NFL Analyst Sees Another Cardinals Upset Brewing as Arizona's Defense Gets Its Shot at Bo Nix

Nick Rallis and the Arizona Cardinals may have found the defense they needed at SoFi Stadium, and at least one national analyst thinks it travels home. CBS Sports’ Tyler Sullivan wrote Thursday that another upset could be brewing in Glendale when Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos visit on Sunday.

Sullivan’s logic runs straight through Rallis’ unit. Arizona held Matthew Stafford and the Rams to 16 points as 12.5-point underdogs, and Chad Ryland’s sixth field goal, a 43-yarder as time expired, won it 18-16. Sullivan wrote that if Arizona repeats that performance and takes advantage of Nix’s riskier throws, he wouldn’t be stunned to see Denver pull its quarterback.

What Bo Nix gives this defense

Nix has been throwing short and still giving defenses chances. His 4.9 air yards per attempt is the lowest of any quarterback through six games in the last 20 years, per Sullivan, while his turnover-worthy throw rate sits 17th. Budda Baker and Josh Sweat are the two Cardinals best positioned to cash in. Each had a sack against the Rams, and according to PFF, Baker graded 80.0 overall and Sweat 79.5.

The soft spots are just as clear. Max Melton allowed three catches on six targets against Los Angeles with a 34.2 coverage grade, and linebacker Jack Gibbens gave up six catches on eight targets, according to PFF. Denver’s offense ranks 31st in yards, but Courtland Sutton and Jaylen Waddle can still find the matchups Melton struggled with.

Oddsmakers aren’t buying it yet. Denver is a 4.5-point road favorite, a number that says Arizona’s win at SoFi still looks like a one-off to the market. Part of that is the offense. Arizona went 0-for-5 in the red zone against the Rams, and Jacoby Brissett graded 66.2 overall, according to PFF. Six field goals won’t usually be enough against a Denver defense that just sacked Seattle five times.

For Mike LaFleur, a second straight win would also cool things down around State Farm Stadium, where fans paid for billboards reading “SELL THE TEAM” less than two weeks ago. At 2-4, the Cardinals’ defense has a chance to prove the Rams game was a turning point.

More on the Arizona Cardinals

• Cardinals Facing Decision After Unfortunate Jeremiyah Love News
• Budda Baker’s $3 Million Dead Cap Hit Makes a Cardinals Trade Easier Than It Looks
• Arizona Cardinals Found the Defense They Needed — Can It Last?
• Cardinals Were 12.5-Point Underdogs, and the Rams Gave Them Every Chance to Pull It Off