DENVER – Eight games into this season, we know what this team is, and more importantly, what it isn't.
What the 2025 Cowboys are not is a defensive juggernaut. Even the games they've won, they've allowed 28 points per game.
So going into Sunday's game, located at this unwinnable place called Denver, everybody knew the Cowboys offense had to be at their best.
Spoiler – they weren't.
The offense was not great at all. Everything we've seen so far to this point was somewhat taken away. This team couldn't find consistency running the ball inside. They couldn't find their reliable tight end to even make a catch. And this one-two receiver punch that was looking like the best duo in the game couldn't take advantage of a Broncos defense that saw All-Pro Patrick Surtain miss the entire second half.
The biggest thing of all, quarterback Dak Prescott, who was putting up MVP numbers through the first seven games, had his worst performance of the season.
All of this is why the Cowboys lost this game in Denver … ugh-gain. I think at some point I have to point out that I not only picked Dallas to win this, but by two scores, nonetheless. I just figured the Broncos weren't as good as their 5-2 record, and more than anything, the Cowboys were just due to win here. Wrong and Wronger.
It's been 33 years since they've won at this place, and unless the schedule aligns up a couple of times between now and 2033, it'll be 41 years since this team has won in Denver.
Call it a coincidence, but it's a true home-field advantage. Any place where you only show up every eight years is usually flooded with Cowboys fans, and while there were some, the crowd was mostly filled with that smack-in-the-face color of orange. And they were definitely loud, causing all kinds of problems for this offense that had five pre-snap penalties in the first half.
Now one of them – if I must – I still haven't seen, and I've looked at least eight times. But the first false start at the 1-yard line was called on Brock Hoffman and then changed to Tyler Smith. I've looked at all of the linemen, and I never saw anything happen before the snap.
Before you ask why this 5-yard penalty matters in a 20-point loss, I'll tell you just how important it would've been for the Cowboys to get an interception early and cash in with a touchdown. Don't forget the Broncos found themselves down to the Giants, 19-0, before a historic comeback. But if the Cowboys had gotten out to a 7-0 lead, I think it starts to put a lot more pressure on Bo Nix and the Denver offense. Not saying the outcome is different, but the flow of the game is, in my opinion.
But credit the crowd noise for that play and a few other pre-snap setbacks. It's a tough place to play for any team, but especially one that needs to be perfect on offense.
If you're wondering why I've gone this far in the column before talking about anything other than the offense, it's because we know what this is now. We know the defense is going to have problems. We know they're going to turn players that you've probably never even heard of into game-changing pieces. And true to form, they did it again.
Now, let's be fair about it before we bash the defense too much. Losing one safety is bad enough and losing both of your starters isn't great, but how about losing three? This defense had Malik Hooker, Donovan Wilson and Juanyeh Thomas to start the season, and all three were out. If that's not enough, fill-in starter Alijah Clark suffered an injury in the second half and had to be replaced as well.
I'll give you points if you knew Corey Ballentine was even on the practice squad. Well, he not only was elevated to play but was there in the second half at safety, along with Markquese Bell and Reddy Stewart.
Please don't mistake this as excuses. It's just more reasons why this defense isn't going to be counted on – at least by me – to provide a lot of big plays.
No sacks this week, and there really wasn't a lot of pressure either. Too many times we saw Nix just stand back there and wait for players to come open – and they usually always did.
Once again, the Cowboys have major issues stopping the run, which is sad to admit considering that was part of the Micah Parsons trade that was supposed to be improved. But opponents have had no problems running the ball on this team. Sunday was another 179 yards with a 6.4-yard average every time.
But this isn't a surprise. By now, we know the defense is going to be erratic with the pass-rush, won't be consistent in takeaways and will give up way too many big plays.
Alllllllll the more reason why this offense has to be elite. They were just OK on Sunday.
I don't know if this is a scientific metric, but to me, being OK on one side and bad on the other will equal a 20-point loss. That's not any official rule. It's just my own made-up rule as I sit on this bumpy bus and try to figure out what to make of this team.
All I know for sure is every single week the Cowboys have to be downright perfect on offense to win. And if they're not anywhere close to that … they're not anywhere close on the scoreboard either.
