DENVER — There will be plenty at stake on Sunday.
The Broncos (5-2) are set to welcome the Cowboys (3-3-1) in one of the most compelling matchups yet this season, as Denver's top-five defense aims to slow the Cowboys' potent offense.
"I think, generally speaking, there are going to be plays made on both sides of the ball," Head Coach Sean Payton said Friday. "I've said this before, you have to pay attention as the game's unfolding. Sometimes, they unfold differently than you may think, but it's … a good team. You look at their record when the receivers are all healthy, and they've been real tough to defend. They're coming off, obviously, a big win last week. So, each team's playing for a lot, and both are keeping pace in their division. It's an important game for both teams."
The Broncos will look to earn a fifth consecutive win while extending their league-leading active home win streak, and they'll aim to stay in first place in the AFC West by notching a 6-2 start.
These are the questions that will determine if the Broncos — who will be wearing their throwback threads — can extend their seven-game winning streak against the Cowboys:
WHO WINS A STRENGTH-ON-STRENGTH BATTLE?
Where to even start with Dallas' offense?
The Cowboys have one of the league's top quarterbacks in Dak Prescott, who enters Week 8 first in passing yards, second in passing touchdowns and seventh in passer rating. In each of the last four games, Prescott has thrown three touchdowns without throwing an interception, which is tied for the second-longest streak with that stat line since 1970.
On the ground, former Broncos running back Javonte Williams ranks second in the NFL in rushing and has an impressive 463 yards after contact. Williams' six rushing touchdowns are tied for the third most in the NFL, and his strong play has led to play-action success. Prescott ranks first in completion percentage (85.1%), touchdown-to-interception ratio (8-0) and passer rating (139.8) on play-action passes this year.
The challenge continues with receivers CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens. Lamb returned from injury in Week 7 to post five catches for 110 yards and a touchdown, and he's crossed the 100-yard mark in all three games he's started and finished this year. Pickens, meanwhile, enters Week 7 tied for the second-most receiving touchdowns in the NFL and has the second-most receptions of 20-plus yards in the league. Add in tight end Jake Ferguson — whose 51 catches and six touchdowns rank first among tight ends — and an offensive line that has allowed multiple sacks just twice this year, and the Cowboys' offense looks daunting.
"It's a great offense with two great receivers, with an experienced quarterback [and] with a running game," Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph said Thursday. "It's the NFL dream offense. … It's a challenge for us, but I'm excited about it. If you want to be the best, you've got to beat the best. Hopefully, we put our best foot forward on Sunday."
Denver's defense, though, may be just as good. The Broncos rank first in completion percentage allowed, third-down defense, red-zone defense and sacks per game while ranking fourth in scoring defense and third in total defense.
If Denver can get to Prescott, it could be a deciding factor. Prescott's passer rating is nearly 30 points lower in games in which he's taken multiple sacks, and all three of his interceptions this year have come in those games.
The key for the Broncos — whose cornerbacks’ statistics are among the best in the league — may be their ability to limit and respond to big plays.
WILL DENVER START FASTER?
The Broncos surged back for a comeback win against the Giants with a 33-point fourth quarter, but Denver's Week 8 focus is primarily on avoiding the early game struggles that necessitated that sort of performance.
"I think it's stacking first downs and getting the first points on the board," quarterback Bo Nix said. "We've continued to try to find ways to grow, learn. How can we get that to happen on the first drive? How can we go down and get points? How can we get a few first downs? There's one thing about putting openers together and having your plays, but another to go execute them. That's what we have to focus on. That's what we're looking forward to doing. I think everybody on offense has that edge to them to where we're tired of being close. I think everybody's working towards making those first few possessions count."
Denver has scored just one first-half touchdown over the last three weeks and posted 13 combined points over the first three quarters during that same span. As the Broncos look to address the concern, Payton said the Broncos altered their Wednesday practice in hopes of jump-starting their Sunday performances.
"I think it's more about the in-week prep," Payton said Wednesday. "Today's practice was different. I won't get into the details. We have to make Wednesday like Sunday. I think that's part of it."
The Broncos' penalty concerns have played a role in the recent early struggles, but Denver has also shown its ability to strike fast at times this season. The Nix-led offense scored a trio of first-half touchdowns in games against the Colts and the Bengals earlier this season, and they'll look to return to more consistent success against Dallas' 32nd-ranked total defense and 30th-ranked scoring defense. The Cowboys are tracking to be just the second team in the Super Bowl era to finish first in total offense and last in total defense, and the Broncos' offense will look to take advantage.
As Denver's offense looks to find more consistency, it may be particularly important to reach the 24-point mark. Since 2021, the Cowboys' .884 winning percentage (38-5) when allowing 24 points or fewer is the highest in the NFL.
CAN DENVER CONTINUE ITS ONE-SCORE SUCCESS?
The Broncos could limit the Cowboys' offense. They could start faster on offense. And, given the nature of the NFL, the Broncos could still find themselves locked in a one-score game in the fourth quarter.
The good news for Denver? The team has found its stride in recent weeks in tight games. A year after recording a 1-6 record in one-score games, the Broncos have gone 4-2 in such games this year — including three consecutive wins in games decided by four-points or fewer. The team's last three victories have come by a combined seven points. Only the Eagles have more wins (5) in one-score games this year than the Broncos.
The Broncos certainly hope to have a larger lead late in the game, but they've also proven to themselves that they can thrive in tough moments.
"I think that the experience definitely helps," wide receiver Courtland Sutton said. "Experience is something that, no matter what field you work in, it's definitely something that's very beneficial, because the more times you see it, the more times you give yourself confidence that you can overcome it. I do think that us being in those situations over the course of the season so far has given us more confidence that when we get put in those situations, we can come out victorious on the other end of that. You would like not to be in those situations; however, I don't know what the percent is, but there's a certain percentage — and it's a very high percent — of most games [coming] down to one-score games in the NFL. You're going to be in that position. I think the more times that you get put in those situations, the more times you understand how to overcome them. You can only simulate the two-minute drives in practice, but when the real bullets are flying, how well can your team go out there and operate? I think that us having the chances to get those live reps in games and then seeing the positive outcome at the end is giving us more confidence to be able to have success down the road."
Dallas has posted a 1-2-1 record in four one-score games of its own this year, and the Broncos will look to continue to hold a fourth-quarter edge.
Through Week 7, the Broncos have outscored opponents 71-29 in the final frame, which is the highest point differential in the NFL. Dallas, meanwhile, has given up the fourth-most points (64) in the fourth quarter this season. In total, Denver ranks first in yards, point differential and sack differential and tied for first in points in the fourth quarter in 2025. Nix has also been at his best, leading three game-winning drives and fourth-quarter comebacks.
"It's the thing that we didn't do a good job with a year ago," Payton said Sunday of winning one-score games. "When we won, we won. We were in a lot of close games, and they went the other direction. … That's our game a little bit. That's the reason it's popular. That's the reason television does so well. The system is set up in a manner to create that. Then, you have to figure out ways to get the edge. Then, it becomes a little contagious. You kind of begin to feel like you're in every game."
