Cowboys vs Broncos Player Stats: Complete Week 8 Breakdown
Introduction
The Dallas Cowboys traveled to Empower Field at Mile High hoping to make a statement against the AFC West-leading Denver Broncos. Instead, they got run out of the building. Behind a four-touchdown performance from Bo Nix and a rookie breakout from R.J. Harvey, the Broncos rolled to a 44-24 victory. The Dallas Cowboys vs Denver Broncos match player stats tell a story of Denver’s offensive explosion and a Dallas team that could not keep up. This guide breaks down every key statistic from this Week 8 AFC-NFC clash.
Game Overview: Broncos Dominate from Start to Finish
The Broncos never trailed after their first offensive drive. Dallas struck first with a Brandon Aubrey field goal, but that early lead lasted just over two minutes. Denver responded with a five-play, 74-yard drive capped by a 40-yard R.J. Harvey touchdown run. The Dallas Cowboys vs Denver Broncos match player stats show the Broncos took control and never looked back.
Denver scored 27 points in the first half—their most first-half points at home since 2013. The Cowboys cut the lead to four points twice, but the Broncos answered each time. The Dallas Cowboys vs Denver Broncos match player stats reveal a game that was never as close as the final score suggests.
Final Score and Box Score Summary
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas Cowboys | 3 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 24 |
| Denver Broncos | 14 | 13 | 3 | 14 | 44 |
Denver improved to 6-2 with the win, extending their active home winning streak to nine games. Dallas fell to 3-4-1. The Dallas Cowboys vs Denver Broncos match player stats highlight a Broncos team firing on all cylinders.
Team Stats Comparison
| Statistic | Dallas Cowboys | Denver Broncos |
|---|---|---|
| Total Yards | 339 | 426 |
| Passing Yards | 231 | 247 |
| Rushing Yards | 108 | 179 |
| Total Plays | — | — |
| Yards per Play | — | 8.0+ (until late stages) |
| First Downs | 24 | 25 |
| 3rd Down Efficiency | 4-11 (36%) | 5-8 (63%) |
| Red Zone Efficiency | 2-4 (50%) | 4-5 (80%) |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of Possession | — | — |
The Broncos outgained the Cowboys by 87 total yards and dominated on third down. Denver averaged north of 8.0 yards per play until the late stages of the game. The Dallas Cowboys vs Denver Broncos match player stats show an offense that was nearly unstoppable.
Passing Stats: Nix Shines, Prescott Struggles
Dallas Cowboys Passing
| Player | C/ATT | YDS | AVG | TD | INT | SACKS | RTG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dak Prescott | 19/31 | 188 | 6.1 | 0 | 2 | 2-15 | 51.5 |
| Joe Milton III | 3/4 | 58 | 14.5 | 1 | 0 | 0-0 | 156.2 |
| Total | 22/35 | 246 | 7.0 | 1 | 2 | 2-15 | — |
Dak Prescott had his worst game of the season. He threw for just 188 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions. His 51.5 passer rating was his lowest of the year. Prescott had entered the game with four consecutive games with three touchdowns and no interceptions. The Broncos’ defense completely neutralized him.
Joe Milton III made an appearance in the fourth quarter and connected with Jalen Tolbert for a 35-yard touchdown. His 156.2 passer rating was impressive in garbage time.
Denver Broncos Passing
| Player | C/ATT | YDS | AVG | TD | INT | SACKS | RTG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bo Nix | 19/29 | 247 | 8.5 | 4 | 1 | 0-0 | 117.4 |
Bo Nix tied a career high with four passing touchdowns. He completed 65.5% of his passes for 247 yards with a 117.4 passer rating. The Broncos’ offensive line gave Nix a clean pocket all afternoon, allowing zero sacks. The Dallas Cowboys vs Denver Broncos match player stats show Nix picked apart a banged-up Cowboys secondary.
Rushing Stats: Harvey Breaks Out
Dallas Cowboys Rushing
| Player | CAR | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Javonte Williams | 13 | 41 | 3.2 | 2 | 9 |
| Dak Prescott | 6 | 31 | 5.2 | 0 | 9 |
| Jaydon Blue | 8 | 29 | 3.6 | 0 | 14 |
| Malik Davis | 2 | 3 | 1.5 | 0 | 2 |
| CeeDee Lamb | 1 | 2 | 2.0 | 0 | 2 |
| Hunter Luepke | 1 | 2 | 2.0 | 0 | 2 |
| Total | 31 | 108 | 3.5 | 2 | 14 |
Javonte Williams scored twice but managed only 41 yards on 13 carries. The Cowboys averaged just 3.5 yards per carry as a team. Rookie Jaydon Blue provided a spark with 29 yards on eight carries. The Dallas Cowboys vs Denver Broncos match player stats show Dallas could not establish the run against Denver’s stout front seven.
Denver Broncos Rushing
| Player | CAR | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J.K. Dobbins | 17 | 111 | 6.5 | 0 | 34 |
| R.J. Harvey | 9 | 46 | 5.1 | 2 | 40 |
| Bo Nix | 2 | 22 | 11.0 | 0 | 12 |
| Total | 28 | 179 | 6.4 | 2 | 40 |
J.K. Dobbins topped 100 rushing yards with 111 on 17 carries. Rookie R.J. Harvey stole the show with 46 yards and two rushing touchdowns, including a 40-yard score that was the Broncos’ longest rushing touchdown since 2021. Harvey became the first Broncos rookie since 2002 to score three total touchdowns in a game. The Dallas Cowboys vs Denver Broncos match player stats reveal a Broncos rushing attack that averaged 6.4 yards per carry.
Receiving Stats: Balanced Attack for Denver
Dallas Cowboys Receiving
| Player | REC | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG | TGTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Pickens | 7 | 78 | 11.1 | 0 | 17 | 9 |
| CeeDee Lamb | 7 | 74 | 10.6 | 0 | 29 | 10 |
| Jalen Tolbert | 2 | 47 | 23.5 | 1 | 35 | 2 |
| Luke Schoonmaker | 2 | 25 | 12.5 | 0 | 14 | 3 |
| Brevyn Spann-Ford | 1 | 9 | 9.0 | 0 | 9 | 1 |
| Javonte Williams | 1 | 8 | 8.0 | 0 | 8 | 2 |
| Ryan Flournoy | 1 | 7 | 7.0 | 0 | 7 | 2 |
| KaVontae Turpin | 1 | -2 | -2.0 | 0 | -2 | 5 |
| Jake Ferguson | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 22 | 246 | 11.2 | 1 | 35 | 35 |
George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb each had seven catches. Pickens led the team with 78 receiving yards, while Lamb added 74. Jalen Tolbert caught the only Dallas touchdown pass from Joe Milton. Tight end Jake Ferguson, who entered the game ranked fourth in the NFL with 51 receptions, was held without a catch. The Dallas Cowboys vs Denver Broncos match player stats show Prescott struggled to find his playmakers downfield.
Denver Broncos Receiving
| Player | REC | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG | TGTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Troy Franklin | 5 | 54 | 10.8 | 2 | 25 | 6 |
| Courtland Sutton | 4 | 61 | 15.3 | 0 | 29 | 7 |
| Pat Bryant | 3 | 43 | 14.3 | 1 | 24 | 4 |
| Marvin Mims | 3 | 18 | 6.0 | 0 | 9 | 3 |
| R.J. Harvey | 2 | 21 | 10.5 | 1 | 16 | 3 |
| J.K. Dobbins | 2 | 16 | 8.0 | 0 | 11 | 3 |
| Total | 19 | 247 | 13.0 | 4 | 35 | 29 |
Troy Franklin recorded a pair of touchdowns for the first time in his career. Courtland Sutton led the team with 61 receiving yards. Rookie Pat Bryant notched his first career touchdown with a toe-tapping grab in the end zone. R.J. Harvey added a receiving touchdown to go with his two rushing scores. The Dallas Cowboys vs Denver Broncos match player stats show Nix distributed the ball to nine different receivers.
Defense Stats: Broncos Stifle Prescott
Dallas Cowboys Defense
| Player | TOT | SOLO | SACKS | TFL | INT | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DaRon Bland | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Kenneth Murray Jr. | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Anthony Clark | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Trikweze Bridges | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Markquese Bell | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ronnie Steward | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sheldrick James | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kaiir Elam | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osa Odighizuwa | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jadeveon Clowney | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Rookie cornerback Trikweze Bridges intercepted Bo Nix on the Broncos’ first possession. DaRon Bland and Kenneth Murray Jr. each led the team with seven tackles. However, the Cowboys’ defense allowed 11 plays where the Broncos gained 10 or more yards. The Dallas Cowboys vs Denver Broncos match player stats show a defense that could not generate pressure (zero sacks) and could not stop the big play.
Denver Broncos Defense
The Broncos’ defense stifled Dak Prescott for most of the game. Denver’s red-zone defense came up huge early, holding the Cowboys to a field goal after Dallas had a first-and-goal from the 1-yard line. The Dallas Cowboys vs Denver Broncos match player stats show a Broncos defense that made life miserable for Prescott all afternoon.
Special Teams: Aubrey Accurate, Lutz Steady
Dallas Cowboys Kicking
| Player | FG | XP | PTS | LONG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brandon Aubrey | 1/1 | 3/3 | 6 | 24 |
Brandon Aubrey connected on a 24-yard field goal and all three extra point attempts. The early missed opportunity for a touchdown—settling for a field goal instead—set the tone for the entire game.
Denver Broncos Kicking
| Player | FG | XP | PTS | LONG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wil Lutz | 1/1 | 5/6 | 8 | 42 |
Wil Lutz made a 42-yard field goal and five of six extra point attempts.
Key Plays That Defined the Game
The Dallas Cowboys vs Denver Broncos match player stats only tell part of the story. Here are the moments that mattered most:
Trikweze Bridges’ Interception – The rookie cornerback picked off Bo Nix on Denver’s opening drive, giving Dallas the ball at the Broncos’ 48-yard line.
The Missed Opportunity – Dallas drove to the Denver 1-yard line but failed to score a touchdown, settling for a Brandon Aubrey field goal. That decision haunted them the rest of the game.
R.J. Harvey’s 40-Yard Touchdown – The rookie broke free for a 40-yard score, giving Denver a 7-3 lead they never relinquished.
Troy Franklin’s 25-Yard Score – Nix connected with his college teammate for a 25-yard touchdown, extending Denver’s lead to 14-3.
Pat Bryant’s First Career Touchdown – The rookie made a toe-tapping 24-yard grab in the end zone, extending Denver’s lead to 27-10.
Joe Milton to Jalen Tolbert – Milton’s 35-yard touchdown pass to Tolbert in the fourth quarter was the Cowboys’ only highlight of the second half.
Rookie Report: Harvey and Bridges Shine
The Dallas Cowboys vs Denver Broncos match player stats featured standout performances from rookies on both sides.
R.J. Harvey (Broncos) – Three total touchdowns (two rushing, one receiving). First Broncos rookie with three scores in a game since 2002.
Trikweze Bridges (Cowboys) – First career interception on Denver’s opening drive. Four tackles and two pass deflections.
Pat Bryant (Broncos) – First career touchdown reception.
Jaydon Blue (Cowboys) – 29 rushing yards on eight carries.
What These Stats Tell Us
The Dallas Cowboys vs Denver Broncos match player stats reveal several key takeaways:
Quarterback Play Matters. Nix outplayed Prescott by a wide margin. Prescott’s 51.5 passer rating was his lowest of the season. Nix’s 117.4 rating was his best of the year.
Denver’s Rushing Attack Is Dangerous. The Broncos rushed for 179 yards at 6.4 yards per carry. Dobbins and Harvey form a formidable one-two punch.
Dallas Cannot Afford Slow Starts. The Cowboys settled for a field goal after a first-and-goal from the 1-yard line. That missed opportunity set the tone for the entire game.
Denver’s Defense Is Elite. The Broncos held the Cowboys to 24 points and forced two interceptions. Denver’s red-zone defense came up huge when it mattered most.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What was the final score of the Cowboys vs Broncos game?
The Denver Broncos defeated the Dallas Cowboys 44-24 on October 26, 2025, at Empower Field at Mile High. The Broncos scored 27 points in the first half and never trailed after their first offensive drive.
2. How many passing yards did Dak Prescott have against the Broncos?
Dak Prescott threw for 188 passing yards on 19-of-31 completions. He threw two interceptions and no touchdowns, finishing with a 51.5 passer rating—his lowest of the season.
3. How many touchdowns did Bo Nix throw against the Cowboys?
Bo Nix threw four touchdown passes against the Cowboys. He completed 19 of 29 passes for 247 yards with a 117.4 passer rating.
4. Who led the Cowboys in receiving against the Broncos?
George Pickens led the Cowboys with seven receptions for 78 yards. CeeDee Lamb also had seven catches for 74 yards. Jalen Tolbert caught the only Dallas touchdown pass.
5. How many touchdowns did R.J. Harvey score against the Cowboys?
R.J. Harvey scored three total touchdowns—two rushing and one receiving. He became the first Broncos rookie since 2002 to score three touchdowns in a game.
6. How many rushing yards did J.K. Dobbins have against the Cowboys?
J.K. Dobbins rushed for 111 yards on 17 carries. He averaged 6.5 yards per carry and was a key part of Denver’s 179-yard rushing attack.
Conclusion
The Dallas Cowboys vs Denver Broncos match player stats paint a clear picture of a game dominated by Denver in every phase. Bo Nix delivered a career-best performance, R.J. Harvey announced himself as a rising star, and the Broncos’ defense made life miserable for Dak Prescott. Denver’s 426 total yards, 179 rushing yards, and 27 first-half points were too much for Dallas to overcome.
For the Cowboys, this loss exposed familiar problems. Prescott struggled against a quality defense. The running game could not find consistency. The defense could not generate pressure or stop the big play. Dallas fell to 3-4-1 with this loss, facing an uphill battle in the NFC East.
For the Broncos, this victory extended their home winning streak to nine games. At 6-2, Denver sits atop the AFC West with momentum on their side. If Nix, Dobbins, and Harvey continue to produce like this, the Broncos are a legitimate contender.
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