Broncos vs Cowboys Week 9: History, players to watch, gut prediction

Denver Broncos vs Dallas Cowboys Gut Prediction

Prediction: Dallas 30, Broncos 17

The Broncos seem like a team that doesn’t quite know their identity paired with a team that just shipped off their All-Pro defensive end. Those things aren’t a good recipe when traveling to face a 6-1 team that is confident. I don’t see the Broncos flipping a switch and showing the league anything new.

Defensively, the Broncos are pretty sound. They are 6th in yards per game allowed (325), 10th in passing yards allowed (225), 9th in rushing yards allowed, and 2nd in points per game allowed (17), but those numbers are likely to drop following Von Miller’s departure. I still think this Cowboys’ offense will be able to move the ball should they choose to open up the entire playbook, resulting in the Broncos defense spending a lot of time on the field.

I lean towards believing Dak Prescott plays come Sunday with the optimism coming out of the organization and that uplifts this team quite a bit. Although he likely plays, I would not at all be shocked if Kellen Moore helps protect him a bit by taking the pressure off of his quarterback.

Since Tuesday, the Broncos have announced two safeties are questionable, three defensive linemen are questionable, one cornerback is questionable, and another cornerback was placed on the IR. Dallas should look to attack backups with their classic recipe of pounding the rock and chasing it with occasional deep shots.

I like Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard to combine for over 200 rushing yards in a brutal ground attack the Cowboys unleash on Sunday. The Cowboys are coming off of an emotional win and the best way to stay on track is pounding the rock downhill. These two should eat against a defense likely to get worn down. Give me some two tight end sets and run behind an angry La’el Collins.

The Broncos’ offense is one I don’t have much worry about. The receivers, Sutton, Jeudy, and Patrick, are a solid trio, but Bridgewater throwing to them gives their attack a relatively low ceiling. The Cowboys are allowing a measly 88 rushing yards per game, good for 6th best in the league, while the Broncos have the 20th best rushing offense. The Cowboys should be able to stall out the ground game and put this matchup in the hands of Bridgewater, which creates a favorable Sunday afternoon.

The Cowboys are the better team this coming Sunday. There have been enough questions, myself included in this, of asking if this team is the real deal. They are and they will take care of business against a lesser opponent. Just as the Broncos did to the Cowboys in the last matchup, I see business being taken care of in such a way to return the favor to the Broncos and move to 7-1.