The Broncos are coming off a historic comeback victory over the Giants and were looking to start this game hot. However, an opening drive INT by Bo Nix rattled all of Broncos Country. However, that was the low point of the game for the Broncos, who went on to score 44 points and hold the explosive Cowboys offense to just 17 points (not counting the garbage time touchdown), and they did this while not having reigning DPOY Pat Surtain II for most of the game.
This game had a bunch of winners on both sides of the ball, and this may have been the most complete game they have played all season. So, with all that said, here are your winners and losers from the Broncos’ 44-24 victory over the Dallas Cowboys.
WINNER - Bo Nix
Bo Nix finished the game going 19 for 29 for 247 yards and 4 touchdowns and 1 interception. After his opening drive interception, Nix sliced and diced this vulnerable Cowboys defense and moved the Broncos offense up and down the field all game.
In the last 5 quarters of football, Bo Nix has scored 8 total touchdowns. 6 through the air and 2 on the ground. The much-talked-about and discussed quarterback has silenced haters the past few weeks and has the Broncos offense rolling and looking good as they sit at 6-2 on the year. On the year, Nix has 15 passing touchdowns through 8 games and 18 total if you count his 3 rushing touchdowns.
If Nix keeps this up, the Broncos can compete with anyone in the NFL.
WINNER - RJ Harvey
The Broncos’ rookie has had a slow start to his season, but against a poor Cowboys defense, the explosive rookie exploded for 3 touchdowns. He finished with 7 carries for 46 yards and 2 touchdowns, as well as 1 reception for 5 yards and an additional 1 touchdown reception.
He looked explosive and was the type of back we thought the Broncos would be adding to their offense. He had a long touchdown run, looked quick in space, and continues to be a red zone weapon for Bo Nix in the red zone. If he can be this explosive 1B to J.K. Dobbins, the Broncos offense can be really, really good.
WINNER - Troy Franklin
Earlier this week, I wrote about a rumor connecting the Broncos to some of the wide receivers on the trade market. Well, Troy Franklin responded with his best game of his career. The second-year wide receiver totaled a team-high 6 receptions for 89 yards and 2 touchdowns.
It has to be noted that this came against a very banged-up Dallas Cowboys secondary, but a big game is a big game. I am not going to fault him for producing against a struggling defense. If they struggled, we would all be calling for him to be replaced. That did not happen, and Franklin had himself a big game.
Things will get tougher next week, but hopefully, Franklin can build on this moving forward.
WINNER - Broncos Defense/Vance Joseph
This looked like a tough matchup for the Denver Broncos’ defense. Dak Prescott looked like an MVP candidate, Javonte Williams looks like his former self, Lamb and Pickens are dangerous, and Jake Ferguson looked like the next tight end to victimize the Broncos’ defense.
They held them to 17 points and did it while being without Pat Surtain II for most of the game.
Riley Moss, Kris Abrams-Draine, rookie Jahdae Barron, and Ja’Quan McMillian all held their own and limited Dak to just 188 yards passing, 0 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. Yes, Moss gave up some plays, but they held Pickens and Lamb in check and kept them out of the end zone. It wasn’t perfect, but they all did their job and stepped up in place of the injured PS2.
Javonte Williams had the Cowboys’ two touchdowns, but even he was held to just 41 yards and averaged 3.2 YPC.
As for Jake Ferguson, who leads all tight ends in catches, yards, and touchdowns? He had 1 target and 0 catches.
Oh, and the Broncos defense sacked Dak twice and picked him off twice.
Vance Joseph deserves a game ball.
WINNER - Broncos rookies
There were rumblings out there about this Broncos rookie class. RJ Harvey hasn’t done much, Barron isn’t starting, Bryant just blocks, and so on.
Well, the rookies silenced all the doubters today.
I already touched on Harvey, but the explosive rookie had a LONG touchdown run early in the game and finished with 3 total touchdowns. Huge game for him.
Wide receiver Pat Bryant made a beautiful touchdown catch later in the game, which was his first career touchdown. That was exciting to see.
Then, Jahdae Barron showed off his ball skills with an impressive INT of Dak Prescott right before halftime.
If the Broncos’ rookies continue to develop and improve and contribute more in the second half of the season, that will be a HUGE boost to this team moving forward.
WINNER - Dondrea Tillman
The backup edge rusher is known for setting the edge, his powerful play, and sacking the quarterback. However, he showed off his hands, ball skills, and moves in the open field in this one.
This interception was huge and officially ended the game for the Cowboys. They were driving down the field and appeared to be on the verge of making it a two-score game with 10 minutes left. We all witnessed a crazy comeback last week, and they have the firepower to make it happen.
Well, Tillman was not having it.
He jumped a Prescott pass and then showed off his open-field ability by taking the ball down the field and making multiple defenders miss. This set the Broncos up to score their final touchdown of the game and go up 44-17 in the 4th quarter,
A huge play to seal the game for the Broncos.
WINNER - J.K. Dobbins
While Dobbins did not find the end zone, he did go over 100 yards for the second time this season. He had 15 carries for 111 yards and gashed the Cowboys’ defense for an impressive 7.4 yards per carry.
The Broncos are at their best when they have a run game and they ran all over the Cowboys.
LOSER - Refs
Once again, the Broncos were victimized by the refs. They had some iffy calls on them, especially on Riley Moss (again), and gave the Cowboys the ball on a fumble despite an obvious recovery by the Broncos. There were a few more instances, but thankfully for them, Dre Greenlaw was not on the field to frighten them.
He does return next week. You have been warned, refs.
WINNER - 1ST PLACE IN THE AFC WEST
At 6-2, the Denver Broncos once again sit at the top of the AFC West.
Other notable winners and losers
WINNER - Kris Abrams-Draine: He came off the bench and had to cover Lamb and Pickens. He gave up some plays but held his own in place of PS2 and slowed down the explosive Cowboys pass game
WINNER - Broncos OL: Ross will have more on it later this week, but they absolutely dominated in protection and in the run game.
WINNER - Zach Allen: I thought he had 2 sacks, but was only credited with 1, but still, Sack Allen was at it once again today
WINNER - Alex Palczewski: We might have a keeper at LG
LOSER - Refs: You still suck
WINNER - Throwbacks: While I like the Broncos’ new uniforms, the throwbacks are beautiful, and the Broncos are 3-0 while wearing them.
LOSER - Flags: They had 9 flags for 80 yards in this one. While most of these were questionable at best, you still cannot have this trend continue, and we still have the Chiefs games yet.
WINNER - 5 game win streaks: The Broncos were 1-2 and coming off two terrible last-second losses. Since then, they have won 5 straight games, a few dominant performances, some nail-biters, and one historic comeback. Now, they are 6-2 and firmly in the postseason conversation.