GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Denver Broncos got the start they wanted and desperately needed Thursday night.
After a week of turmoil when Broncos coach Vance Joseph said “the city is on fire” because of the four-game losing streak and linebacker Von Miller went as far as to guarantee a win over the Cardinals, the Broncos waited all of 55 seconds to score the game’s first touchdown.
.@BamBamDavis51 to the 🏡!!#BeatTheCardinals pic.twitter.com/vPKlWBrUGl
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) October 19, 2018
Broncos linebacker Todd Davis returned a Josh Rosen interception 20 yards for a score — the pass had been tipped by Broncos defensive end Derek Wolfe — on the Cardinals’ second play from scrimmage.
Cardinals running back David Johnson had run for no gain on first down. The Cardinals then had to call a timeout when they couldn’t get lined up, at least in some part because of a crowd that was about half-filled with Broncos fans at kickoff.
Davis had the interception on second down. It was the Broncos’ first defensive touchdown of the season.
On the Broncos’ next possession Emmanuel Sanders found Courtland Sutton for a 28-yard touchdown.
A little @SMU_Football to @SMU_Football trickeration! 😏#BeatTheCardinals pic.twitter.com/KEz2fbYw0q
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) October 19, 2018
Quarterback Case Keenum flipped the ball to Sanders, Sanders ran right and threw to a wide-open Sutton, who made a diving catch for the touchdown.
According to NFL Next Gen Stats data, Sanders was running 15.83 mph when he threw the pass. That’s the fastest speed by a passer on a touchdown pass this season. The previous fastest was Sanders’ teammate Keenum, who was at 15.52 mph when he threw a TD to Demaryius Thomas in Week 1 against the Seahawks.
Sanders is the first non-QB to throw a TD for the Broncos since receiver Arthur Marshall in 1993.
The Broncos added a second pick-six before the first quarter ended when Chris Harris Jr. returned a Rosen throw 53 yards for a score.
Pick-six No. ✌️@ChrisHarrisJr to da 🏡!#BeatTheCardinals pic.twitter.com/mtyoBZC5Mt
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) October 19, 2018
It’s the first time the Broncos have scored 21 points in the first quarter since Week 10 of 2010. The Broncos have 13 pick-sixes in the past five seasons, most in the NFL.
Rosen becomes the first rookie QB to throw a pair of pick-sixes in a single game since Blake Bortles in 2014.
Hey, @ESanders_10 –
Didn’t your grandmother tell you to stop flipping into end zones?!
We’ll take it, though. 😎 pic.twitter.com/ZYpFAwOZhe
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) October 19, 2018
Sanders then caught a 64-yard bomb from Case Keenum to put the Broncos up 28-3 at 20 seconds into the second quarter.
Sanders became the first Broncos player with a passing touchdown and a receiving touchdown in the same game since John Elway in 1986.