Arizona Cardinals vs Denver Broncos Match Player Stats: Brett Rypien Leads Denver to Victory

Backup quarterbacks rarely decide December football, yet that’s exactly what happened at Empower Field at Mile High. Fans searching for the real arizona cardinals vs denver broncos match player stats want more than a final score — they want to know who actually moved the needle.

Brett Rypien answered that question himself, throwing for 197 yards and directing three second-half scoring drives to push Denver past Arizona, 24-15.

The Lead

On Sunday, December 18, 2022, the Denver Broncos hosted the Arizona Cardinals at Empower Field at Mile High in front of 75,179 fans. Both teams entered the day already eliminated from playoff contention, and both were forced to lean on backup quarterbacks — Rypien for Denver in place of the concussed Russell Wilson, and Colt McCoy for Arizona in place of Kyler Murray, who was lost for the season to a torn ACL. The final score read Broncos 24, Cardinals 15.

Denver’s win came down to discipline in the fourth quarter. Arizona actually led 9-3 after three quarters behind three Matt Prater field goals, but Latavius Murray’s 10-yard touchdown run and a Rypien-to-Eric Tomlinson score in the final period flipped the game.

Cardinals cornerback pressure from J.J. Watt kept things tight defensively, but Arizona’s offense — cycling through McCoy and then Trace McSorley after McCoy left with a concussion — never found the end zone until James Conner’s late one-yard plunge made the final margin respectable.

Match Overview Table

Core Match Statistics Overview

This Cardinals Broncos box score tells a clear story: Denver simply moved the ball more consistently, even with a third-string-caliber passer under center.

Ground Game Disparity

• Denver rushed for 168 yards on the strength of Latavius Murray’s 130-yard, one-touchdown outing, nearly doubling Arizona’s 73 rushing yards.
• The Broncos’ rushing average of 4.9 yards per carry compared to Arizona’s 3.6 shows how much easier Denver moved the chains without needing to pass.

Quarterback Turnover Battle

• Arizona’s three turnovers, all interceptions split between Colt McCoy and Trace McSorley, repeatedly killed promising drives.
• Denver protected the ball better, giving it away only twice despite Brett Rypien absorbing seven sacks.

Time of Possession and Tempo

• Denver controlled the clock for nearly 33 minutes, almost six minutes more than Arizona, which let the Broncos wear down a Cardinals defense playing from ahead for most of the game.
• More offensive snaps for Denver (67 to 59) reflected that possession advantage and let Murray grind out yardage in stretches.

Explosiveness Through the Air

• Denver’s 6.0 yards per pass attempt outpaced Arizona’s 4.6, even though the Cardinals actually finished with more gross passing yardage.
• Jerry Jeudy’s 76 receiving yards on just eight targets gave Rypien one reliable field-stretching option that Arizona’s receivers couldn’t match individually.

Period-by-Period Analysis

First Quarter

• Brandon McManus opened the scoring with a 52-yard field goal at the 10:27 mark, immediately putting Arizona behind.
• Colt McCoy was intercepted late in the frame by Justin Simmons, one of two picks Simmons would collect on the day.
• Neither offense found consistent rhythm early, with both defenses setting a physical tone that would carry into the second quarter.

Second Quarter

• Matt Prater answered with a 45-yard field goal, then added a 50-yarder as time expired in the half to give Arizona a 6-3 lead.
• Denver’s offense stalled completely in the period, unable to add to its early field goal.
• Arizona’s defense, anchored by J.J. Watt’s relentless pressure, forced Denver into a series of three-and-outs.

Third Quarter

• Prater’s third field goal of the day, a 55-yarder, pushed Arizona’s lead to 9-3 early in the quarter.
• Marlon Mack punched in a 3-yard touchdown run to answer, cutting the deficit and giving Denver its first lead change momentum of the second half.
• Colt McCoy left the game with a concussion early in the quarter, forcing Trace McSorley into relief duty for Arizona.

Fourth Quarter

• Latavius Murray’s 10-yard touchdown run at the 11:00 mark gave Denver its first lead of the day, 17-9.
• Rypien connected with Eric Tomlinson on a 3-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead to 24-9, effectively putting the game away.
• James Conner’s late 1-yard touchdown run pulled Arizona within 24-15, but a failed two-point conversion sealed Denver’s win.

Denver Broncos Player Statistics

Brett Rypien (QB): 21-of-26 passing for 197 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception, sacked seven times. Rypien made the most of his third career start, overcoming constant pressure from Watt to direct three second-half scoring drives and finish with a 95.0 passer rating.

Latavius Murray (RB): 24 carries for 130 yards and 1 touchdown, adding 1 catch for 12 yards. Murray was the engine of Denver’s offense, chewing clock and setting up the go-ahead score with a workhorse effort that pushed his career rushing total past 6,000 yards.

Jerry Jeudy (WR): 7 catches on 8 targets for 76 yards. Jeudy was Rypien’s most trusted target, consistently finding soft spots in Arizona’s zone coverage and averaging nearly 11 yards per reception.

Justin Simmons (S): 2 interceptions and 4 tackles. Simmons anchored Denver’s secondary, picking off both Cardinals quarterbacks and helping hold Arizona to 2-of-12 on third down.

Arizona Cardinals Player Statistics

James Conner (RB): 16 carries for 63 yards and 1 touchdown, plus 3 catches for 28 yards (91 total yards from scrimmage). Conner was Arizona’s only consistent offensive weapon, scoring the Cardinals’ lone touchdown late in the fourth quarter.

DeAndre Hopkins (WR): 7 catches on 11 targets for 60 yards. Hopkins remained the clear top target for both McCoy and McSorley, reaching 850 career receptions in the process, though he couldn’t turn volume into a touchdown.

Colt McCoy (QB): 13-of-21 passing for 78 yards, 1 interception, before exiting with a concussion in the third quarter. McCoy managed the offense early but never got the ball downfield before his day ended prematurely.

J.J. Watt (DE): 3 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 5 tackles. Watt was the most disruptive player on the field for either team, single-handedly generating pressure that forced Rypien into uncomfortable throws all afternoon.

Statistical Leaders Summary Table

Why Denver Won

Ground Control Late

Denver’s rushing attack found its footing exactly when it mattered. Latavius Murray and Marlon Mack combined for 167 yards and both of Denver’s rushing touchdowns, giving Rypien a run game to lean on once Arizona’s defense started tiring in the fourth quarter.

Turnover Discipline

Denver committed only two turnovers against Arizona’s three, and neither came at a critical moment. That margin, combined with Justin Simmons’ pair of interceptions, gave the Broncos extra possessions the Cardinals simply couldn’t afford to surrender.

A Reliable Third-Down Weapon

Jerry Jeudy’s eight targets and seven receptions gave Rypien a security blanket on passing downs, and Denver converted enough third downs to keep drives alive while Arizona’s offense repeatedly stalled.

Why Arizona Lost

Quarterback Instability

Losing Colt McCoy to a concussion forced Trace McSorley into unfamiliar reps, and McSorley promptly threw two interceptions. The shuffle at quarterback disrupted any rhythm Arizona had built with three first-half field goals.

Heavy Dependence on Two Players

Outside of James Conner and DeAndre Hopkins, no Cardinal skill player topped 30 receiving yards. Marquise Brown managed just 19 yards on eight targets, and that lack of a second scoring threat let Denver’s defense sell out on Arizona’s top two options.

Historical Context & Advanced Insights

Season Series and Broader Trends

Both teams entered the game at 4-10, with Denver snapping a five-game losing streak and Arizona dropping its fourth straight. The head-to-head series between these franchises has historically leaned heavily toward Denver, and this result extended that trend.

Efficiency Metrics That Mattered

Denver’s 6.0 yards-per-attempt mark against Arizona’s 4.6 highlights a passing efficiency gap that outweighed Arizona’s raw passing yardage total. Meanwhile, Arizona’s three interceptions against zero touchdown passes reflect an assist-to-turnover ratio that made it almost impossible to sustain drives, regardless of how many total yards the offense compiled. Denver’s ability to protect Rypien just enough — despite seven sacks — to complete 21 of 26 attempts shows how accuracy under duress can offset pressure allowed.

Game Implications & Key Lessons

What This Means for Denver

• The win snapped a five-game skid and offered a workable blueprint (lean run game, ball security) for finishing the season.
• Latavius Murray’s performance reinforced that Denver’s ground attack could carry an offense even with a backup quarterback.
• Justin Simmons’ two-interception game reaffirmed the secondary as a strength heading into the final stretch.

What This Means for Arizona

• A fourth straight loss further cemented a lost season and increased scrutiny on the quarterback depth chart behind Kyler Murray.
• The concussion to Colt McCoy exposed how thin Arizona’s passing options were once the top two quarterbacks were unavailable.
• Red-zone execution needs to improve immediately — three field goals and one late touchdown wasn’t enough against a team allowing 4.9 yards per carry.

Key Lessons

• Ball security decides close games between two struggling offenses.
• A single dominant pass rusher, like J.J. Watt’s 3-sack effort, can keep a team in a game even without offensive firepower.
• Workhorse rushers who wear down a defense over 24-plus carries often set up the plays that matter most late.
• Depth at quarterback is a bigger factor in game outcomes than most fans assume until injuries force it into the spotlight.
• Time of possession differences of five-plus minutes usually translate directly into a scoreboard advantage.
• Explosive per-play efficiency can matter more than gross yardage totals when comparing two offenses.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who won the Arizona Cardinals vs Denver Broncos game?

The Denver Broncos won 24-15 at Empower Field at Mile High on December 18, 2022.

Who had the best individual stat line in the game?

Latavius Murray led all players with 130 rushing yards and a touchdown on 24 carries, while Brett Rypien passed for 197 yards and a score.

What were James Conner’s stats in this game?

Conner rushed 16 times for 63 yards and a touchdown, adding 3 catches for 28 yards, for 91 total yards from scrimmage.

How many interceptions did the Cardinals throw?

Arizona quarterbacks combined for three interceptions — one by Colt McCoy and two by Trace McSorley after McCoy left with a concussion.

Did DeAndre Hopkins have a good game?

Hopkins caught 7 of 11 targets for 60 yards, remaining Arizona’s top receiving option, though he did not find the end zone.

How many sacks did J.J. Watt record?

Watt recorded 3 sacks, part of a 7-sack effort by the Cardinals’ pass rush against Brett Rypien.

Conclusion

This Cardinals-Broncos matchup came down to a simple formula: Denver ran the ball better, protected it better, and let a backup quarterback play within himself. 

Arizona’s offense generated flashes through James Conner and DeAndre Hopkins but couldn’t overcome three turnovers and a midgame quarterback change. When two teams with similar overall talent gaps meet, efficiency and ball security — not gaudy yardage totals — usually decide who walks away with the win.