On Sunday, the 4-4 Denver Broncos hope to regain a winning record against the 6-1 Dallas Cowboys.
The Broncos finally ended their losing streak last week when they beat the Washington Football Team 17-10. The Cowboys have earned everyone’s respect and have only lost one game in a last-second heartbreaker to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Denver goes into Sunday’s game as 10 point underdogs. With injuries decimating the starting roster, the Broncos have an uphill battle as they face their stiffest competition yet.
Here’s what the Broncos can expect to face from the Cowboys in Week 9.
Cowboys on Offense
The Cowboys go into the game as the 3rd-ranked overall offense in scoring.
Dak Prescott was forced out of last week’s game with a calf injury. However, he is set to play on Sunday and looks to continue his impressive season, currently with 16 touchdowns and only four interceptions.
The hope for Dallas is that Michael Gallup will return this week. Along with CeeDee Lamb and Amari Cooper, Gallup is a member of one of the best receiving corps in the NFL. While the Broncos currently sit as the 10th-best pass defense, they have stumbled a few times and allowed major plays that have cost them games. This trio will be their toughest test yet.
And while the receivers are remarkable, Ezekiel Elliott also leads the NFC with 571 rushing yards. As of late, the Broncos have struggled against running backs in general. Last week they returned to form and only allowed 90 yards, but expect Elliot to have a big game.
Von Miller was traded to the Los Angeles Rams on Monday. That means the Broncos will be stuck with a massive hole on their front line, and it’s yet to be seen if Justin Strnad or Kenny Young can fill it.
Cowboys on Defense
On the other side of the ball, Dallas has been a middle-of-the-pack defense at No. 15.
It won’t be a challenging game for the Cowboys and partly because Garett Bolles is out on Sunday. The Broncos have had a hard time protecting Teddy Bridgewater this season, and it will only be harder without their best offensive linemen.
Rookie Micah Parsons is set to have a huge game. He is the reigning NFC Defensive Player of the Week and looks to build on that. Many believe the Cowboys would have drafted Patrick Surtain II if the Broncos hadn’t taken him first.
Trevon Diggs leads the NFL with seven interceptions with a massive lead. Bridgewater has thrown five interceptions in the last eight games, so it’s safe to assume he’ll have another one this game.
The Cowboys’ strongest defensive play has been against the run game. While they rank 28th against the pass, they sit at No. 6 versus the rush. Denver’s running backs have been arguably mediocre and will continue to struggle against this front.
Score Prediction: Broncos 17 – Cowboys 31