Dallas Cowboys Game Preview: Week 8 at Denver Broncos

Cover photo: Dallas Cowboys’ quarterback Dak Prescott is sacked by the Denver Broncos’ Jonathon Cooper in 2021. Photo credit: Jerome Miron, Imagn Images.

The Dallas Cowboys, 3-3-1, are feeling good coming off of a convincing 44-22 home victory against their division rival Washington Commanders in Week 7 at AT&T Stadium, and will look to bring that feel good energy to Mile High on Sunday as they take on the AFC West-leading Denver Broncos (5-2) at 4:25 p.m. eastern on Sunday at Empower Field at Mile High. 

In Week 7, the Cowboys pieced together their most complete effort of the season as an entire group, with the offense continuing to click and with the defense finally clicking with defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, for one week at least, warding off the scorching pressure of the Texas heat. 

Dak Prescott threw for three scores, Javonte Williams ran for 116 yards and a touchdown, and CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens combined for 192 yards receiving (110 from Lamb) and a touchdown (Lamb, 74 yards). Defensively, the team held Commander quarterback Jayden Daniels to 156 yards passing and rookie running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt to 33 yards rushing on 13 carries. Linebackers Kenneth Murray Jr. and Shemar James registered sacks, as did ends Donovan Ezeiruaku and Jadeveon Clowney. DaRon Bland picked off Marcus Mariota and returned the ball 68 yards for a touchdown for his first pick-6 since 2023. For the first time all season, the defense for the most part looked like a cohesive unit, and made plays. 

The Cowboys on both sides of the ball will be challenged on Sunday by a Bronco team that scored 33 fourth quarter points in Week 7 in a 33-32 comeback win over the New York Giants, and averages on the season 23.3 points while having one of the NFL’s best defenses. Quarterback Bo Nix threw for 279 yards and two touchdowns against the Giants, while running back J.K. Dobbins ran for 81 yards on 14 carries. The point of emphasis for the Cowboy secondary will be Texas native Courtland Sutton, who played collegiately at local Southern Methodist University. Sutton caught six passes for 87 yards against the Giants and at 6 foot, 4 inches tall is a big target. Sutton caught six passes for 118 yards and a touchdown in Week 3 against the Los Angeles Chargers, and eight catches for 99 yards against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 5. Marvin Mims Jr. also showed out against the Giants, with six catches for 85 yards. Both wideouts will pose an issue for a Cowboy secondary that will be without cornerback Trevon Diggs due to a concussion (Diggs was played on IR) and safeties Donovan Wilson, who has elbow and shoulder injuries, and Juanyeh Thomas. Center Cooper Beebe, defensive tackle Kenny Clark, defensive end Marshawn Kneeland, and left guard Tyler Smith were all notable limited participants in Friday’s practice, with Beebe set to remain on IR and Brock Hoffman continuing to start in his place. Playmaking linebacker DeMarvion Overshown practiced with the team on Wednesday and could make his return to the lineup Nov. 17 on Monday Night Football in Las Vegas when the Cowboys visit the Raiders. Rookie third-round draft choice Shavon Revel practiced this week as well, but is still a couple of weeks away. Revel is an anticipated addition at cornerback. 

The Cowboy offense on Sunday goes up against one of the NFL’s stingiest defenses. The No. 1 offense (390.6 yards per game) with the second best passing offense (268.4) and a rushing attack that garners 122.1 yards (14th) goes up against a Bronco defense that allows the third fewest yards per game (273.1), including the sixth fewest through the air (179.9) and ninth fewest on the ground (93.3). The Cowboy running back Williams is second in the NFL in rushing yards through seven weeks (592) and is going up against his former team whom he spent the first four seasons of his career with. He ran for just 29 yards on 13 carries against the Carolina Panthers in Week 6 and the Bronco defensive front presents a similar challenge. The team also gives up 18.1 points per game, which is fourth in the NFL, and also has the most sacks across the NFL since 2024 (97.0) and leads the NFL in sacks this season with 34. Linebacker Nik Bonitto leads the team in sacks with eight, while linebacker Jonathon Cooper also has six. The talented Bronco front led by defensive end Zach Allen will be a focal point of a Cowboy offensive line that does have some issues on the edges with Terence Steele and Tyler Guyton. Neither are top flight blockers, especially in passing situations. It will be important for the group as a whole to keep Prescott upright. 

Another challenge facing the Cowboy offense is the secondary of the Broncos led by its two talented cornerbacks, Patrick Surtain II (three-time Pro Bowler, 2022-24) and Riley Moss. Both are 25 years old and make up maybe the best cornerback pairing in the NFL. Surtain II at 6 foot, 2 inches tall has good size and will provide adequate resistance to Lamb or Pickens. 

This will be a tough game for both teams, as a juggernaut offense goes against an immovable defense, and an explosive offense on the other side goes up against a defense that only began to show improvements seven games in. 

The two franchises have faced each other 14 times in their history, with the Broncos including the playoffs holding a 9-5 advantage. The Cowboys have not defeated the Broncos in 30 years, with their last win coming on Sept. 10, 1995 at Texas Stadium, 31-21.

The Broncos’ home-field advantage and their ability to move the ball (347.0 yards per game, 11th, and 131.9 rushing yards per game, 6th) bodes well for them in this game. The Cowboys’ defense looked good against the Commanders, but that was one game and the Commanders did not have a healthy offense. The Cowboy defense needs to continue to improve. Both of their strong games were against weak offenses (New York Jets, Commanders). The league’s No. 1 offense will score, but it will not be enough against a potent offense. 

Prediction: Broncos 30 Cowboys 24