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Morning After Week 8 - Reality Checked in Denver
In a chance to "prove it" and against a real AFC contender, the Cowboys weren't even close.
Bob Sturm
Oct 27, 2025
It was a beautiful day in Denver with all of the perfect colors of the NFL aesthetic that my soul desires. A beautiful contrasts of colors against the crisp autumn air and the reason some of us bemoan the loss of open-air stadiums with grass fields beneath.
This is what football weather is all about.
We dream of these days where two of the foundational franchises of this great league square off in a full stadium of color and sound to determine who is a contender and who might be a pretender.
Asked and answered.
It was Denver who certainly had to deal with questions of its credentials. Is Bo Nix is the real deal? And if your defense is so good, how did the Giants rip it up so easily the week before? Are the Broncos for real?
Meanwhile, for Dallas, it was simple. Did they stumble upon a solution to their struggling defense against Washington? Was it as simple as just switching up tactics to get this mediocre defense who had no way to slow down Russell Wilson and Bryce Young suddenly spring to life and make it a weekly habit to attack and suffocate?
Next on CBS….
These games are amazing theater, but they also reveal a lot of truths. Your team cannot hide from what will be waiting for them. And what was waiting for Dallas in Denver was a challenge from a heavyweight defense. The Broncos Coach, Sean Payton, said as much in his post-game:
But, Payton knows, as we know, that the Cowboys offense is being tasked with all of the heavy lifting. And we do mean all. It is similar to doing yard work with your toddler. Yes, you are both “doing yard work” when mom comes outside to check on you two and offers a beverage. But, there is a real chance that dad is doing 99% of everything and the kiddo is going to be the one whom mom celebrates for picking up a twig and putting it in the pile with the giant branches. Dad accepts this as common sense and doesn’t think anything of it, but let’s not take an inventory of who is doing what.
The Cowboys offense has to play perfect games these days and that can happen at times. But, we are seeing it is unlikely to happen for any stretch of time that allows a winning streak to flourish. The offense is very good and statistically beautiful, but we also know that there are defenses – especially on the road – which will ask questions that will require the offense to play both perfectly and on the border of aggression because the defense is pushing them further and further behind with each possession.
So, yes, offense – you must be mistake-free, but also you must score touchdowns every time you touch the ball or you will be down 10 or more before halftime.
Which is what Sunday brought, again.
The Cowboys offense is superb, but they are not allowed to grow into a game. They must be ready to hit the ground running on their very first possession and honestly, there is a case to be made that they should try to win the opening toss so they can get the ball first.
Yet, despite that wisdom, we must thank Bo Nix for his sporting interception on the first possession of the game that missed its target and was thrown right to Trikweze Bridges and offered the ball to the Cowboys near midfield. Dallas got a stop and would have a chance to grab an early advantage.
From there, the opening script of the offense marched beautifully right down the field and would have a second-and-goal from the 1-yard line with 11:47 to go in the first quarter (yes, Bob is going to stress the importance of a play 3 minutes into the afternoon because most of the second half felt ceremonial).
The second-and-goal is pictured above with a crosser to George Pickens being broken up by the 2024 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Patrick Surtain, who would be hobbled most of the rest of the day as he landed in a bit of a weird fashion. But, ok, two more shots from the 1-yard line for the Cowboys to grab an early lead.
Third-and-goal from the 1-yard line and the stadium is in full throat. That, of course, is when a false start begins an avalanche of pre-snap penalties that all seem like small moments but in total are enough to send things in the wrong direction. The call was on Brock Hoffman but the replays showed it was likely Tyler Guyton who was caught moving early. Back 5 yards and now things are so much more difficult than two shots with Javonte Williams from the one.
Third-and-goal from the 6-yard line is Dak trying to thread a needle to CeeDee Lamb, but the Broncos are sitting on it and deflect it, so all of that brilliant hard work after the takeaway results in a solitary chip-shot field goal and Denver feels like they won that exchange.
Why do they feel that way? Because, they know the self-inflicted mistake on the turnover is the only way they will be defeated all day when they have the ball. This Dallas defense cannot stop anyone – save for a Washington team that is beat up and without a huge part of its offensive talent – and so, with just a 3-0 lead, the defense went to work on ruining everything as only they can.
The next five times the Broncos would touch the ball, they would score four touchdowns and rack up an absurd 273 yards in roughly one hour of real time.
With 8:21 to go in the first quarter and the ball at the 40-yard line of the Cowboys, Denver rolls out a pretty routine pin-and-pull to the left and rookie RJ Harvey will be credited with a huge TD run here, but I am not sure the RB even matters on a play like this. Instead, it just shows how thoroughly outclassed this unit is when trying to stop the run, yet again. This is what a beautifully blocked up play looks like. I know that any Dallas fan will not enjoy this, but I do think it is worth pondering just how it looks when one side wins every single block on the field like this. Harvey is not touched even once. Not touched.
Some of us have an appreciation for the beauty of this sport and there is no other way to describe this run from Denver other than that. You could not design better teach tape with how a play is supposed to look when it is run perfectly – or in this case, without much resistance.
7-3, Denver.
And, as the story now clearly goes, they would not trail again, nor would they come close to trailing again.
The second drive for Dallas and another presnap penalty – this one also on Guyton – turns second-and-6 into another second-and-11. Then on third-and-5, we get Guyton losing to Nik Bonitto in the blink of an eye and credit to Dak for sidestepping that rusher, but here comes big Franklin-Myers from the other direction because Javonte Williams cannot hold off a 290-pound DT any longer and Prescott is sacked. He knows an interception is much worse than a sack, so he eats it to try to make the smarter decision between two bad choices.
But, now we ask, after witnessing this third drive if a punt really is better than an interception.
I hesitate to speak in hyperbole, but when you consider the play before this was a 40-yard touchdown run where RJ Harvey is completely untouched, you must assume that they all had their rear-ends chewed out on the sideline. So, now, extra determined, here is the response drive. You either do something to stand up for yourselves – or you get driven into the sea and meet your end.
Let’s see this response.
Welp!
Denver ran a four-play drive that traveled 62 yards, including a no-play on a holding penalty (which we normally call a drive killer. Let’s look for a pattern:
It is 1st and 20 from the Cowboys 25. Dallas sends a blitz and it does not appear the pocket is crashing around Bo Nix. Nix is comfortable and as we look at the “coverage” I see roughly 3-4 open receivers to choose from. The one he selects is probably the one that looks most covered in this still, but the other angle shows that Troy Franklin has the entire end zone to himself.
I believe this might have been when the Broncos coach had this thought pop in his head:
“The other side of it, it wasn’t close.”
Payton knew – as we all did – that if the Cowboys offense could not teach the elite Broncos defense a lesson, this would be over quickly. Once they forced the Cowboys to settle for a field goal and a punt, they had Dallas in an easy 14-3 vice.
The rest would take care of itself.
The two sides would actually trade punts and then the Cowboys would briefly rally to 14-10 midway through the 2nd Quarter. At this point, there was a moment where you wondered if we might have a football game.
That was quickly snuffed out when you remembered you would then be counting on the defense to get a stop. The Broncos would score on their next five drives. FIVE!
When 14-10 becomes 44-17 before the next time the defense can make a play, you recognize that the offense could not keep up. The only way you can expect the Cowboys offense to score 44 in Denver is to let them play against the Cowboys defense and while they get that pleasure at practice, it is not a reasonable request in league-play.
And that is the challenge. This offense not only has to be better than their opponents, but they have to play a defense full of elite pieces with no margin for error. None. A defense that feeds off noise and chaos can unload on 3rd down and Dak and his guys have to weather all the schemes and ambushes.
Meanwhile, the offense on the other-side of the field is playing a defense that is made up of journeyman throughout who can barely force any 3rd downs. Imagine playing a game where you never even need all of the available downs. Imagine playing where your QB never gets touched. Nix suffered 0 sacks and 0 grass stains on his brilliant uniform on Sunday. Dak looked like he had been in a fight.
But, that is the standard and we knew it going in. The ownership punted on 2025 when they made a trade for cap reasons (how to best manage a mismanaged cap of your own doing) and the future (how to fix a roster after several botched drafts in a row, please see 2022-2024).
For this reason, you cannot beat a serious contender at their place in most every situation. This will continue to be an inconsistent team that will be capable of beating any opponent who isn’t ready, but also capable of losing to anyone who is.
Because of all of this (Bob waves his arms in 360 degrees) we arrive back at two familiar topics in the Cowboys world this morning.
But, to the topic of trade deadlines and spending assets to try and save 2025, the answer seems obvious. As we enter November, this team has zero occasions of winning two games in a row. Any team that is spending resources to save a season where it cannot even win consecutive games might need their heads examined.
The 2025 Cowboys are a one-sided team that has given up 30-or-more in five of eight games. They are not able to be saved this year. If you can help your team for the bigger window, I am all ears, but this team needs 5-6 defensive starters, not one.
Denver helped clarify that thought on Sunday. They toyed with the Cowboys and dunked them hard.
The Broncos coach said it clearly.
In a chance to "prove it" and against a real AFC contender, the Cowboys weren't even close.
Bob Sturm
Oct 27, 2025
It was a beautiful day in Denver with all of the perfect colors of the NFL aesthetic that my soul desires. A beautiful contrasts of colors against the crisp autumn air and the reason some of us bemoan the loss of open-air stadiums with grass fields beneath.
This is what football weather is all about.
We dream of these days where two of the foundational franchises of this great league square off in a full stadium of color and sound to determine who is a contender and who might be a pretender.
Asked and answered.
It was Denver who certainly had to deal with questions of its credentials. Is Bo Nix is the real deal? And if your defense is so good, how did the Giants rip it up so easily the week before? Are the Broncos for real?
Meanwhile, for Dallas, it was simple. Did they stumble upon a solution to their struggling defense against Washington? Was it as simple as just switching up tactics to get this mediocre defense who had no way to slow down Russell Wilson and Bryce Young suddenly spring to life and make it a weekly habit to attack and suffocate?
Next on CBS….
These games are amazing theater, but they also reveal a lot of truths. Your team cannot hide from what will be waiting for them. And what was waiting for Dallas in Denver was a challenge from a heavyweight defense. The Broncos Coach, Sean Payton, said as much in his post-game:
For now, let’s set aside the fact that an opposing coach just dismissed the Cowboys defense like he did – “The other side of it, it wasn’t close” – because that is some stone-cold honesty.
But, Payton knows, as we know, that the Cowboys offense is being tasked with all of the heavy lifting. And we do mean all. It is similar to doing yard work with your toddler. Yes, you are both “doing yard work” when mom comes outside to check on you two and offers a beverage. But, there is a real chance that dad is doing 99% of everything and the kiddo is going to be the one whom mom celebrates for picking up a twig and putting it in the pile with the giant branches. Dad accepts this as common sense and doesn’t think anything of it, but let’s not take an inventory of who is doing what.
The Cowboys offense has to play perfect games these days and that can happen at times. But, we are seeing it is unlikely to happen for any stretch of time that allows a winning streak to flourish. The offense is very good and statistically beautiful, but we also know that there are defenses – especially on the road – which will ask questions that will require the offense to play both perfectly and on the border of aggression because the defense is pushing them further and further behind with each possession.
So, yes, offense – you must be mistake-free, but also you must score touchdowns every time you touch the ball or you will be down 10 or more before halftime.
Which is what Sunday brought, again.
The Cowboys offense is superb, but they are not allowed to grow into a game. They must be ready to hit the ground running on their very first possession and honestly, there is a case to be made that they should try to win the opening toss so they can get the ball first.
Yet, despite that wisdom, we must thank Bo Nix for his sporting interception on the first possession of the game that missed its target and was thrown right to Trikweze Bridges and offered the ball to the Cowboys near midfield. Dallas got a stop and would have a chance to grab an early advantage.
From there, the opening script of the offense marched beautifully right down the field and would have a second-and-goal from the 1-yard line with 11:47 to go in the first quarter (yes, Bob is going to stress the importance of a play 3 minutes into the afternoon because most of the second half felt ceremonial).
The second-and-goal is pictured above with a crosser to George Pickens being broken up by the 2024 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Patrick Surtain, who would be hobbled most of the rest of the day as he landed in a bit of a weird fashion. But, ok, two more shots from the 1-yard line for the Cowboys to grab an early lead.
Third-and-goal from the 1-yard line and the stadium is in full throat. That, of course, is when a false start begins an avalanche of pre-snap penalties that all seem like small moments but in total are enough to send things in the wrong direction. The call was on Brock Hoffman but the replays showed it was likely Tyler Guyton who was caught moving early. Back 5 yards and now things are so much more difficult than two shots with Javonte Williams from the one.
Third-and-goal from the 6-yard line is Dak trying to thread a needle to CeeDee Lamb, but the Broncos are sitting on it and deflect it, so all of that brilliant hard work after the takeaway results in a solitary chip-shot field goal and Denver feels like they won that exchange.
Why do they feel that way? Because, they know the self-inflicted mistake on the turnover is the only way they will be defeated all day when they have the ball. This Dallas defense cannot stop anyone – save for a Washington team that is beat up and without a huge part of its offensive talent – and so, with just a 3-0 lead, the defense went to work on ruining everything as only they can.
The next five times the Broncos would touch the ball, they would score four touchdowns and rack up an absurd 273 yards in roughly one hour of real time.
With 8:21 to go in the first quarter and the ball at the 40-yard line of the Cowboys, Denver rolls out a pretty routine pin-and-pull to the left and rookie RJ Harvey will be credited with a huge TD run here, but I am not sure the RB even matters on a play like this. Instead, it just shows how thoroughly outclassed this unit is when trying to stop the run, yet again. This is what a beautifully blocked up play looks like. I know that any Dallas fan will not enjoy this, but I do think it is worth pondering just how it looks when one side wins every single block on the field like this. Harvey is not touched even once. Not touched.
Some of us have an appreciation for the beauty of this sport and there is no other way to describe this run from Denver other than that. You could not design better teach tape with how a play is supposed to look when it is run perfectly – or in this case, without much resistance.
7-3, Denver.
And, as the story now clearly goes, they would not trail again, nor would they come close to trailing again.
The second drive for Dallas and another presnap penalty – this one also on Guyton – turns second-and-6 into another second-and-11. Then on third-and-5, we get Guyton losing to Nik Bonitto in the blink of an eye and credit to Dak for sidestepping that rusher, but here comes big Franklin-Myers from the other direction because Javonte Williams cannot hold off a 290-pound DT any longer and Prescott is sacked. He knows an interception is much worse than a sack, so he eats it to try to make the smarter decision between two bad choices.
But, now we ask, after witnessing this third drive if a punt really is better than an interception.
I hesitate to speak in hyperbole, but when you consider the play before this was a 40-yard touchdown run where RJ Harvey is completely untouched, you must assume that they all had their rear-ends chewed out on the sideline. So, now, extra determined, here is the response drive. You either do something to stand up for yourselves – or you get driven into the sea and meet your end.
Let’s see this response.
Welp!
Denver ran a four-play drive that traveled 62 yards, including a no-play on a holding penalty (which we normally call a drive killer. Let’s look for a pattern:
- 1st down for 16 yards
- 1st down for 21 yards
- 1st down for 10 yards
- 1st down for 25 yards and a touchdown.
It is 1st and 20 from the Cowboys 25. Dallas sends a blitz and it does not appear the pocket is crashing around Bo Nix. Nix is comfortable and as we look at the “coverage” I see roughly 3-4 open receivers to choose from. The one he selects is probably the one that looks most covered in this still, but the other angle shows that Troy Franklin has the entire end zone to himself.
I believe this might have been when the Broncos coach had this thought pop in his head:
“The other side of it, it wasn’t close.”
Payton knew – as we all did – that if the Cowboys offense could not teach the elite Broncos defense a lesson, this would be over quickly. Once they forced the Cowboys to settle for a field goal and a punt, they had Dallas in an easy 14-3 vice.
The rest would take care of itself.
The two sides would actually trade punts and then the Cowboys would briefly rally to 14-10 midway through the 2nd Quarter. At this point, there was a moment where you wondered if we might have a football game.
That was quickly snuffed out when you remembered you would then be counting on the defense to get a stop. The Broncos would score on their next five drives. FIVE!
When 14-10 becomes 44-17 before the next time the defense can make a play, you recognize that the offense could not keep up. The only way you can expect the Cowboys offense to score 44 in Denver is to let them play against the Cowboys defense and while they get that pleasure at practice, it is not a reasonable request in league-play.
And that is the challenge. This offense not only has to be better than their opponents, but they have to play a defense full of elite pieces with no margin for error. None. A defense that feeds off noise and chaos can unload on 3rd down and Dak and his guys have to weather all the schemes and ambushes.
Meanwhile, the offense on the other-side of the field is playing a defense that is made up of journeyman throughout who can barely force any 3rd downs. Imagine playing a game where you never even need all of the available downs. Imagine playing where your QB never gets touched. Nix suffered 0 sacks and 0 grass stains on his brilliant uniform on Sunday. Dak looked like he had been in a fight.
But, that is the standard and we knew it going in. The ownership punted on 2025 when they made a trade for cap reasons (how to best manage a mismanaged cap of your own doing) and the future (how to fix a roster after several botched drafts in a row, please see 2022-2024).
For this reason, you cannot beat a serious contender at their place in most every situation. This will continue to be an inconsistent team that will be capable of beating any opponent who isn’t ready, but also capable of losing to anyone who is.
Because of all of this (Bob waves his arms in 360 degrees) we arrive back at two familiar topics in the Cowboys world this morning.
- Could this defense be better with a different defensive coordinator?
- Should Dallas do anything at the trade deadline?
But, to the topic of trade deadlines and spending assets to try and save 2025, the answer seems obvious. As we enter November, this team has zero occasions of winning two games in a row. Any team that is spending resources to save a season where it cannot even win consecutive games might need their heads examined.
The 2025 Cowboys are a one-sided team that has given up 30-or-more in five of eight games. They are not able to be saved this year. If you can help your team for the bigger window, I am all ears, but this team needs 5-6 defensive starters, not one.
Denver helped clarify that thought on Sunday. They toyed with the Cowboys and dunked them hard.
The Broncos coach said it clearly.
Dallas isn’t close.
