Broncos defeat Cowboys as Teddy Bridgewater threw for a touchdown and had a sneak for another, and the Broncos stymied the NFL’s top offense when it mattered most.
Broncos defeat Cowboys: Dak Prescott returned after missing a game with a strained right calf, but the Cowboys (6-2) couldn’t get going until two meaningless late scores saved them from a shutout for the first time at home since 1985.
In their first game since trading star pass rusher Von Miller — and with new team sacks leader Malik Reed (hip injury) inactive — the Broncos (5-4) sacked Prescott twice.
Both by rookie Jonathon Cooper for the first time in his career, and generally made him uncomfortable.
Denver also started the game without left tackle Garett Bowles (ankle) and right tackle Bobby Massie (ankle) and right guard Graham Glasgow (ankle).
On the final play of the first half, Glasgow was taken off on a cart with an air cast on his lower left leg.
Despite this, the Broncos’ offense moved forward thanks to their running game.
On Bridgewater’s 41-yard touchdown pass to Tim Patrick, who beat NFL interceptions leader Trevon Diggs at the goal line.
They handed Dallas its first double-digit deficit of the season, 13-0.
The Broncos won their seventh straight game in the series, dating back to 1995, with a 30-0 lead. In the final five minutes, Prescott delivered two touchdown passes to Malik Turner.
Even when the Cowboys thought they were doing something correctly, they were wrong.
On the first play of the second half, Dallas blocked a punt but couldn’t take over inside the Denver 20 because rookie Nahshon Wright touched the loose ball beyond the line of scrimmage, and Denver recovered.
The Broncos earned a fresh start at their 19, and Brandon McManus kicked his third of four field goals, a 53-yarder, after missing his first extra point of the season.
The Cowboys were 0 for 4 on fourth downs, with their first two possessions ending in failures.
Dallas finished with a season-low 290 yards — roughly half with the game decided — as receiver Amari Cooper had his first drop of the season to force one of those failed fourth downs.
Prescott, who leads the NFL in completion rate with almost 73 percent, was 19 of 39 for 232 yards as his four-game streak of at least three touchdown throws came to an end.
Bridgewater completed 19 of 28 passes for 249 yards, including several big throws that helped the Broncos convert 8 of 15 third-down opportunities.
Javonte Williams rushed for 111 yards on 17 carries, including a 20-yard run to open Denver’s first scoring drive, which ended with Melvin Gordon’s 3-yard run.
Manchester United 0-2 Manchester City: Ole’s Men left singing the BluesThe Broncos rushed for 190 yards against the league’s sixth-best run defense, and Gordon had 80 yards.
AP News
