Four takeaways from the Broncos' 18-17 loss to the Cardinals in the preseason opener

The Broncos are back!

In their first action of the preseason, the Denver Broncos fell on the road in Arizona to the Cardinals 18-17. The game came down to the final seconds, when Arizona quarterback David Blough hit Brian Cobbs in the end zone for an 18-yard touchdown, and the Cardinals converted the game-winning two-point conversion.

The Broncos’ defensive starters only played the first two series of the game, forcing a punt in the first. The second ended with an Essang Bassey interception after the receiver he was covering slipped at the top of his route.

The offensive starters played four series, and left the game with a 7-0 game.

The Cardinals rested about half of their starters, and sat the others down quickly. Quarterback Colt McCoy only played the first series of the game.

Here’s what you need to know…

Russell Wilson holds his own

The Broncos’ offense got off to a hot start.

They chewed up less than a minute of game clock with their game-opening three-and-out. Russell Wilson missed his first throw, which was a rollout bullet behind Adam Trautman, that might have been better off as a touch pass. Two plays later, his second pass of the night was batted down at the line of scrimmage.

The second drive didn’t fair much better. Wilson hit Jerry Jeudy on a crossing route for a 19-yard gain, but he was also sacked (and briefly fumbled) and a screen pass was busted up before the running back could catch the ball. The five-play drive netted 12 yards.

The third drive was a step forward. Wilson hit Courtland Sutton for 13 and 3 yards. He found Adam Trautman for 14. A couple of incompletions ended the drive after the Broncso had moved the ball 40 yards.

Wilson’s peak came in his fourth and final series, halfway through the second quarter. He hit Sutton for 19 yards and Trautman for 4. He should have had a 21-yard touchdown to Jerry Jeudy, but Jeudy dropped the ball. On the very next play, Sean Payton decided to go for it on fourth down, and Wilson hit Jeudy on a slant for the 21-yard score.

Wilson finished his day 7-for-13 while picking up 93 yards and a touchdown. Overall, Wilson had a fine day, and most of the blemishes were the result of constant pressure coming from the edges. Garett Bolles allowed the only sack of Wilson.

Jarrett Stidham got the second try at quarterback. He completed five of his 15 attempts for 50 yards and an interception. Ben DiNucci batted cleanup and completed seven of his nine passes for 57 yards.

The kickers struggled

The Broncos cut kicker Brandon McManus this offseason to save money, and shortly thereafter, they set up a kicker competition.

The early results are… not so great.

Brett Maher lined up a 47-yarder late in the first quarter with a chance to break a 0-0 tie. He pushed it wide right.

Then Elliott Fry lined up a 50-yarder early in the second quarter with another chance to give the Broncos the first lead of the game. He missed wide right, too.

Halfway through the third quarter, Maher’s 52-yard attempt was blocked.

Fry made a 55-yard kick, the only made field goal in a one-for-three night for the Broncos. Both kickers made their only extra-point attempt.

Elijah Garcia has himself a night

In a three-play span, defensive lineman Elijah Garcia had two sacks.

The Broncos’ depth along the defensive line has been the subject of conversation, but at least on Friday, it looked just fine. Jordan Jackson also penetrated into the backfield often. Matt Henningsen was consistently productive, manhandling second-string linemen.

The defense, as a whole, played well.

The Cardinals didn’t score until the second half of the game, well after the Broncos’ starters left the field.

Justin Strnad and Ja’Quan McMillian both had sacks. Henningsen and Nik Bonitto split another. Seth Benson and Alex Singleton also had tackles for loss.

Jaleel McLaughlin flashes

Preseason football is the time for the young players to shine, and Jaleel McLaughlin took full advantage.

The undrafted running back out of Youngstown State didn’t take the field until the Broncos’ final series of the game. He was the engine behind a 87-yard drive that gave them a 17-10 lead.

He carried the ball four times for 20 yards, including the four-yard touchdown. He also caught a pass behind the line of scrimmage and broke a tackle on his way to a 12-yard gain.

In his NFL debut, his name was misspelled on his jersey. Instead of “McLaughlin,” it said “McGlaughlin.”