Win over the Cowboys should silence the naysayers; the Broncos are legit

The naysayers had a point. They weren’t just being anti-Broncos.

Last season, Denver snuck into the playoffs as the No. 7 seed in the AFC. They amassed a 10-7 record largely by beating bad teams.

This year, the Broncos had shown other reasons to be cautious. Their record was perhaps a bit inflated.

The Titans were starting a rookie quarterback in Week 1. The Bengals were playing a QB who has since been replaced by Joe Flacco. And the Jets went with a signal caller that they’d like to bench, but no one else is willing to take the job.

But that was just the start. There were other reasons to wonder about the Broncos.

They needed a fourth-quarter rally to beat the Eagles. And they needed a fourth-quarter miracle to best the Giants. It was electric and exciting, but it didn’t seem sustainable.

Fair. All of it. But it’s time to put that to rest.

On Sunday, the Broncos ran the Cowboys out of Empower Field, winning 44-24 in a game that wasn’t as close as the final score might indicate. In the process, they answered all questions, quieted all doubters and silenced all critics.

Dallas started a legit NFL quarterback. Dak Prescott isn’t Cam Ward, Jake Browning or Justin Fields.

The Cowboys could put up points. CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens on the outside weren’t going to put 11 points on the scoreboard, a la the Jets.

As a result, it’s hard to find fault with what Sean Payton has put together. At 6-2, the Broncos seem to be as legit as their glossy record would indicate.

Are they among the top teams in the conference? Only the Colts sit atop them in the standings. And Denver was a leverage penalty away from winning in Indianapolis earlier this season.

Around the Broncos in the standings are teams that are the definition of beatable. No one is buying the Patriots. The same is to be said for the Steelers and Jaguars.

The Bills are a team to worry about, as Denver found out last year in the postseason. The Chiefs, with all of their Super Bowl mettle, are as well.

But the Chargers aren’t huge a worry; they’ll inevitably Charger. Neither are the Bengals; they officially toast after losing to the hapless Jets. And the Texans don’t scare anyone; Denver will get a chance to prove that on Sunday.

In other words, the Broncos are among the best of the best in the AFC. There isn’t a team that’s head and shoulders above them in the race for the Super Bowl.

That’s what Sunday showed. That was on display against the Cowboys.

The Broncos offense was exceptional. Scoring 44 points is never easy. Doing so while spreading the ball around is even trickier. Nine different players amassed yards for Denver on Sunday,

Their defense was equally as good. Even without Pat Surtain, as the reigning Defensive Player of the Year was sidelined for the second half against the Cowboys with a shoulder injury, Denver was able to slow a Dallas offense that is amongst in the business.

Go ahead and throw in special teams. The Broncos were good in that phase, as well.

Add it all up and the answer is obvious. Denver is good. They’re as good as their 6-2 record would indicate.

That’s what Sunday’s win over the Cowboys showed. There’s no more reason for hand wringing.

The Broncos aren’t a lucky team that is only good for a quarter here and there. They aren’t a squad that boasts a glossy record only because their opponents are weak.

Denver is legit. Sean Payton and Bo Nix are a threat every single Sunday.

That’s a fact in September and October. And it’ll remain true in January.

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