NFL: Denver 19, Arizona 0

DENVER, Sept. 4 (UPI) -- Darius Walker scored the game's only touchdown in the first quarter Thursday and Denver turned up the defensive heat for a 19-0 victory over Arizona.

The Broncos avoided what would have been their first winless exhibition campaign since their inaugural year of 1960. They also got a lift from backup quarterback Tom Brandstater, who completed 16-of-30 passes for 187 yards.

Starting quarterback Kyle Orton is recovering from an injured index finger and second-string signal caller Chris Simms has a sprained ankle.

Arizona sent three quarterbacks into the action, including starter Kurt Warner, and all three of them threw an interception. The Cardinals drove into Denver's end of the field just three times and one of those possessions ended with a fumble.

Matt Prater kicked four field goals, the longest of which was 46 yards in the fourth period.

Denver (1-3) begins its season at Cincinnati. Arizona (0-4), the defending NFC champion, will open at home against San Francisco.