Sunday, August 17, 2008

Recap: Denver vs. Dallas

By Sports Network
The Sports Network
Posted: Sunday, Aug. 17, 2008
Jay Cutler was 16-of-20 passing for 178 yards and a touchdown, as the Denver Broncos beat the Dallas Cowboys, 23-13, in the second preseason test for both squads.

Michael Pittman rushed 16 times for 41 yards and Andre Hall had seven touches for 24 yards and a score. Brandon Marshall caught six passes for 59 yards and a touchdown, while rookie Eddie Royal, out of Virginia Tech, had two catches for 67 yards for the Broncos (1-1).

Veteran cornerback Tyrone Poole, who was signed by the Broncos on Wednesday, had a tackle and an assist. The 36-year-old Poole, who was last active as a member of the Raiders in 2006, also played for Denver during the 2002 campaign. Matt Prater hit on 3-of-4 field goals and both extra point attempts.

Brad Johnson was 9-of-12 passing, totaling 114 yards and a score for the Cowboys (0-2). Richard Bartel was 7-of-14 passing for 107 yards, but hurled a costly interception late in the game. Tony Romo, who was a perfect 3-of-3 for 33 yards before yielding to backups last week, was 6-of-9 for 33 yards against the Broncos.

Felix Jones, who totaled 61 all-purpose yards last week, garnered 44 yards of total offense in his second live appearance with the team. Miles Austin caught two passes for 42 yards and found the end zone once. Adam "Pacman" Jones was tied with Bradie James with six tackles for the team lead. Former Dolphin Zach Thomas registered four tackles in defeat.

Hall trotted in a one-yard touchdown run to cap a nine-play, 65-yard opening drive which put Denver ahead 7-0.

The Broncos then drove 90 yards, highlighted by a Cutler-to-Royal 32-yard pass, to extend their lead to 14-0 with about 13 minutes left in the half.

Johnson hooked up with Austin on a five-yard touchdown pass to pull the Cowboys within seven heading into the half.

Both kickers hit a field goal in the third, a 42-yarder for Nick Folk and a 29-yard boot for Prater, to send the game into the final stanza with Denver leading 17-10.

Prater nailed a 19-yard kick, but Folk answered with a 29-yarder four minutes later to make it 20-13 with 7:57 left in the game.

With the Cowboys threatening in the Red Zone, Jack Williams intercepted a Bartel pass at the 10-yard line and returned it 32 yards. Prater then added a 43-yard field goal with 43 ticks left, and the Broncos held a 23-13 lead.

The Broncos running game was able to muster 101 yards in the contest despite the absence of promising rookie Ryan Torain, out of Arizona State, who could be out up to three months with a broken elbow suffered on August 6th.

The Broncos took a 7-6 lead in the all-time preseason series versus the Cowboys.