Running back predicted to go off in Cowboys vs Broncos matchup during high-stakes Week 8 matchup
Final predictions for Cowboys vs Broncos in Week 8.
This matchup isn’t getting nearly enough hype. It’s one of the NFL’s best offenses against one of the best defenses in a game where both sides want to prove the same thing: That they’re real contenders. It’s the Dallas Cowboys visiting the Denver Broncos in Week 8.
The Cowboys enter the contest as 3.5-point underdogs as the Broncos attempt to shake off what was an uncomfortable win over the New York Giants in which they needed 33 points in the fourth quarter to avoid the upset.
To gear up for the game, we got A to Z Sports Dallas’ Mauricio Rodriguez and A to Z Sports Denver’s Adam Zientek to give us their players to watch, bold predictions, and score predictions.
Players to watch
Zientek: Bo Nix, not just in the fourth quarter. The second-year signal caller has had some up-and-down performances, but his fourth-quarter magic has been something to watch for weeks now. The team has expressed that they’re still looking to better execute on offense, and they’ll need to against the Cowboys. Nix and the offense can’t get off to a slow start again, though they have proved time and time again they can make it happen when it matters most. The franchise quarterback has an arsenal of weapons at his disposal. Through the early stages of the season, Nix was near the bottom of the league in advanced metrics when looking at a quarterback’s performance when blitzed/pressured, something that he’s been able to improve over recent weeks.
Rodriguez: I’ll keep it simple with this one and say wide receiver George Pickens. He will be crucial regardless of what the Broncos’ gameplan is. If star CB Pat Surtain is travelling with CeeDee Lamb, it will be on Pickens to make plays on what would likely be one-on-one matchups. If Surtain is on him, though, it will be about winning that matchup. He can do it. He already beat Sauce Gardner a couple of times earlier in the season, routing him up once on a key third down and later with a long touchdown catch in the endzone.
Bold predictions
Zientek: J.K. Dobbins has over 150 scrimmage yards against the Dallas Cowboys. The run defense for Dallas leaves much to be desired, and Dobbins has proven through some early games that he can be a difference-maker in the backfield. Dobbins was the first Bronco under head coach Sean Payton to surpass 100 yards on the ground, and he’s going to do it again against the Cowboys. If there was an MVP of the game, it will be Dobbins, who finds the endzone not once, but twice in my bold prediction for the matchup.
Rodriguez: Dak Prescott is sacked once. That can be considered bold against a defense averaging five per game going up against mediocre pass protecting tackles. By the way, I expect the Broncos edge rushers will beat the Cowboys tackles in this one. There’s no question about that. But Prescott faced relentless pressure from Micah Parsons in Week 4 and it wasn’t even noticeable with how quickly he was throwing the football. He will need a similar performance to best the Broncos and get the football to his dynamic playmakers.
Final score predictions
Zientek: The Broncos get off to a hot start on offense. It’s a heavy rushing attack with J.K. Dobbins, who looks to capitalize on one of the worst run defenses in the NFL. Nix shines in the victory, throwing for over 250 yards and multiple scores, while adding some damage with his legs. Dallas will keep the game close up until the fourth quarter, where Nix and the offense will once again rise to the occasion and pull out the victory. The Broncos defense continues their dominance, shutting down the passing game and bringing down quarterback Dak Prescott six times in the contest, continuing their league lead in sacks, while superstar pass rusher Nik Bonitto finishes the day with 1.5 sacks as he looks to break Von Miller’s single-season record. Broncos Country is going to be partying hard after the win. Broncos 34, Cowboys 27.
Rodriguez: Prescott gets hit multiple times in the contest and the offense looks out of whack for the first few drives of the game while Dallas gets used to Vance Joseph’s defense and the city’s altitude. But ultimately, I have the Cowboys making a couple more plays on offense than the Nix-led attack on the other side. Denver’s defense is legit but so is the unit featuring CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens. Cowboys 27, Broncos 24.
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