Cowboys' Offense Meets Broncos' Defense: A High-Stakes Showdown

The Clash of Titans: Cowboys' Offense vs. Broncos' Defense

The age-old question of the unstoppable force versus the immovable object is often used in sports, and this week, it's perfectly fitting for the matchup between the high-flying Dallas Cowboys (3-3-1) offense and the stout Denver Broncos (5-2) defense. The Cowboys are coming into Denver with a formidable trio of quarterback Dak Prescott, running back Javonte Williams, and wide receiver George Pickens, who are the only teammate trio in the NFL this season to rank top five in passing, rushing, and receiving. This feat hasn't been seen since 1992, when the Hall of Fame trio of Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, and Michael Irvin achieved the same.

Prescott has thrown for 1,881 yards, ranking second in the NFL, while Williams has rushed for 592 yards, also second in the league. Pickens has caught 607 yards, fourth in the NFL. CeeDee Lamb, an All-Pro receiver, returned in Week 7 after a three-game absence due to a sprained ankle, contributing 110 yards and a touchdown in his return game. Tight end Jake Ferguson is also making a significant impact, ranking fourth in catches (51) and tied for second in touchdown catches (6).

On the other side, the Broncos' pass rush leads the league in sacks (34) and quarterback pressure rate (44.9%). Edge rushers Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper are among the top in the NFL in sacks, and cornerbacks Patrick Surtain II and Riley Moss are standout defenders. Surtain II is the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, and Moss has allowed the lowest completion percentage (37.5%) among defenders with at least 30 passes thrown their way.

Prescott will be making just his second trip to Denver as the Cowboys' starting quarterback, despite being in the league since 2016. His previous visit was in 2017, where he faced a strong Broncos defense that included Von Miller, Aqib Talib, and Chris Harris. The current Broncos team evokes memories of that defensive unit for Prescott.

"Credit and respect to them," Prescott said. "They know they go hand in hand for them."

Key Stats and Matchup Analysis

Here’s a breakdown of the key stats for the Cowboys' offense and Broncos' defense:

Category	Cowboys Offense (NFL Rank)	Broncos Defense (NFL Rank)
PPG	31.7 (2nd)	18.1 (4th)
Total YPG	380.3 (1st)	273.1 (3rd)
Yards/Play	6.1 (2nd)	4.5 (2nd)
Rush YPG	122.1 (14th)	93.3 (9th)
Pass YPG	268.3 (2nd)	179.9 (6th)
3rd Down Conversion Rate	44% (7th)	29.2% (1st)
QB Pressure Rate	33.3% (7th)	44.9% (1st)
Sacks	8 (T-2nd)	34 (1st)
Completion Percentage	71.2% (3rd)	55.9% (1st)
Pass TD	16 (T-2nd)	7 (T-2nd)
Passer Rating	105.7 (7th)	82.8 (5th)

Where to Watch the Game

When: Sunday, Oct. 26
Time: 4:25 p.m. ET
Where: Empower Field at Mile High (Denver)
TV: CBS
Stream: Paramount+ (try for free)
Follow: CBS Sports App
Odds: Broncos -3.5; O/U 51 (via FanDuel Sportsbook)

Key Questions for the Matchup

How will Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and head coach Brian Schottenheimer manage the passing game against the Broncos' No. 1 pass rush? Despite knowing Prescott won't have as much time to survey the field, Schottenheimer will not change his aggression level when it comes to dialing deep shots to Pickens and Lamb. The Cowboys are excited to face the Broncos' man coverage-heavy defense, which plays man coverage at the fourth-highest rate in the NFL (36.3%).

"I don't think so because again what they do, which is smart because of their pass rush, they like to play a lot of press man to man," Schottenheimer said.

Williams, who played his first four seasons with the Broncos, will also factor into slowing down Denver's pass rush. The NFL's second-leading rusher is looking forward to the homecoming against his former team.

Will Cowboys defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus go back to running his heavy zone scheme against Broncos QB Bo Nix? Eberflus made a drastic shift in his approach, increasing man coverage and blitz rates significantly. His defense had their best performance under him in a 44-22 Week 7 victory.

Looking ahead to Week 8, no team has had more plays with a screen thrown than the Broncos' 47 in 2025. Despite Cowboys' players and fans' complaints, Dallas may go back to playing more zone coverage in Week 8 because of Denver quarterback Bo Nix's strengths and weaknesses.

Prediction

New York Giants rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart was able to rack up four total touchdowns against Denver's vaunted defense last week. After New York highlighted some soft spots in the Broncos' defensive unit, Prescott, a 10-year veteran playing MVP-caliber ball, will be able to make more plays than the up-and-down, second-year Denver quarterback in Nix. A long field goal by All-Pro kicker Brandon Aubrey makes the difference in a narrow Cowboys victory.

Pick: Cowboys 27, Broncos 24 | Cowboys +3.5