The Dallas Cowboys get a chance to move above .500 in Week 8 when they face off against the Denver Broncos. The 3-3-1 Cowboys want to keep the good times rolling, not only to keep their playoff hopes alive, but also to convince the front office they’re worth investing in before the November 4 trade deadline.
Dallas’ history of success against the mountain-dwelling Broncos doesn’t inspire much confidence. The Cowboys haven’t beaten this particular opponent since September of 1995. They haven’t beaten them in Denver since the winter of 1992. That’s over 30 years of failure the Cowboys have to overcome.
Based on historical results it’s natural to chalk this week up as a loss. Most fans and media did when they first saw Denver on the schedule. Luckily for us the Cowboys players and coaches don’t feel the same way. History doesn’t mean much to a collection of players who weren’t even alive for this losing streak.
To players and coaches, there is no losing streak. Both rosters have changed drastically since last time they met in 2021. It’s a new Cowboys team and a new Broncos opponent here in 2025.
With that said, the current Cowboys players and coaches would be wise to keep a certain historical game in mind. It’s a game many Cowboys fans will never forget because it pit two quarterbacks, at the absolute tops of their game, against each other. It was Tony Romo against Peyton Manning and was a shootout for the ages.
In 2013 both heavyweights were trading blows. The defenses were abysmal and Romo likely knew he had to score every drive if he wanted a shot at winning. In the final minute, feeling the pressure of carrying the team, Romo tried to squeeze a tight pass into a small window. The result was an interception and Denver turned that turnover into a game winning field goal with the contest ending 51-48.
Romo’s situation that year was tragically similar to the one Dak Prescott faces in 2025. With the 32nd ranked defense behind him, Prescott likely feels the pressure to score every time he gets the ball. It’s a temptation that could very well impact his decision making in Week 8.
12 years ago, Romo put up over 500 yards of passing and five touchdowns in what would be one of his best games of his career. But the spectacular interception by linebacker Danny Trevathan sealed Romo’s fate. Critics would go on to blame Romo for losing the game, but Cowboys fans would know it was the Dallas defense that forced the issue and the Dallas defense that Romo was trying to overcome.
Prescott has to play his game. He can’t press like Romo did that fateful day or else a similar fate may await him. The defense simply has to step up in some capacity. They don’t have to carry half the weight but they do have to carry at least some of the weight.
Playing Denver is brings back memories both useful and harmful in nature. The lack of team success over the last 30 years is pointless to dwell on but one particular game in October of 2013 could prove to be a useful lesson.
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This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Cowboys Week 8 Preview: Must learn from history with Broncos, not be consumed by it
Reporting by Reid D Hanson, Cowboys Wire / Cowboys Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
