Broncos roll past Cowboys, but one injury changes the tone of the victory, plus other takeaways from Denver’s Week 8 win
A statement win for the Denver Broncos, but that doesn’t mean it was all good news coming out of the Mile High city.
The Denver Broncos started red-hot against the Dallas Cowboys, immediately erasing concerns that the team would start off slow on offense.
In Denver’s victory over the New York Giants, quarterback Bo Nix and the offense didn’t get going until the fourth quarter; that wasn’t the case against the Cowboys.
Nix was electric, but not without faults, as he had one interception early in the contest. Nevertheless, the second-year signal caller shone in the victory. It was his connection with some of the younger guys on the roster that made the victory even that much sweeter.
However, it wasn’t all good news for Denver. Superstar cornerback Pat Surtain suffered an apparent shoulder injury, sidelining him for the remainder of the contest. Surtain missing extended time would give Broncos Country cause for concern. There has been no word on the severity of Surtain’s injury, but having him sit out the rest of the game isn’t a good look.
It cannot be overstated how important Surtain is to the team’s long-term success.
Young guys step up big in victory
Several rookies showed up and showed out on both sides of the football. Running back RJ Harvey scampered his way to a 40-yard touchdown. The talented running back finished his day with seven carries for 46 yards and two touchdowns, adding two catches for 10 yards and one touchdown on the ground.
Speaking of catching passes, wide receiver Pat Bryant found the end zone for the first time in his young career off a beautiful pass from Nix. While the Cowboys did their best to lock down receiver Courtland Sutton, Nix took what the defense allowed and made them pay throughout.
That’s not to say Sutton didn’t have a day himself; the reliable pass catcher got into a rhythm and finished his day with four catches for 67 yards.
On defense, rookie cornerback Jahdae Barron picked off quarterback Dak Prescott, the first interception of his NFL career. It couldn’t have come at a better time, as the Cowboys were marching down the field toward the end of the first half.
Nix to Franklin connection looks legit
While the Cowboys did their best to lock down Sutton, Troy Franklin rose to the occasion in a big way. The former Oregon teammates connected on a pair of touchdowns, with Franklin proving to be a top option in the offense with his performance on Sunday.
Franklin finished his day with six catches for 89 yards and two touchdowns, a statement performance from the second-year receiver.
As for Nix, he did much to silence some critics worried about the team’s slow starts in recent weeks. The offense was buzzing, and Nix had one of the best games of his young career. The second-year signal caller finished his day going 19-for-29 with 247 yards and four touchdowns, while throwing an interception.
It was one of the best performances of Nix’s young career and should give fans plenty to celebrate moving forward: a statement victory and performance from the franchise quarterback.
Defense forces multiple takeaways, brings down Prescott in the win
While the defense didn’t have 100 sacks and limit the Cowboys to negative passing yards, they did create turnovers and add to their league-leading sack totals. Defensive ends Zach Allen and John Franklin-Meyers registered the team’s two sacks in the victory.
Denver got a few key turnovers. Outside of Barron’s interception, late in the contest, linebacker Dondrea Tillman intercepted Prescott with a huge return afterwards. Living in Denver, I could hear my neighbors screaming, “run,” during the play, which made it that much sweeter.
The Broncos continue to show steady progress under head coach Sean Payton, and Nix’s chemistry with his young playmakers is taking center stage. If the offense keeps clicking like this, the Broncos could be one of the most dangerous teams in the AFC heading into the second half of the season.
Denver Broncos News
Broncos’ Bo Nix pulls off unprecedented NFL feat that shows he’s becoming the franchise quarterback Denver needed
Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix continues to silence the critics, and his fourth-quarter against the New York Giants did much more than just that.
