The white-hot Dallas Cowboys offense will have a huge opportunity to exploit the Denver Broncos on Sunday, particularly since they will not have one of their most important defensive players.
Broncos linebacker Dre Greenlaw’s one-game suspension was upheld on appeal, meaning he will miss the Dallas game after he chased down official Brad Allen and verbally threatened him after their game against the New York Giants.
Sunday was Greenlaw’s first game in a Broncos uniform after he signed a huge three-year contract with them in March after spending his first six seasons with the San Francisco 49ers. Greenlaw had six tackles and one solo tackle for Denver in its 33-32 win Sunday.
He was forced to miss their first six games after sustaining a quad injury in training camp and was banned for abuse of an official after Wil Lutz’s last-second field goal.
With Dre Greenlaw Out, The Cowboys Could Exploit Denver On The Ground
The Cowboys have not had trouble running the ball against any team, since Javonte Williams ranks second in the NFL in rushing yards (592) — helping them accrue 122.1 yards on the ground per game.
The Broncos have been accustomed to playing without Greenlaw, but the inside linebacker has been one of the game’s premier run stuffers. He has regularly appeared with Pro-Football Focus grades of 80.0-plus, even though he has only played three games over the past two seasons after tearing his Achilles tendon in Super Bowl LVIII.
The Giants gashed Denver through the air with Jaxson Dart’s arm. But despite putting up 119 yards on the ground, New York averaged just 3.7 yards per carry, led by Cam Skattebo’s 60 rushing yards.
The Broncos are averaging 3.8 yards per carry and 93.3 yards-against per game on the ground. Williams has surpassed that mark by himself three times this year, and it’s easy to see him doing so again Sunday.
Dre Greenlaw’s Absence Should Open The Field For Intermediate Passing
With CeeDee Lamb’s return in Week 7, the Cowboys showed how their high-octane offense can work by putting up 409 yards of offense and 44 points.
Granted, the Broncos have arguably the top cornerback in the NFL in Patrick Surtain II, who could keep deep threat George Pickens in check. But the Giants exploited the Broncos in the intermediate-passing game with tight ends Daniel Bellinger and Theo Johnson each recording long touchdown catches.
The Cowboys, of course, love using tight end Jake Ferguson, since he ranks fifth among NFL tight ends in yards (334) and is tied for second in the NFL with six touchdown catches.
But Lamb could be the beneficiary of an open middle of the field, since he has long been the possession receiver — even though he, of course, has the speed to turn those deep crossing routes into huge plays and even touchdowns.
If, without Greenlaw, the Broncos are unable to slow Dallas’ running attack that could open the door even further for a huge intermediate passing game.
Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is one of the best at using play-action passing to find the likes of Ferguson and Lamb in stride so they can run after the catch.
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