Cowboys-Broncos Preview

 

VIDEO PLAYLIST

• Countdown Daily Recap: Cowboys-Broncos

SCOUTING REPORT

Cowboys-Broncos: 10 observations After breaking down film of both teams, Scouts Inc. offers 10 things to watch in this week's Cowboys-Broncos matchup. 1. Dallas must be physical in the trenches: The Broncos have run the ball well, averaging more than 157 yards per game, and the Cowboys' front seven needs to make Denver's offense one-dimensional. When the Cowboys get in the red zone, they need to be physical with a power zone ground attack to score touchdowns.

· Full Scouting Report

Matchup
	W-L	PF	PA	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF
DAL	7-3	231	175	4-1	3-2	2-1	6-2
DEN	6-4	170	183	3-2	3-2	2-1	5-3
· Complete Standings

Individual Leaders

Dallas Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Romo 60.0 2624 15 7

Denver Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Orton 62.0 2202 11 5 Simms 29.4 23 0 1

Dallas Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Barber 123 572 4.7 4 Jones 54 353 6.5 1

Denver Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Moreno 142 600 4.2 2 Buckha... 73 399 5.5 1

Dallas Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Austin 35 679 19.4 7 Witten 54 481 8.9 1

Denver Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Marsha... 52 628 12.1 6 Gaffne... 26 346 13.3 0

Full Player Stats: Dallas | Denver

TEAM AVERAGES & NFL RANKS
TEAM OFFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Total Yards	DAL	382.0
	DEN	323.0
Yards Passing	DAL	249.6
	DEN	210.6
Yards Rushing	DAL	132.3
	DEN	112.4
TEAM DEFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Yards Allowed	DAL	329.9
	DEN	297.8
Pass Yds Allowed	DAL	229.3
	DEN	182.5
Rush Yds Allowed	DAL	100.6
	DEN	115.3

HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS (SINCE 2001)
Denver leads 3-0
Nov 24, 2005	DAL 21, @DEN 24
Nov 22, 2001	DAL 24, @DEN 26

Josh McDaniels is looking smart after stockpiling running backs for the Denver Broncos. The Dallas Cowboys, meanwhile, probably wish they had a little more depth at that position.

The undefeated Broncos and their first-year coach, led by a relentless running game and a ball-control offense, host a Cowboys team that could be without Marion Barber and Felix Jones on Sunday.

McDaniels' tenure with Denver (3-0) got off to a rough start after he alienated Pro Bowl quarterback Jay Cutler and eventually traded him to Chicago for Kyle Orton. He then suspended Brandon Marshall in the preseason after the Pro Bowl receiver acted out because his trade demand wasn't granted.

With Orton, though, McDaniels has the perfect quarterback to run an offense that is loaded with talent at running back after signing Correll Buckhalter and LaMont Jordan as free agents and drafting Knowshon Moreno in the first round.

The Broncos are fourth in the NFL in rushing yards with 484, helping them become perhaps the most surprising of the seven remaining undefeated teams.

Orton threw a touchdown pass to Marshall, Buckhalter ran for 108 yards and Moreno added 90 and a touchdown in a 23-3 win over Oakland last Sunday.

"What we have, how we've practiced, what we've assembled here and the way we go about our business has never changed. And we feel good about that," McDaniels said. "We've always had confidence regardless of anybody else's opinion."

Orton has done an excellent job of managing games, throwing away passes when he's under pressure and checking into running plays when the defense's alignment dictates. He has not thrown an interception in three games, while Cutler made more big plays last season but was picked off 18 times.

Most importantly, Orton has a strong defense and running game to take the pressure off.

Dallas (2-1) has an NFL-best 581 yards rushing, but it enters this contest with uncertainty in the backfield.

Barber missed the Cowboys' 21-7 win over Carolina on Monday night due to a strained left thigh and Jones suffered a sprained ligament in his left knee in that contest.

Tashard Choice, who had 82 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries versus the Panthers, will start if both Barber and Jones sit out.

Barber was close to being ready to play Monday, but the medical staff decided to give him another week of rest.

Jones played well in his place, gaining 94 yards on eight attempts. That performance included a 40-yarder on his final carry when he likely was hurt already.

Jones is talented but injury-prone. He hurt a thigh in the season opener and was limited to six games in 2008 as a rookie due to hamstring and to problems.

"It's yet to be determined how long or if he will be out very long," Dallas coach Wade Phillips said. "It could get well quickly."

The Cowboys will be facing a Broncos defense that is allowing a league-low 5.3 points per game, coming together with eight new starters faster than McDaniels expected.

"I don't think you anticipate only giving up one touchdown in 180 minutes of football," he said. "But we thought we had a chance to be a pretty good defense, physical up front, good secondary, tackled fairly well here in the first three weeks of the season."

Denver held Oakland to 42 yards passing and has not given up 100 yards on the ground in any of its three games.

Dallas, meanwhile, had a strong effort defensively against Carolina after giving up a total of 54 points while failing to register a sack or force a turnover in its first two contests.

"You know, we do have five new starters on defense," Phillips said. "I really do think they're starting to be comfortable with where everybody is. We have the coverages, we have the fronts, we have all those things, but I think everyone is getting a better feel for what we're doing and where we are."

Dallas had three sacks against Carolina and Terence Newman returned an interception 27 yards for a TD for one of the Cowboys' three takeaways. Dallas' low sack totals had been particularly puzzling because it led the NFL in that category last season.

Dallas linebacker DeMarcus Ware doesn't have a sack after leading the NFL with 20 in 2008.

This will be Ware's first matchup against the Broncos since 2005, his rookie season. Denver won that contest 24-21 on the road on Nov. 24.

Cowboys can snap out of funk against Raiders

An inconsistent Cowboys offense can snap out of its funk against the Raiders.

Broncos RT Harris to miss fourth straight game

The Broncos will be without right tackle Ryan Harris again for their game against the Giants on Thanksgiving.

Outsiders: Week 12 previews

Football Outsiders analyzes Week 12 in the NFL. Ideas: Oakland isn't THAT bad; Reggie Bush is poised for a big game vs. New England; Pittsburgh needs to play better in the second half; David Garrard gets knocked around too much and a plan for Houston.

Good sign: Witten on Cowboys' practice field

Cowboys tight end Jason Witten was on the field for the start of practice Wednesday, a potentially good sign for his chances of playing against Oakland on Thursday.

Greg Ellis officially an ex-Cowboy

As expected, the Cowboys weren't able to find a team willing to trade for Greg Ellis, so they released him today.

Already interest in Greg Ellis

When news broke of the Cowboys' release of Greg Ellis earlier today, the phone of Ellis' agent, James D. Williams, started to ring from interested parties.

Money is no longer flowing for Dallas Cowboys

I don't mean GM broke. Or Michael Vick broke. Or even Tom Hicks broke. But it certainly appears as though Jerry is paying more attention to the bottom line when it comes to the Cowboys than he's ever done in the past.

Kitna knows his job with Dallas Cowboys is be ready if Romo isn't

By MAC ENGEL CARROLLTON - Jerry Jones was just kidding, but the sad part of what he said a few days before the 2009 NFL Draft was true.'Last year we had one quarterback who was hurt and another quarterback who was playing like he was hurt,' Jones said.The comment drew uncomfortable laughter, and Jones immediately recognized what he had just ...

Dallas Cowboys have plenty to prove in 2009

Jean-Jacques Taylor has been at the DMN for 16 years. He covered the Rangers and Cowboys before becoming a columnist.

League won't punish Marshall

Brandon Marshall Issues remain for Brandon Marshall, but he no longer has to worry about a possible NFL suspension.

Broncos' Marshall has quick trip

As the Broncos restart their passing camp today at their Dove Valley headquarters, receiver Brandon Marshall will be in Orlando, Fla., where he will continue to rehabilitate after hip surgery.

Broncos' Marshall denies ever abusing ex-girlfriend

Broncos receiver Brandon Marshall defended himself Sunday on ESPN's "Outside the Lines," which detailed seven reported incidents of domestic violence.

Scheffler on board with Broncos' plan

A year after hobbling around Dove Valley with a foot injury, tight end Tony Scheffler is part of the Broncos' passing minicamp this season.

No Bronco escaped new coach's scrutiny

The old regime brought them in for a reason. They fit in specific offensive or defensive schemes, or had attributes the organization craved.