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Denver Broncos: 4 stars in the team’s blowout win over Cowboys

Sayre Bedinger
Sayre Bedinger

Predominantly Orange

Nov 7, 2021; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) is hit by Denver Broncos linebacker Jonathon Cooper (53) during the second quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Denver Broncos, Dallas Cowboys
Nov 7, 2021; Arlington, Texas, USA; Denver Broncos linebacker Baron Browning (56) and linebacker Jonathon Cooper (53) celebrate a sack against the Dallas Cowboys during the second quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

The Denver Broncos got a blowout win over the Dallas Cowboys on the road. We take a look at the top five performers in the impressive victory.

The Denver Broncos were wearing their home orange jerseys, and for a lot of their blowout victory over the Dallas Cowboys, it felt like a home game.

And it wasn’t.

Although the four victories the Denver Broncos had coming into Sunday’s matchup against the Dallas Cowboys were not overly impressive in terms of the opponent they played, what we saw in “Jerry’s World” was nothing short of a statement.

Denver Broncos: 4 stars in the team’s blowout win over Cowboys

In fact, the win in Dallas was easily the best win of the Vic Fangio era, which has included multiple shutout victories and a couple of other impressive and convincing wins. Considering the timing of the win, it really just hit different.

The Broncos led this game 30-0 deep into the fourth quarter before the Cowboys started putting up garbage points with the game completely out of reach.

This was as complete a victory as you will see offensively and defensively, although the special teams unit was once again a complete joke.

For most in Broncos Country, that can be overlooked in a game like this, though it certainly won’t be by George Paton and Vic Fangio.

After trading Von Miller to the Los Angeles Rams, many fans in Broncos Country were up in their feelings and having a difficult time coping with the loss of a living team legend.

The Denver Broncos themselves? They were absolutely on point.

Which players stood out in this win?

Denver Broncos, Tim Patrick
Denver Broncos wide receiver Tim Patrick. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Denver Broncos: 4 stars in the team’s blowout win over Cowboys

1. Tim Patrick, WR

Tim Patrick continues to solidify the fact that he’s one of the most underrated receivers in the entire NFL, even a lot of times by some in Broncos Country.

Present company not excluded.

Patrick caught four of his five targets for 85 yards and a touchdown and would have easily gone over 100 yards receiving had it not been for a ridiculous play by Trevon Diggs to punch a ball loose as Patrick had burned him once again deep downfield.

Although Diggs has been incredible this season in terms of his ball skills and creating turnovers, Tim Patrick got the best of him early in this game:

You love to see it.

Tim Patrick’s game has evolved over the last three years in a very impressive fashion. He’s not just a big-bodied X receiver, he can get the job done to every level of the field, after the catch, in contested catch situations, and everything in between.

Hopefully, the Denver Broncos are able to find a way to keep Patrick on the roster beyond this season. He’s earned a new deal with this team.

Denver Broncos, Jonathon Cooper
Nov 7, 2021; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) is sacked by Denver Broncos linebacker Jonathon Cooper (53) during the second half at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Denver Broncos: 4 stars in the team’s blowout win over Cowboys

2. Jonathon Cooper, EDGE

No Von Miller?

Jonathon Cooper paid a great tribute to the Denver Broncos’ all-time great off the edge with a pair of sacks and nearly a third early on in the game.

Cooper was exactly what we’ve all come to expect from him in his fantastic rookie season — full of energy off the edge and giving that consistent effort all throughout the game.

This is the kind of stuff that talent evaluators saw from Cooper all of last season at Ohio State, but especially in that team’s postseason run. He had a lot of these exact kind of reps at the 2021 Reese’s Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama as well.

Looking back, it’s harder and harder to believe a player of Cooper’s talent level and character wasn’t selected before the seventh round of the NFL Draft, but the Denver Broncos are not going to be complaining.

With Von Miller in Los Angeles, the Broncos have a very intriguing stable of pass rushers off the edge, starting with Cooper and Malik Reed, who also didn’t play in this game.

Between Cooper, Reed, newcomer Stephen Weatherly, young guys like Andre Mintze and Aaron Patrick, and soon Bradley Chubb? This team has got plenty of talent coming off the edge to get looks at for the future.

Cooper had a true coming-out party against the Dallas Cowboys here.

Denver Broncos, Javonte Williams
Nov 7, 2021; Arlington, Texas, USA; Denver Broncos running back Javonte Williams (33) runs with the ball in the second quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Denver Broncos: 4 stars in the team’s blowout win over Cowboys

3. Javonte Williams, RB

Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys was really a showcase of George Paton’s first draft class as an NFL general manager.

Nearly the entire draft class showed out in this game against the Cowboys. Even Kary Vincent Jr. contributed a 2022 6th-round pick this past week.

All kidding aside, it was a huge week for the 2021 rookies, and while Jonathon Cooper notched his first (and second) NFL sacks on the season, Javonte Williams got his first 100-yard rushing game in the books.

And he’s back on the Angry Runs scepter watch list…

https://twitter.com/Broncos/status/1457433825672368134

The scepter will be a permanent fixture in Denver before too long.

Williams was running angry all game, as was Melvin Gordon, to be quite honest.

Those two combined for 191 yards and a touchdown in this game and this was almost certainly the best game the Broncos have had running the ball all season.

Denver Broncos, Kyle Fuller
DENVER, CO – SEPTEMBER 26: Cornerback Kyle Fuller #23 of the Denver Broncos defends on the field during the fourth quarter against the New York Jets at Empower Field at Mile High on September 26, 2021 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)

Denver Broncos: 4 stars in the team’s blowout win over Cowboys

4. Kyle Fuller, CB

Kyle Fuller, a former All-Pro cornerback, has not had the greatest year with the Denver Broncos, to say the last.

I don’t think anyone felt like Fuller would be on the team at this point even after the Broncos beat the Washington Football Team, but perhaps the loss of Bryce Callahan prompted the Broncos to just keep Fuller instead of paying him to play for another team and getting a below-average draft pick in return.

Whatever caused the Broncos to keep Fuller around, it worked out for the time being. Playing nickel, left corner, and right corner, Fuller had a very nice bounce-back game for the Denver Broncos against the Dallas Cowboys and received a game ball from head coach Vic Fangio for his efforts.

He didn’t have a huge day in terms of the stat sheet with two tackles and a pass breakup, but Fuller had a significant impact on the game in coverage as the Broncos dominated Dak Prescott and the Cowboys.

For the Denver Broncos’ sake, it’s better late than never with Fuller, who still has plenty of season left to really turn things around.

This game against the Cowboys was a great start.

Sayre Bedinger

Sayre Bedinger

Sayre Bedinger is a site expert for FanSided who has covered the Denver Broncos since 2013. Sayre's Broncos fandom developed after his grandparents relocated to Estes Park, CO during the John Elway glory days, and that passion for the team has resulted in many years and thousands of articles covering the team. Sayre is also the site co-expert of FanSided's NFL Spin Zone, providing coverage of the entire league. He is also a contributor for FanSided's Lombardi Ave (Packers), The Landry Hat (Cowboys), and a number of other local sites covering NFL teams. Sayre was inducted into the FanSided Hall of Fame in 2017. He is also the co-host of the Locked On Broncos Podcast and has been featured as a regular contributor on Bleacher Report. Sayre is a Disney World fanatic who hopes to take his family on trips there multiple times a year.