Five immediate takeaways from Cowboys-Broncos: Defense reverts to old ways in blowout loss

DENVER — Sunday presented the Dallas Cowboys a chance to elevate. A chance to have a winning record for the first time in over a year. A mile high above sea level felt like a fitting place to do it.

Instead, the Cowboys plummeted, falling to the Denver Broncos 44-24.

It was the most points the Cowboys have allowed since allowing 44 at home to the New Orleans Saints last season. It was the fifth time in eight games this season that the Cowboys have allowed 30 points or more. The defense has had a lot of low points this season. This game was no exception.

The Cowboys now move to 3-4-1 before hosting the Arizona Cardinals on Monday Night Football.

Here are five takeaways from Sunday’s loss:

Opportunity missed

The Cowboys spent all week talking about the problems posed by Broncos corner Pat Surtain II, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year. He showed immediately why. Surtain had a pass breakup on Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens in the end zone on the opening drive. He was hurt on the play and would eventually return for the rest of the first half — even though he missed the entire second half — but there was a one-play window early where the Cowboys didn’t have to face Surtain.

That’s where a potential opportunity was missed. The Broncos replaced Surtain with corner Kris Abrams-Draine, who lined up one-on-one against Pickens. Dak Prescott elected to focus elsewhere, however. He targeted CeeDee Lamb on a slant against Broncos corner Riley Moss, who broke up the play.

On the other side, however, Pickens ran a fade and easily got past Abrams-Draine.

Against a pass rush as good as the one Denver possesses, quick pass plays are often isolated to one side of the field. Prescott never looked Pickens’ way on that one. Maybe he should’ve.

Flag on the play

It hasn’t been a topic of conversation, but the Cowboys haven’t been great in the penalty department again this season. They averaged just 8.2 penalties per game heading into Sunday.

The Cowboys nearly hit that mark in the first half. The Cowboys had multiple pre-snap penalties, too. That included a false start on third-and-goal from the 1-yard line on the opening drive that forced the need to pass rather than run.

Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer told CBS at halftime that the Cowboys shot themselves in the foot. The penalties were the source of it.

To the Cowboys’ credit: They corrected that in the second half, with only one penalty. By halftime, though, the damage was done. The Broncos’ lead felt insurmountable. It proved to be.

Men down

The Cowboys had a unique roster construction on defense. Safety Juanyeh Thomas was ruled out for the second straight week with migraines. So was fellow safety Donovan Wilson. With Malik Hooker on injured reserve, that meant the Cowboys were down to two healthy safeties: Markquese Bell and rookie Alijah Clark.

The two backup safeties on Sunday were two corners: Reddy Steward and Corey Ballentine, who was called up from the practice squad. Steward eventually replaced Clark, who suffered a ribs injury.

Before the game, the Cowboys were dealt another injury. Linebacker Jack Sanborn was ruled out hours before the game with a groin injury. That meant the Cowboys only had four healthy linebackers, too.

Recent history would tell us that the Cowboys’ defense has more problems than the ones posed Sunday (and we’ll get to that in a second), but the losses certainly didn’t help.

Defense reverts

It looked like the Cowboys’ defense turned a page last Sunday against the Washington Commanders. They played more man coverage than ever. They blitzed more than their season average. They played better than they had all year.

It proved to be an anomaly.

The Cowboys reverted to their old ways on defense. The Broncos averaged 13.3 yards per play in the first quarter. All day, it felt easy for a Denver offense that entered Sunday averaging 23.3 points per game — good for 17th in the NFL.

It was evident early that the Cowboys’ defense was going to struggle. Perhaps it was best exemplified by a 40-yard touchdown run by rookie R.J. Harvey on the second drive of the game for Denver. Harvey wasn’t touched on that play. Broncos right guard Quinn Meinerz pancaked both linebacker Kenneth Murray and Clark on the play to help clear an easy path.

It was easy on that play. Frankly, it was easy for the Broncos’ offense most of the day.

Something has to give

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told 105.3 KRLD-FM “The Fan” before the game that the result wouldn’t be a factor in whether the Cowboys would or wouldn’t make a deal before the trade deadline on Nov. 4. He said they’re interested in improving the roster and have the ammunition to do so.

The one thing Sunday’s game could do, Jones said, is help them identify where they need to make a trade.

Sunday did do that. The problem: There may be too many areas to improve.

Will one trade fix this team? The more time that goes on, the harder it is to believe that.

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