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Denver Broncos vs. Arizona Cardinals: PFM Team Comparison

The Denver Broncos hold a clear overall advantage over the Arizona Cardinals in the current PFM ratings. Denver separates itself through the stronger coaching operation and the stronger defense.

Current PFM Team Scores

Clear edgeDEN

Denver Broncos

83.6PFM Team Score#8 NFL
ARI

Arizona Cardinals

73.7PFM Team Score#28 NFL
HEAD-TO-HEAD RESULTS

Denver Broncos vs. Arizona Cardinals: Previous Meetings

Denver Broncos lead the recorded series 1–0 over 1 meetings.

Denver Broncos1 wins
Arizona Cardinals0 wins
Recorded meetings1

Recent Meetings

DateMatchupFinalWinner
Oct 25, 2026Denver Broncos at Arizona Cardinals30–16Denver Broncos
  1. Oct 25, 20262026 season
    Denver BroncosAway30 – 16Arizona CardinalsHome
    Denver Broncos won

Results shown: 2026. Scores since 1999: nflverse (CC BY 4.0). Earlier meetings that have not been verified are excluded.

Swap Teams Clear Comparison
PFM JUDGMENT

Why PFM Rates the Denver Broncos Higher

Sean Payton gives the Denver Broncos the stronger coaching operation. Preparation and in-game answers matter once the opening script no longer controls the game. The Arizona Cardinals are closest in offense, where the teams remain essentially even.

Denver also brings the stronger defense. Denver adds the deeper roster. The counterargument matters, but it does not erase Denver's clear overall advantage.

TEAM DNA COMPARISON

Denver vs. Arizona Across the Core Pillars

The farther a team reaches, the stronger the rating. Each category also calls out which team has the edge and the exact gap. Hover on desktop or tap on mobile to isolate one team.

DENDenver Broncos
ARIArizona Cardinals
Denver Broncos vs. Arizona Cardinals Team DNA comparisonPFM category scores on a 0 to 100 scale. QB Stability: Denver Broncos 82.1, Arizona Cardinals 78.0, edge DEN +4.1; Offense: Denver Broncos 77.1, Arizona Cardinals 75.4, edge DEN +1.7; Defense: Denver Broncos 82.9, Arizona Cardinals 72.2, edge DEN +10.7; Coaching Direction: Denver Broncos 85.3, Arizona Cardinals 71.7, edge DEN +13.6; Roster Depth: Denver Broncos 80.2, Arizona Cardinals 72.8, edge DEN +7.4. Hover on desktop or tap on mobile to isolate one team at a time.
Hover or tap a team to focus that profile. Use Show Both to bring the overlay back.
ARIZONA’S BEST PUSHBACK

Offense Is Arizona’s Only Close Fight

Arizona's offense gives the team one place to push back. Arizona sits only 1.7 points behind Denver in Offense, but close is not the same as an edge. Denver still has Bo Nix at quarterback and the deeper roster, two advantages the Cardinals cannot match in this comparison.

COMPLETE COMPARISON

Where Each Team Has the Edge

PFM Team Score

DEN83.6
Denver Broncos 83.6
ARI73.7
Arizona Cardinals 73.7
Clear Denver Broncos edge

Overall NFL Rank

DEN#8
Denver Broncos #8
ARI#28
Arizona Cardinals #28
Denver Broncos ranks higher

QB Stability

DEN82.1
Denver Broncos 82.1
ARI78.0
Arizona Cardinals 78.0
Clear Denver Broncos edge

Roster Strength

DEN80.2
Denver Broncos 80.2
ARI72.8
Arizona Cardinals 72.8
Clear Denver Broncos edge

Coaching Direction

DEN85.3
Denver Broncos 85.3
ARI71.7
Arizona Cardinals 71.7
Major Denver Broncos edge

Recent Performance

DEN86.4
Denver Broncos 86.4
ARI72.5
Arizona Cardinals 72.5
Major Denver Broncos edge

Offense

DEN77.1
Denver Broncos 77.1
ARI75.4
Arizona Cardinals 75.4
Slight Denver Broncos edge

Defense

DEN82.9
Denver Broncos 82.9
ARI72.2
Arizona Cardinals 72.2
Major Denver Broncos edge

Franchise Direction

DEN77.5
Denver Broncos 77.5
ARI73.0
Arizona Cardinals 73.0
Clear Denver Broncos edge

Explosiveness

DEN70.0
Denver Broncos 70.0
ARI64.7
Arizona Cardinals 64.7
Clear Denver Broncos edge

Conference Rank

DEN#3
Denver Broncos #3
ARI#15
Arizona Cardinals #15
Denver Broncos ranks higher

Division Rank

DEN#2
Denver Broncos #2
ARI#4
Arizona Cardinals #4
Denver Broncos ranks higher

Outlook

DENPlayoff ContenderARIPlayoff Long Shot
Stronger outlook: Denver Broncos
SCHEDULE CONTEXT

Which Team Has the Tougher Road?

Denver Broncos

Remaining schedule rank: #26

Toughest stretch: Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, Los Angeles Chargers

Strongest opponents: Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers

Next five difficulty: 75.8

View Denver Broncos Road Ahead

Arizona Cardinals

Remaining schedule rank: #12

Toughest stretch: Los Angeles Rams, Kansas City Chiefs, Washington Commanders

Strongest opponents: Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Rams

Next five difficulty: 80.6

View Arizona Cardinals Road Ahead

Arizona has the tougher Road Ahead at No. 12. The strongest opponents include Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers, and Los Angeles Rams. Denver also has the more favorable road, which adds to the stronger coaching operation and the stronger defense.

View the complete all-32 Road Ahead

Ratings and Schedule Freshness

PFM ratings updated November 3, 2026. Schedule data updated November 9, 2026.

How to Read This Comparison

PFM Team Score determines the overall order. The Team DNA comparison puts five core pillars on the same 0–100 scale, while the full rows show every current category.

PFM compares overall team strength rather than predicting one matchup. Road Ahead adds schedule context without changing PFM Team Score.

See the complete PFM NFL Team Rankings and methodology.

PFM ratings updated
How PFM grades NFL teams