If there were an NFL preseason MVP award, Jarrett Stidham would have a firm grip on it.

The Stiddy show continued Saturday night at Empower Field at Mile High as the backup quarterback threw for 240 yards and two touchdowns while playing the first half of the Broncos’ 27-7 win over the Arizona Cardinals.

Stidham completed 16 of 23 passes. In the preseason opener Aug. 9 at San Francisco, Stidham completed 14 of 15 passes for 136 yards and two touchdowns in a 30-9 Denver win.

“There’s going to be a lot of good things on tape,’’ said Broncos coach Sean Payton.

Payton said going into the game that most starters wouldn’t play. The only sure-fire starter who took the field was tight end Evan Engram, whom Payton said he wanted to play for about eight snaps. He made his presence known immediately.

On Denver’s first drive, Stidham hit Engram down the right sideline for a 58-yard reception, his only one of the game. That led to an 8-yard touchdown run by RJ Harvey for a 7-0 lead.

Stidham, entering his second season as Bo Nix’s backup, later threw touchdown passes of 27 yards to Troy Franklin late in the first quarter for a 14-7 lead and another one to Franklin of 17 yards with 45 seconds left in the first half for a 24-7 lead. Franklin, vying to be Denver’s No. 2 receiver behind Courtland Sutton, caught four passes for 67 yards. Also looking good at receiver was rookie Pat Bryant, who had four catches for 70 yards.

In addition to Sutton sitting out, other Denver receivers to not play were Marvin Mims Jr. and Davaughn Vele. Vele, hampered by a left knee injury, had a slow start to training camp but came on strong when the Broncos had a joint practice with the Cardinals on Thursday.

The Broncos rolled up 562 yards of total offense, with Payton saying he had quarterbacks coach Davis Webb call the plays. He called it a “good opportunity” for the former NFL quarterback.

“Davis got a game ball,’’ Payton said. “It was his first time calling a game.”

Payton had wanted to take a long look at his running backs Saturday, although in the first half the Broncos threw 23 times and ran just 11 times while taking their 24-7 lead. Harvey started and had three carries for 18 yards.

Harvey is in line to be one of Denver’s top two backs along with veteran J.K. Dobbins, who sat out Saturday. Four backs are battling for the one or two other spots on the 53-man roster.

Among them, Jaleel McLaughlin carried three times for 48 yards, including a 35-yard jaunt, while playing only in the first half. Tyler Badie also played only in the first half and had four carries for 14 yards.

Blake Watson, who saw action in both halves, had 10 carries for 34 yards. Audric Estimé, who played only in the second half, had nine attempts for 20 yards.

“All of them played well,’’ Payton said. “I thought we got downhill into the defense a number of times.”

Third-string quarterback Sam Ehlinger played the second half for the Broncos and completed 13 of 15 passes for 145 yards. He looked to have thrown a touchdown pass of 19 yards to tight end Caden Prieskorn with just under four minutes left in the game, but the rookie lost a fumble at the 1 that the Cardinals recovered in the end zone for a touchback. It could have been the second straight game that Prieskorn scored a touchdown.

Broncos reserves again looked good on defense, as the Cardinals had just 135 total yards. Last week, the starting defense gave up a touchdown on the first drive, but the 49ers were unable to score against Denver reserves.

One thing Payton didn’t like was the Broncos continuing to have penalties, many of the pre-snap variety. They had 11 penalties for the second straight game.

“The area we got to get cleaned up is on penalties,’’ Payton said.

In the third quarter, Broncos second-year offensive lineman Nick Gargiulo suffered what looked to be serious right-knee injury and was taken off on a cart. Gargiulo was down for several minutes on the field and Denver players, including those from the sideline, gathered around Gargiulo, showing their concern and providing support.

Payton said after the game he would be able to report more on Gargiulo’s injury the next time he meets with the media.

The Broncos in the second half also lost linebacker Garret Wallow for the game with an ankle injury.