NFL
By: Greg Rector
Denver Broncos (4-4) vs Dallas Cowboys (6-1) 1:00 PM Sunday, Nov 7th
The Dallas Cowboys will host the Denver Broncos coming off the big road win in Minnesota, minus Dak Prescott. If you have ever read my articles you will know I always say one thing when it comes to the quarterback position, “Too much credit, too much blame.” That was proven yet again as the Dallas Cowboys as a TEAM went out and defeated the Vikings on Halloween night. The talk about no chance of winning with Cooper Rush starting instead of Dak was simply ridiculous (Shhhh they beat this same Vikings team with Andy Dalton last year). Football games are won and lost based on offense, defense, and special teams play, not just by the guy under center. The Cowboys put enough together to leave Minneapolis as the victors. The defense was superb, so much so that even with weapons like Cook, Theilen, and Jefferson, the Vikings were only 1 of 13 on third down. That’s 7% or as a Cowboys fan, they got the Vikings off the field successfully at 93%. This team has the “Dawg.” mentality I wrote about in my draft recap article. That’s something that has sadly been missing for a very long time in Dallas. With that said let’s look at the next game.
Broncos Offense vs Cowboys Defense
The Broncos’ offense has been hampered all season long. Not just due to injuries like Jeudy being out for 6 games. No, the real problem has been a guy named Pat Shurmur, who has simply put been one of the most horrific play-callers in the league. The predictability of the Broncos must remind Cowboys fans of the Garrett offenses of days gone by thankfully so. There’s no imagination to the Denver offense at all. In this era that’s a recipe for disaster or mediocrity as is the case with the Broncos. The 4 wins have come against teams with a combined total of 7 wins. The Dan Quinn-led defense hasn’t been anything like the group so many thought they would be. After 7 games they have used man-to-man coverage the 2nd most in the league. The Broncos will need to defend against what might be the fastest defense in the league. Randy Gregory is wreaking havoc, getting pressures and sacks (5) with lightning quickness. Micah Parsons is making the Defensive Rookie of the Year race a runaway at this point. The secondary is still making plays. It’s the effort on every play that is impressing me. It’s been so long since there’s been a Cowboys defense that has put forth this type of effort game in and game out. Face it there are 3 games the Cowboys of the last 26 seasons would have folded in and not taken care of business. The Chargers, Patriots, and now the Vikings games show this group is different. The Broncos are in the middle of the pack offensively. The main reason for this is you know exactly what’s coming from them. Remember the 70s and 80s when NFL offenses were run, run, three yards, three yards, and pass? There’s the 2021 Broncos offense. Everything the Broncos do is predictable. The Cowboys’ defense with their speed and depth is not predictable at all. One loss of note, Jabril Cox might have a torn ACL, a tough break for the rookie who was just beginning to get more snaps.
Cowboys Offense vs Broncos Defense
Statistically, the Broncos’ defense ranks third overall. Throw out the stats folks, they’ve feasted on some of the worst offenses in the league. They will face a different beast in the Dallas Cowboys this Sunday. As I’ve said for most of this season, pick your poison. Once again a team did everything they could to stop Elliott and Pollard. Well even with the backup quarterback what happened? Both Lamb and Cooper ended up with over 100 yards receiving. This offense has been able to make those key plays week after week. The depth again has been so key to the 6 wins. Cedric Wilson has been more than good in the absence of Michael Gallup, I expect Gallup to return as a starter this week. That means what most felt was the second-best trio of receivers finally are back together for the first time since week one. Yes, Patrick Surtain has been as good as advertised at the corner for the Broncos, but he’s never had to deal with the likes of Cooper, Lamb, and Gallup, not to mention Cedric. The rookie corner will be tested as no other team has shown an ability to send out such a good group. The Cowboys were supposed to collapse without Dak like last year. Well throw that out the window, this TEAM is a different group from the year’s past. They showed it with Cooper Rush making plays like a veteran. The winning TD is a prime example of this. Sure looked like a run was coming on the first and goal late in the game, not so fast, Rush recognized that Amari Cooper was getting single coverage, calls the audible, throws the fade route, game over. Opponent after opponent simply can’t defend each threat the Cowboys have on offense. Tyron Smith hurt his ankle against the Vikings, at least this isn’t the neck or back and he’s been fighting the ankle injury for a while now. Ty Nsekhe a real left tackle played decently, sorry you don’t put La’el Collins out at tackle when he hasn’t played there since 2016 in college. Instead, like the Cowboys have done with Connor McGovern, Collins actually had a snap at fullback, wait for it, wait for it, the WISHBONE was seen in the NFL!!! Unlike the opponents, this offense is unpredictable and simply loaded with weapons. As I write this we certainly don’t know what Prescott’s status will be this week. Calf strains are tough to gauge as to being completely recovered from, I would expect Prescott to be ready, if Rush needs to start again, the panic level in Cowboys Nation, should be a whole lot less ridiculous than this past week. The most important part of the win over the Vikings? Simple, the Cowboys again didn’t fold up their tent and roll over in the face of adversity. ***As I write this, the Broncos just traded away Von Miller to the Rams for two 2022 late-round draft picks***. There’s a big hole in their defense.
Notes and Prediction
The Cowboys are playing a complete game these days. They are winning games that normally they have lost for many years. These are good things indeed. While it’s a pleasurable “Victory Monday,” the keys remain the same. There can’t be any let-up, this coaching staff has done a tremendous job keeping them focused, and putting the players in positions to succeed each week. The players as well deserve high marks for not being complacent. This group doesn’t get too high after a win, something that has plagued so many other Cowboys teams for way too long. They are committed to learning, film study is a serious endeavor and the most important factor of all? They’ve remained coachable. Whether Dak returns or not, I see this game coming down to the simple fact that once again an opponent has to decide what they want to try to stop the Cowboys from doing on offense, and defensively there’s just so much speed to deal with. I don’t see Denver as a rollover, the defense is solid. I do believe their weakness is on their sideline. Fangio and Shurmur should both be gone IMO. I have the Cowboys winning 27 to 14.
As always you can find me on Twitter @GregCowboys
