3-2, Seahawks 2-4.

Last week: The Chiefs beat the Los Angeles Chargers 22-6, the Seahawks fell to the Denver Broncos 17-14.

Last meeting: Kansas City won 24-10 on Dec. 24, 2022, at Arrowhead.

Series record: Kansas City leads 34-19.

Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes against the Seahawks' pass defense. Mahomes has thrown for 1,309 yards with nine touchdowns and three interceptions. He's completing 66.5% of his passes. But he may be challenged by Seattle, which ranks atop the NFL allowing just 141.3 passing yards per game, and only eight total passing touchdowns. In his two career games against the Seahawks, Mahomes has thrown for 497 yards with six touchdowns.

— The victory over the Chargers was quarterback Patrick Mahomes' 100th career regular-season win.

— The Chiefs sacked the Chargers' Justin Herbert four times. They were the first sacks for the defense in three games.

— TE Travis Kelce has a reception in 196 consecutive games, longest active streak in the league.

— WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba has five games with 100 or more receiving yards this season. He leads the league with 717 receiving yards, seven touchdowns and an average of 119.5 yards per game. He also leads the NFL with 17 100-yard games since 2024.

— The Chiefs lead the league with an average of 414 yards in total offense per game.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba runs the ball against the Denver Broncos during the second half of an NFL football game in Denver, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Geneva Heffernan)

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold throws against the Denver Broncos during overtime in an NFL football game in Denver, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Geneva Heffernan)

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) throws a pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)

Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker III (9) responds to a question during a news conference after an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker III (9) escapes a tackle attempt by Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Del'shawn Phillips, bottom, as Cam Hart (20) moves in to make this stop during the second half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)