Last week, the Denver Broncos engineered one of the most impressive comebacks in NFL history, scoring 33 points in the fourth quarter to defeat the New York Giants.
Now, under head coach Sean Payton, the Broncos (5–2) aim to solidify their lead in the AFC West on Sunday when they host the Dallas Cowboys (3–2–1), who are also coming off a strong win against the Washington Commanders.
Here are five things to know about the Cowboys’ upcoming opponent, the Denver Broncos:
A comeback worth remembering
Cowboys
What happened last Sunday at Empower Field at Mile High is worth revisiting, as it was one of the most epic comebacks in NFL history. Trailing 26–8 with just 10 minutes left, Denver scored all 33 of its points in the final quarter, including multiple touchdowns, two successful two-point conversions, and a clutch field goal. Quarterback Bo Nix led the charge with two touchdown passes, throwing for 279 yards on 27 completions out of 50 attempts. He also rushed for two touchdowns. His connection with wide receiver Courtland Sutton and tight end Troy Franklin proved lethal.
Did you know: Before Sunday, teams had lost 1,602 consecutive games when trailing by 18-plus points with six minutes left.
Denver’s 33 fourth-quarter points were the most in franchise history and tied for the second-most in a quarter in NFL history. It was the largest fourth-quarter comeback ever by a team that hadn’t scored in the first three quarters. Their win probability dropped to 0.7% in the fourth quarter, making it the most improbable win of the season and the eighth-most improbable since 2016, according to Next Gen Stats.
Related
Who is Bo Nix?
Bo Nix began his college career at Auburn, where he was named SEC Freshman of the Year in 2019. After three seasons, he transferred to Oregon and flourished, earning Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year honors in 2023. The Broncos selected Nix in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft, and he wasted no time making an impact, becoming the starter in his rookie season and leading the team to its first playoff berth since 2015. At training camp earlier this year, Broncos general manager George Paton expressed full confidence in Nix’s potential.
“We’re all searching for that quarterback who has franchise skills, and I think we have that,” Paton said. “We’re fortunate, we think we have our guy in Bo.”
Through seven games this season, Nix has thrown for 1,556 yards (8th in the NFL), 11 touchdowns, and four interceptions, completing 62.5% of his passes. He’s been sacked just eight times, the second-fewest among starting quarterbacks, trailing only Daniel Jones of the Colts, who’s been sacked six times.
Odds and series record
The Broncos are -3.5-point favorites, with the over/under set at 50.5. Denver is 9–4 all-time against the Cowboys. The series included Super Bowl XII, which Dallas won 27–10.
According to 10,000 simulations by Dimers’ NFL model, the Broncos have a 68% chance of winning, with a projected score of 25–20.
Fantasy spotlight: Wide receiver Courtland Sutton is entering his eighth season after a career year, ranking top 17 or better in snaps, routes, targets, catches, touchdowns, and fantasy points. He’s top three in air yards and end zone targets, finishing top 10 in end zone targets for three straight seasons.
Defense is the name of the game
Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph is thriving in his second stint with the Denver Broncos. After serving as the team’s head coach from 2016 to 2018, Joseph returned in 2023 under Sean Payton and has transformed the defense into one of the NFL’s most formidable units.
Denver leads the league with 34 sacks, averaging a blistering 4.5 per game, more than any other team. Over their last three outings alone, the Broncos have racked up 22 sacks, overwhelming opposing quarterbacks with relentless pressure. They rank fourth in total defense, allowing just 271 yards per game, and an even stingier 226 yards per game at home.
Linebacker Nik Bonitto has emerged as the team’s top pass-rusher, tallying eight sacks and anchoring a front seven that’s both aggressive and disciplined. Joseph’s defense ranks in the top six across nearly every major statistical category, including first in sacks, net yards per play, third-down, and red-zone efficiency. The only area where they’ve lagged slightly is takeaways, but with this level of disruption, turnovers may be just a matter of time. Joseph led the Broncos to a league-high 63 sacks in 2024 and could very well be in line for a second chance to become an NFL head coach.
Payton’s resurgence
After transforming the New Orleans Saints into a respected franchise over 15 seasons, Sean Payton took a year off to work in TV and reflect on his coaching future. There was speculation he might join the Cowboys, where he was an assistant coach before becoming the Saints’ head coach in 2006. Payton won a Super Bowl with New Orleans and enters his third season with Denver as the 20th head coach in franchise history. He has 10 seasons with 10-plus wins and seven division titles. From 2003–05, he was assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach for the Cowboys under Bill Parcells, coaching three different quarterbacks: Quincy Carter, Vinny Testaverde and Drew Bledsoe. Among active NFL head coaches, Payton ranks fourth in career wins with 184 and 116 losses.
Find more Cowboys coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.