DENVER — The last several times the Dallas Cowboys have squared off against the Denver Broncos, it's been the latter finding ways to get the better of the former, whether it be a nailbiter or a blowout victory. To that point, the Cowboys were looking to end a drought that stretched 30 years, back to the 1995 season — the last time Dallas notched a victory against Denver.
This time around, it was the battle of the unstoppable force, the Cowboys offense, and the immovable object, the Broncos defense, locking horns on a chilled Sunday afternoon. Dak Prescott and his stable of weapons needed to set the tone early in the return of running back Javonte Williams to face his former team.
Just as importantly, the Cowboys needed their defense to find a way to replicate the success they had against the Washington Commanders only one week prior, and versus a Sean Payton-led offense that dropped 33 points in the final quarter of their contest against the New York Giants to escape with an improbable comeback victory.
They'd continue that momentum in Week 8, effectively dismantling the Cowboys on all fronts, but the following players, at one point or another, tried to save the day.
[Note: This list is unranked.]
Javonte Williams, RB
It could've very well been his day, if given the opportunities early on to make it so, but Williams took full advantage of each touch granted to him. He put two rushing touchdowns on the board through the first 2.5 quarters of football, helping the Cowboys avoid being pulled away from by the Broncos' offense. The offensive line struggles made it difficult to find lanes, but Williams did what he could, when he could.
George Pickens, WR
He's a dawg. Losing 27-10 in the top half of the third quarter, Prescott dropped back on fourth down, needing someone to make a play, and there was Pickens to grab a deep out route while dragging both feet to guarantee the completion. It kept the drive alive and, also thanks to CeeDee Lamb making an insane left-handed grab and Javonte Williams adding his second rushing of the day to the scoreboard, shrunk the Broncos' lead to 27-17 with roughly nine minutes to play in the third quarter. Pickens grabbed nearly everything thrown his way and, at one point, averaged more than a first down per catch.
CeeDee Lamb, WR
There wasn't much Lamb could do, and the same is mostly true of Pickens, when Prescott was under siege, as he was for most of the contest. Still, the All-Pro contributed in ways only he could, and one of those involved a circus left-handed grab on the drive that ended with Williams' second touchdown — immediately following Pickens' toe drag grab. Lamb and Pickens were both on the verge of changing the game, if only protection would've held up in the trenches.
Trikweze Bridges, CB
On the very first defensive drive of the day, and the first from scrimmage, Bridges grabbed the first interception of his NFL career, and in only his second start. It set the Cowboys' offense wonderfully to capitalize early with a potential seven-point lead, and though he was ultimately rewarded with just a field goal, Bridges at least tried to set the tone early on.
Luke Schoonmaker, TE
On an afternoon wherein the Cowboys' usually dominant offense struggled to get much going in the first half, there was Schoonmaker making the longest play of his season thus far — a 14-yard catch-and-run from Dak Prescott, rumbling down to the one-yard line to set up Javonte Williams for his first rushing touchdown of the day, making it a 14-10 contest in the process as the Cowboys tried to climb back and make it a game.
Honorable Mention: Jaydon Blue, RB
Make no mistake, this was the best outing of Blue's young NFL career. Granted, he had an impressive run against the Commanders that was negated by penalty, but the rookie looked to be in more of a groove against the Broncos than in any game prior. His hurdle in the second quarter led to a 14-yard gain and it arrived on a drive that ended in both the Schoonmaker highlight and Williams touchdown mentioned above. A fumble in the third quarter nearly marred his afternoon, but it was recovered by Brock Hoffman, whom he now owes dinner.
