Cowboys vs. Broncos live updates: NFL Week 8 score, highlights and analysis

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Broncos take the lead on RB RJ Harvey's 40-yard TD run

Denver worked a pin-pull blocking scheme out, and second-round rookie running back RJ Harvey exploded down the left sideline for a 40-yard touchdown. The Cowboys' injuries at linebacker and safety were apparent on that play. Denver leads 7-3 with 8:13 left in the first quarter.

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Broncos CB Pat Surtain II (lower leg) out of the blue medical tent, questionable to return

That's the latest on Surtain II via CBS Sports' Tracy Wolfson.

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Cowboys get on the board first, lead 3-0

Dallas' drive was derailed by a third-and-goal false start penalty on fill-in center Brock Hoffman. They reached the one, but then Dak Prescott threw incomplete to wide receiver CeeDee Lamb on third-and-goal from the six. Kicker Brandon Aubrey drained the 24-yard field goal. The Cowboys lead 3-0 with 10:34 left in the first quarter.

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Broncos CB Pat Surtain II (leg) down in the end zone

Surtain, the 2024 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, broke up an end zone target from Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott to wide receiver George Pickens, but he landed awkwardly on his leg. He's being evaluated in the end zone.

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Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb cooks Broncos CB Riley moss early for 29-yard gain

Denver Broncos CB Riley Moss just got absolutely cooked by #DallasCowboys WR CeeDee Lamb for a 29-yard gain. Moss entered Sunday with the lowest completion percentage allowed in the NFL, but Lamb made it look easy early on.

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Cowboys capitalize on off target throw from Bo Nix for opening drive interception

Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix's throw to wide receiver Pat Bryant was incredibly off target. He threw low and way behind Bryant, which allowed Cowboys rookie cornerback Trikweze Bridges to make a diving interception. The Cowboys take over on their own 48 for their first drive of the game in a scoreless game with 13:35 left in the first quarter. Truly a terrible throw by Nix.

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Bo Nix, Denver offense set to start with the football

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Denver Broncos pass rush is multi-faceted with an NFL-high 15 players with at least 0.5 sacks

The Denver Broncos have an NFL-high 15 different players with at least 0.5 sacks this year. The 2025 Broncos have the best 3rd down defense this season in part because of their ability to get pressure on those downs without blitzing: Denver ranks 21st in blitz rate on 3rd down (4th-highest blitz rate on 1st/2nd down). The Broncos allowed -10 pass yards vs. the Jets in Week 6, the fewest pass yards by any team in a game since the 1998 Chargers with quarterback Ryan Leaf. Denver also had its most sacks in a game (nine) since 1996.

Broncos 3rd Down Defense This Season

League Rank

Conv Rate 29.2% 1st

Sack Rate 17.5% 2nd

Blitz Rate 27.7% 21st

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The Denver Broncos are the best team in the trenches in the NFL. The Broncos lead the NFL in pressure rate (44.9%) AND pressure rate allowed (26.2%) this season. They have 34 sacks and 8 sacks allowed, the biggest gap (+26) by any team through seven games since the 1969 Rams.

Broncos Pressure Rates This Season

NFL Rank

Offense 26.2% 1st

Defense 44.9% 1st

Highest Sack Differential Through 7 Games

2025 Broncos 26

1969 Rams 26

1989 Dolphins 25

1988 Rams 25

>> Since sack tracking began in 1963

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Denver Broncos continue to be NFL's best pass rush

The Denver Broncos lead the league in sacks this season with after leading the NFL last season with 63.

That's an 82-sack pace this year which would shatter the single-season record of 72 set by the 1984 Bears

It's the most sacks through seven games (34) since the 2013 Chiefs (35)

Can be the second team since 1970 to lead NFL in sacks in 2 straight seasons (2017-21 Steelers)

They have 97 sacks in the last twoseasons (29 more than anyone else)

Plus, 100 sacks in the last 25 games, the most by any team in a 25-game span since the 2000-01 Saints

Most Sacks Through 7 Games - Since 2000

2013 Chiefs 35

2000 Buccaneers 35

2025 Broncos 34

Most Sacks in Last 2 Seasons

Broncos 97

Seahawks 68

Cowboys 67

Broncos Last 2 Seasons

SacksNFL Rank

2025 34 1st <<

2024 63 1st <<

>> 2017-21 Steelers: only team since 1970 to lead NFL in sacks in 2 straight seasons

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How will Cowboys adjust their defensive coverage this season?

Change is on the horizon though as Dallas had a better defensive performance in their 44-22 win over the Commanders as new defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus' unit played a lot more man coverage and blitzed considerably more:

Dallas used man coverage at the highest rate in the NFL in Week 7 (47%) after using it at the lowest rate through Week 6 (8%)

Dallas blitzed at its highest rate of the season in Week 7 (43%), good for the 8th-highest rate in the NFL last week, up from 26th through Week 6.

Cowboys Coverage Rates This Season

Weeks 1-6Week 7

Man pct 8% 47%

NFL rank Last 1st

Cowboys Blitz Rates This Season

Weeks 1-6Week 7

Blitz pct 22% 43%

NFL rank 26th 8th

It'll be interesting to see how they defend Bo Nix, who is 10th in yards per dropback vs man coverage this year (7.0) and 24th vs zone (5.8).

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Dallas' defense teetering on the edge of disaster

The Cowboys' defense is allowing 29.4 points per game this season, which would tie the most points per game allowed by a playoff team in NFL history -- if they end up making the playoffs at all this season.

Most PPG Allowed by Playoff Team - NFL History

2000 Rams 29.4

2020 Titans 27.4

2013 Packers 26.8

>> 2025 Cowboys: 29.4 PPG allowed

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Dallas' defense is struggling ahead of a matchup with Bo Nix and the Broncos offense

- The Cowboys defense is bad across the board this season:

30th in scoring defense (29.4)

30th in rushing defense (141.3)

Last in total defense (401.6)

Last in pass defense (260.3)

Last in 3rd down defense (52%)

Cowboys Defense This Season

NFL Rank

PPG 29.4 30th

YPG 401.6 Last

Pass YPG 260.3 Last

3rd downs 52% Last

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Is Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey about to break the NFL's longest field goal record in Denver?

Last week, Brandon Aubrey made his fifth career field goal of 60 yards or deeper with a 61-yarder in Dallas' win against the Washington Commanders in Week 7. Could the Cowboys give him a chance to break the NFL's longest field goal record with a kick of 67 yards or greater?

Is Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey about to break the NFL's longest field goal record in Denver?

Garrett Podell

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How Dak Prescott's MVP-level chemistry with Brian Schottenheimer and CeeDee Lamb has fueled the Cowboys' rise

Why has the Cowboys' offense gotten off to a roaring start under first-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer? It's in part because of Schottenheimer's willingness to listen to Prescott, wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and his players.

How Dak Prescott's MVP-level chemistry with Brian Schottenheimer and CeeDee Lamb has fueled the Cowboys' rise

Garrett Podell

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Cowboys QB Dak Prescott on a historic tear

Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott has four consecutive games with at least three pass touchdowns and no interceptions, which is tied for the second-longest such streak in NFL history. He is the sixth quarterback in NFL history with at least three passing touchdowns and no interceptions in four consecutives games. The other quarterbacks in this elite club are Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson.

Most Consecutive Games With 3+ Pass TD & 0 INT - NFL History

2015 Russell Wilson 5

2025 Dak Prescott 4 <<

2019 Drew Brees 4

2014 Aaron Rodgers 4

2013-14 Peyton Manning 4

2007 Tom Brady 4

>> Active streak

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Cowboys offense on fire

The Dallas Cowboys are averaging 37.0 PPG with 0 turnovers in the last four games. That makes the 2025 Cowboys offense just the fifth team since the 1970 AFL/NFL merger with 35 or more PPG and 0 TO in a four-game span. If they maintain that pace with another 30-plus points on Sunday, they can become the second team since 1970 with 27+ points and 0 TO in five straight games along with the 2010 Patriots, who did so in sevens straight game. New England quarterback Tom Brady won NFL MVP that season.

35+ PPG & 0 Turnovers in 4-Game Span

Single-Season Spans Since 1970

2025 Cowboys <<

2020 Packers

2014 Packers

2014 Patriots

2010 Patriots

>> 2-1-1 during stretch (other 4 teams: 16-0)

Cowboys Last 4 Games

PTSTO

Week 4 vs GB 40 0

Week 5 at NYJ 37 0

Week 6 at CAR 27 0

Week 7 vs WAS 44 0

>> 5th team since 1970 with 35+ PPG and 0 TO in 4-game span

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Broncos look to match longest winning streak of any team vs. Cowboys with win on Sunday

The Dallas Cowboys have lost seven straight meetings against the Denver Broncos with their last win coming in 1995. That's the second-longest head-to-head losing streak in franchise history, and with loss can match their longest against any team: eight in a row from 1987-1991 vs. the Philadelphia Eagles. Dallas last win against Denver in 1995 ocurred in the season of the Cowboys' last Super Bowl win. The head coach-QB combos were Mike Shanahan and John Elway Denver and Barry Sitzer and Troy Aikman for Dallas.

Longest Losing Streak vs Opponent, Cowboys History

OPPONENTSTREAK

1987-91 Eagles 8

1998-pres Broncos 7

1963-66 Browns 7

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Denver Broncos inactives

Denver has both players who were on their injury report this week, edge rusher Jonah Elliss (shoulder) and offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey (foot/ankle), are both active this week.

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Cowboys inactives: Dallas will be without top three safeties

Dallas will be without safety Juanyeh Thomas (migraine), safety Donovan Wilson (elbow/shoulder) and safety Malik Hooker (toe) on Sunday. Cornerback Trevon Diggs (concussion/knee) was placed on injured reserve on Saturday. Dallas' defense will be relying on CB DaRon Bland, CB Reddy Steward, CB Trikweze Bridges, CB Kaiir Elam, S Markquese Bell and S Alijah Clark.

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