Initial thoughts from the Broncos’  30-16 win over Arizona Cardinals in Week 7 at State Farm Stadium:

1. Run, Sean! Run!: Amazing things happen when you step up in the pocket, Bo Nix. The Broncos’ beleaguered QB1 broke a 6-6 game open in the second quarter by recognizing man coverage and taking off for what turned into a 62-yard touchdown run. Super Bo didn’t just make history for the longest rush ever by a Broncos signal-caller. It also seemed to unclog an offense that had frustrated Broncos Country for nearly two months. The reigning AFC West champs outscored Arizona 18-7 after Nix’s run, and even the screen game opened up. The running back trio of J.K. Dobbins, RJ Harvey and Jonah Coleman started to control the clock. So why the devil was Sean Payton ruining the afternoon by running a WR sweep via Jaylen Waddle with less than 5 minutes left and leading by two TDs? Waddle appeared to land on his shoulder awkwardly and had to go back inside for treatment. It’s Chiefs Week, and the status of Broncos’ biggest offseason acquisition is now likely in doubt.

2. Riley Moss interference?: The Broncos needed some unlikely heroes Sunday. Adam Prentice’s blocked punt was a momentum-changer. Rookie running back Jonah Coleman helped the offense stay on the field with a one-score lead in the second half. Malcolm Roach. Kris Abrams-Draine. The Broncos’ safeties, led by Brandon Jones, kept Fort Morgan native Trey McBride out of the end zone until the third quarter. But let’s give an assist to the refs, who were all over the place at State Farm Stadium, especially when adjudicating Riley Moss. A first-half pass-interference call on No. 21, upon replay, looked relatively clean. But Moss got a make-up call, as a contested No. 21 pass break-up in the third quarter that appeared pretty handsy, conversely, didn’t draw a flag and got the Cards off the field.

3. Good to see you, Marvin Mims: Welcome back to the party, Marvin Mims. Great to have you finding some room to run again. Mims’ 68 return yards in the first half, with 60 coming on kickoffs, were a season high with a half to play — and the most No. 19 had piled up in a contest since last Dec. 21 against Jacksonville (83 yards). The Broncos’ opening three drives started at the Denver 41, the Denver 29 and the Arizona 47. The shame of it? The Broncos offense came away from essentially two midfield starts, absolutely golden opportunities on the road, with just a pair of Wil Lutz field goals to show for it.

4. Red zone stops: It was the fault of the Broncos’ offense early on that the game was this close, and it was to the credit of their defense that it was as close for as long as it was. Vance Joseph’s D stoned the Cardinals twice inside the Denver 20, making a short field for the hosts feel even more constricted. The Broncos came into the weekend tied for 11th in the NFL in lowest opponent red-zone touchdown rate (52.9%). The Cards, by contrast, hit Week 7 ranked 27th in offensive touchdown conversion rate in the end zone (47.8%). And for an offense that’s got such a versatile, handsy weapon in tight end Trey McBride, that’s a crazy-low touchdown ratio.

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