Cowboys vs. Broncos live updates: Denver rolling as defense is shutting down Dallas

The Dallas Cowboys’ top-ranked total offense versus the Denver Broncos’ top-ranked pass rush appeared to be destined for a tight matchup, and the home team’s defense took charge early with the Broncos leading by 17, 27-10 at halftime.

Dallas, who entered with the worst total defense in football, made an early play defensively with rookie cornerback Trikweze Bridges picking off an errant throw by Denver quarterback Bo Nix on the opening drive. However, Nix and the Broncos’ offense locked in after that mistake with touchdowns on four of their next five drives of the half thanks to a 40-yard breakaway sprint down the right sideline for rookie running back RJ Harvey, a 25-yard touchdown toss from Nix to a wide open receiver in Troy Franklin, a one-yard touchdown plunge by Harvey and a 24-yard scoring strike from Nix to rookie wide receiver Pat Bryant.

All three of those drives were aided by the Cowboys’ depleted defense thanks to injuries at both the linebacker (Jack Sanborn), cornerback (Trevon Diggs) and safety (Donovan Wilson, Junayeh Thomas and Malik Hooker). Harvey’s 40-yard touchdown run involved players at both of those positions for Dallas failing to get off their blocks, and Franklin sprung wide open on a clear miscommunication in coverage. Harvey’s second touchdown was created in part because of Cowboys fill-in safety Alijah Clark’s defensive pass interference penalty that cost Dallas 32 yards. That led to Nix finishing the first 30 minutes of action with 169 yards passing, a touchdown and an interception on 13 of 17 passing. Harvey and fellow running back JK Dobbins combined for 94 yards on 10 carries, 9.4 yards per carry on top of Harvey’s two rushing scores.

Denver’s stifling defense kept Dallas’ high-flying offense mostly in check in the opening half with the Cowboys having more punts (three) than scoring drives (two). Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott also threw his first interception since Week 3 on an attempt to force a pass over the middle tight end Jake Ferguson at the end of the half. Denver rookie first-round rookie cornerback Jahdae Barron intercepted the pass. The Broncos entered Week 8 leading the NFL in quarterback pressure rate, and the pressure they applied to the Cowboys’ young offensive line limited quarterback Prescott’s first-half opportunities as he finished with 97 yards on 9 of 17 passing.

Can Dallas rally after beginning the second half with the football? Or will Denver leave the Cowboys in the dust in a runaway victory? Stay tuned to our live blog below to find out!

Updating Live (42)

Cowboys sub in backups on offense

Backup QB Joe Milton, RB Jaydon Blue and more check into the game with under seven minutes left and trailing 44-17.

Broncos put the Cowboys to bed

Quarterback Bo Nix’s fourth passing touchdown comes on a five-yard checkdown to running back RJ Harvey. Dallas’ defense has no answers as Denver continues to light up the scoreboard. The Cowboys trail 44-17 with 7:14 left in the game.

Cowboys QB Dak Prescott surprised to not draw offsides penalty, tosses back-break INT

QB Dak Prescott appeared to think he drew Denver’s defensive line offsides, but the call didn’t come. That led to the Dallas Cowboys QB throwing a back-breaking interception. Denver leads 37-17 with 10:15 left in the game.

Broncos galloping away with game after QB Bo Nix’s third pass TD

Denver wide receiver Troy Franklin broke wide open again for his second receiving touchdown, this time for a seven-yard score. The Broncos lead by 20, 37-17, with 12:43 left to play.

Cowboys may regret punting on fourth-and-6 from own 44

Dallas’ defense has struggled so much and is so injury-plagued it may have been worth just going for it in that spot down 13, 30-17.

Cowboys S Alijah Clark (ribs) questionable to return

Dallas is running out of defensive backs

Denver rules out CB Pat Surtain II (shoulder)

Surtain II didn’t come out of the locker room to return to action in the second half. He awkwardly tackled wide receiver George Pickens on the final snap of the afternoon.

Third down end zone drop by Broncos WR Courtland Sutton forces Denver to settle for a field goal

Broncos quarterback Bo Nix literally hit wide receiver Courtland Sutton in the chest on a third-and-13 end zone target. However, Sutton simply dropped the football, so Denver settled for a 42-yard field goal. That’s a huge break for a wounded Cowboys defense. Denver leads 30-17 with 6:02 left in the third quarter.

Cowboys open second half with RB Javonte Williams’ second rush TD

Dallas marched 65 yards in 13 plays to open the second half in the end zone on a one-yard rushing touchdown by running back Javonte Williams. Two defensive pass interference calls on Broncos cornerback Riley Moss while in coverage of All-Pro wide receiver CeeDee Lamb aided Dallas. Williams’ eight rushing touchdowns this season are tied for the most in a player’s first eight career games with the Dallas Cowboys with Herschel Walker in 1986. Denver leads 27-17, and the Broncos’ first drive of the second half is up next.

Huge fourth-down conversion made by Cowboys on 17-yard throw from Dak Prescott to George Pickens

Pickens toe-tapped his way in bounds to catch a football Prescott had to layer over the Broncos’ zone defense to convert on a crucial fourth-and-three for a 17-yard gain.

Broncos CB Pat Surtain II (shoulder) questionable to return

CBS Sports’ Tracy Wolfson reports Surtain II hasn’t come out of the locker room, and that his shoulder injury is not related to his early-game leg injury

QB Dak Prescott’s interception ends the first half

Prescott attempted to force a throw over the middle to tight end Jake Ferguson, and it was intercepted by first-round rookie cornerback Jahdae Barron. Denver leads 27-10, but Dallas gets the football to start the third quarter.

Bo Nix cooks Dallas secondary again for 24-yard TD to rookie wide receiver Pat Bryant

Nix and rookie third-round pick wide receiver Pat Bryant burned seventh-round corner rookie Trikweze Bridges deep down the left sideline for a 24-yard touchdown on a vertical route to give Denver their biggest lead of the day. The Broncos are head by 17, 27-10, with 39 seconds left in the half.

The Broncos race out to a 10-point lead on RB RJ Harvey’s second rush TD

Dallas safety Alijah Clark got burned with a pass interference penalty that pushed Denver 32 yards down the field, and four plays later the Broncos were in the end zone. Rookie running back RJ Harvey plunged into the end zone on third-and-goal from the one on a direct, shotgun snap for his second touchdown of the game. Denver’s two-point try was unsuccessful after an incomplete RPO pass from Nix, so the Broncos leads is now 10, 20-10 with 3:47 left in the first half.

Cowboys RB Javonte Williams gets into the end zone in Denver homecoming

Williams bulldozed his way into the end zone from a yard out thanks to a key block from fullback Hunter Luepke. Dallas is back in the game and trailing by just seven, 14-10, with 7:29 left to play in the half.

Cowboys defense gets much needed three-and-out

Dallas pinned Denver deep on their side field a their own 10 on a 42-yard punt by Bryan Anger. A key pass breakup by rookie cornerback Trikweze Bridges on a third-and-9 throw by quarterback Bo Nix gets Dallas off the field. They’ll take over on their own 41 down 11, 14-3, with 13:44 left in the first half.

Dallas punts after holding penalty derails drive

A holding penalty on right tackle Terence Steele leads to a Cowboys punt. They still trail 14-3.

Cowboys’ coverage bust leads to 25-yard pass TD from QB Bo Nix to WR Troy Franklin

All the injuries in Dallas’ secondary showed on Denver quarterback Bo Nix’s 25-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Troy Franklin. Following a holding penalty on Broncos offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey, Franklin found himself wide open in the middle of the end zone. Being down three safeties and cornerback Trevon Diggs led to a clear miscommunication on that play. The Broncos lead 14-3 with 3:04 left in the first quarter.

Broncos force a Cowboys’ three-and-out

After a four-yard rush by running back Javonte Williams on first down, Dallas’ drive short-circuited. Left tackle Tyer Guyton got called for a false start penalty, which led to wide receiver CeeDee Lamb’s six-yard gain on a screen to set up a third-and-five. Guyton then got cooked off the line of scrimmage by Denver edge rusher Nik Bonitto, which led to a sack for quarterback Dak Prescott for Jonathan Franklin-Myers. The Broncos take over at their own 38 after Dallas’ punt. They lead 7-3 with 5:43 left in the first quarter.

Broncos CB Pat Surtain II (lower leg) returns to play

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Bo Nix, Denver offense set to start with the football

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

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

Breaking News

Cowboys vs. Broncos live updates: Denver rolling as defense is shutting down Dallas

Cowboys sub in backups on offense

Broncos put the Cowboys to bed

Cowboys QB Dak Prescott surprised to not draw offsides penalty, tosses back-break INT

Broncos galloping away with game after QB Bo Nix’s third pass TD

Cowboys may regret punting on fourth-and-6 from own 44

Cowboys S Alijah Clark (ribs) questionable to return

Denver rules out CB Pat Surtain II (shoulder)

Third down end zone drop by Broncos WR Courtland Sutton forces Denver to settle for a field goal

Cowboys open second half with RB Javonte Williams’ second rush TD

Huge fourth-down conversion made by Cowboys on 17-yard throw from Dak Prescott to George Pickens

Broncos CB Pat Surtain II (shoulder) questionable to return

QB Dak Prescott’s interception ends the first half

Bo Nix cooks Dallas secondary again for 24-yard TD to rookie wide receiver Pat Bryant

The Broncos race out to a 10-point lead on RB RJ Harvey’s second rush TD

Cowboys RB Javonte Williams gets into the end zone in Denver homecoming

Cowboys defense gets much needed three-and-out

Dallas punts after holding penalty derails drive

Cowboys’ coverage bust leads to 25-yard pass TD from QB Bo Nix to WR Troy Franklin

Broncos force a Cowboys’ three-and-out

Broncos CB Pat Surtain II (lower leg) returns to play

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

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

Cowboys get on the board first, lead 3-0

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

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

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

Bo Nix, Denver offense set to start with the football

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

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Cowboys sub in backups on offense

Broncos put the Cowboys to bed

Cowboys QB Dak Prescott surprised to not draw offsides penalty, tosses back-break INT

Broncos galloping away with game after QB Bo Nix’s third pass TD

Cowboys may regret punting on fourth-and-6 from own 44

Cowboys S Alijah Clark (ribs) questionable to return

Denver rules out CB Pat Surtain II (shoulder)

Third down end zone drop by Broncos WR Courtland Sutton forces Denver to settle for a field goal

Cowboys open second half with RB Javonte Williams’ second rush TD

Huge fourth-down conversion made by Cowboys on 17-yard throw from Dak Prescott to George Pickens

Broncos CB Pat Surtain II (shoulder) questionable to return

QB Dak Prescott’s interception ends the first half

Bo Nix cooks Dallas secondary again for 24-yard TD to rookie wide receiver Pat Bryant

The Broncos race out to a 10-point lead on RB RJ Harvey’s second rush TD

Cowboys RB Javonte Williams gets into the end zone in Denver homecoming

Cowboys defense gets much needed three-and-out

Dallas punts after holding penalty derails drive

Cowboys’ coverage bust leads to 25-yard pass TD from QB Bo Nix to WR Troy Franklin

Broncos force a Cowboys’ three-and-out

Broncos CB Pat Surtain II (lower leg) returns to play

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

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

Cowboys get on the board first, lead 3-0

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

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

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

Bo Nix, Denver offense set to start with the football

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

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