I've given up on the MSM for any real insight for this matchup and won't expect anything unbiased or relatively researched until Sunday's pregame panel of "journalists".  Since most hypothesis require some facts, just look below the jump as I try and argue why a victory is in order come Sunday.

*Listening to "Where's Your Head At" by Basement Jaxx

Cowboys	Average Team Rankings	Broncos
10.9	Total Offense	10.6
17.5	Total Defense	8.7
16.8	Passing Offense	15.9
23.2	Passing Defense	3.8
2.5	Rushing Offense	6.5
18.3	Rushing Defense	5.7
13.7	Receiving Offense	16.0
20.2	Receiving Defense	2.2
13.3	Punting	21.5
11.8	Return	17.8
15.5	Kicking	16.3

The above is separate yet combined average of stats through week 3.  A more detailed version are as follows below.  Though Dallas has avg 28 points a game to Denver's 20, I'd like to point out that a 34-21 game against a horrible TB team is just about equal to Denver's game vs Cleveland's 27-6 beat down w/the exception of defensive play (as Dallas has been consistent in scoring, Den has been consistent keeping teams from scoring).  The shootout w/NYG 33-31 loss is on par to Den's win over Cincy 12-6 (again both teams playing to their strengths - Dal's O and Den's D).  Both teams won their week 3 match ups but when we look at Dallas, this is a team that is deep w/talent and expectations to challenge the NFC's elite for the SB whereas Denver is entering their portion of the schedule that is to truly challenge what we're trying to put together. 

Denver's defense is what will separate the two teams.  Until last night, Dallas had not caused any turnovers or gotten sacks of the QB.  Though the Dallas offense has tremendous receiving talent from TE Witten and the ever dangerous Williams and company, the real advantage is the play of QB.  Romo has been reckless, and unlucky, throwing the ball resulting in interceptions and this Denver defense is composed of discipline and ballhawking skills all across the depth chart.  The exact opposite can be said for Orton as he has played mistake free football after almost losing the game at Cincy by taking an ill advised sack resulting in a punt rather than a FG.

When I look at the Dallas OL and compare to Den's front 7, I don't see a group that's focused or consistent and this is where the game will be won.  The only way to offset Denver's greatest asset is to control the ball w/runs inside and the occasional play action pass.  This bodes well for Denver as well because Dallas hasn't been able to commit to one aspect of their offense, until last night against a run defense depleted w/injuries in Carolina, and tend to pass more often when they're behind or a team is more physical defensively.

So what if the game comes down to if Dallas plays mistake free football?  Both teams are converting 3rd down plays at a rate of 41% which is very impressive (more so w/Denver considering the offense is still under construction) but defensively Dallas allows 33% conversion to Denver's 28%.  Considering the way Den's defense crowds the ball and the decision making of Romo, this would be where Denver could either pull away or lose if the game is close.  Dallas has no premiere pass rusher, regardless what the MSM like to suggest otherwise, and believe Den's OL will again control the LoS.

The real test will come down to coaching and I think I can speak for most fans that follow the NFL in general, McDaniels has a clear edge over Phillips.  Though Dallas should win this game due to their key positions talent, its safe to say that all across that Denver sideline, coaches will be making adjustments to exploit both our opposition's weakness and to correct our own.

Denver 24 Dallas 13.

Total Offense Cowboys Broncos Stat Rk Stat Rk Points/Game 28.7 5 20.7 14 Total Yds/Game 429.7 3 374.3 9 Giveaways 4 14 2 2 Total 1st Downs 65 4 56 15 3rd Down Efficiency 41.2% 18 41.0% 14 4th Down Efficiency 0% 29 33.3% 20 Total TDs 9 3 6 15 Scoring Efficiency 42.4% 6 40.6% 7 3 and Out Drives 4 1 7 10 Penalties 17 11 16 5 Penalty Yds 171 26 119 6 Avg Total Off. Rank 10.9 10.6		Total Defense Cowboys Broncos Stat Rk Stat Rk Opp. Points/Game 20.3 17 5.3 1 Opp. Total Yds/Game 382.7 26 214.7 1 Takeaways 3 23 8 4 Opp. Total 1st Downs 60 19 36 1 Opp. 3rd Down Efficiency 33.3% 7 28.2% 4 Opp. 4th Down Efficiency 66.7% 12 50.0% 13 Opp. Total TDs 6 15 1 1 Opp. Scoring Efficiency 29.4% 9 12.1% 1 Opp. 3 and Out Drives 10 12 8 17 Opp. Penalties 14 27 14 28 Opp. Penalty Yds 120 26 123 25 Avg Total Def. Rank 17.5 8.7
Passing Offense Cowboys Broncos Stat Rk Stat Rk Total Attempts 89 27 88 28 Total Completions 51 27 49 30 Completion Pct. 57.3 23 55.7 26 Passing Yds/Game 236.0 14 215.7 15 Yds/Attempts 7.96 5 7.35 8 Passing TDs 4 14 3 20 INTs Thrown 3 18 0 1 QB Rating 85.2 18 91.2 11 Passing 1st Downs 29 23 30 22 Sacks Allowed 3 6 3 7 Sacks Yds Allowed 27 10 16 7 Avg Passing Off. Rank 16.8 15.9		Passing Defense Cowboys Broncos Stat Rk Stat Rk Opp. Total Attempts 113 27 85 3 Opp. Total Completions 72 27 51 4 Opp. Completion Pct. 63.7 27 60.0 11 Opp. Passing Yds/Game 268.0 27 136.3 2 Opp. Yds/Attempts 7.12 21 4.81 3 Opp. Passing TDs 4 16 0 1 Interceptions 2 18 5 5 Opp. QB Rating 90.1 20 50.6 3 Opp. Passing 1st Downs 38 21 25 2 Sacks 3 25 10 2 Sacks Yds 22 26 60 6 Avg Passing Def. Rank 23.2 3.8
Rushing Offense Cowboys Broncos Stat Rk Stat Rk Total Attempts 85 9 102 3 Rushing Yds/Game 193.7 1 158.7 4 Yds/Carry 6.8 1 4.7 8 Rushing TDs 5 2 3 8 Rushing 1st Downs 31 1 21 7 Rushing Fumbles 0 1 1 9 Avg Rushing Off. Rank 2.5 6.5		Rushing Defense Cowboys Broncos Stat Rk Stat Rk Opp. Total Attempts 73 12 71 10 Opp. Rushing Yds/Game 114.7 17 78.3 7 Opp. Yds/Carry 4.7 26 3.3 7 Opp. Rushing TDs 2 16 1 4 Opp. Rushing 1st Downs 18 19 9 5 Opp. Rushing Fumbles 1 20 4 1 Avg Rushing Def. Rank 18.3 5.7
Receiving Offense Cowboys Broncos Stat Rk Stat Rk Receptions 51 27 49 30 Receiving Yds/Game 245.0 14 221.0 17 Yds/Reception 14.4 3 13.5 5 Receiving TDs 4 14 3 20 Receiving 1st Downs 29 23 30 22 Receiving Fumbles 0 1 0 2 Avg Receiving Off. Rank 13.7 16.0		Receiving Defense Cowboys Broncos Stat Rk Stat Rk Opp. Receptions 72 27 51 4 Opp. Receiving Yds/Game 275.3 26 156.3 2 Opp. Yds/Receptions 11.5 20 9.2 1 Opp. Receiving TDs 4 16 0 1 Opp. Receiving 1st Downs 38 21 25 2 Opp. Receiving Fumbles 1 11 2 3 Avg Receiving Def. Rank 20.2 2.2
Punting Stats Cowboys Broncos Stat Rk Stat Rk Punts 13 18 12 20 Punting Yds 601 17 530 21 Punting Average 46.2 10 44.2 20 Inside 20 8 2 4 16 Touchbacks 1 16 1 17 Blocked 0 7 0 8 Net Punting Average 40.8 10 35.8 27 Avg Punting Stats Rank 13.3 21.5		Return Stats Cowboys Broncos Stat Rk Stat Rk Kick Returns 11 13 5 32 Kick Return Yds 256 18 88 32 Kick Returns for TD 0 8 0 9 Punt Returns 7 14 8 10 Punt Return Yds 65 12 48 17 Punt Returns for TD 0 6 0 7 Avg Returns Stats Rank 11.8 17.8
Kicking Stats Cowboys Broncos Stat Rk Stat Rk Extra Points Made 9 5 5 22 Extra Points Pct. 9/9 100.0 5 5/5 100.0 22 Field Goals Made 5 11 7 4 Field Goal Pct. 5/6, 83.3 13 7/9, 77.8 4 FG 1-19 1/1, 100.0 1 0/0, 0 9 FG 20-29 2/2, 100.0 10 3/3, 100.0 6 FG 30-39 0/0, 0 28 1/3, 33.3 23 FG 40-49 1/2, 0 18 2/2, 0 5 FG 50+ 1/1, 100.0 2 1/1, 100.0 3 Avg Kicking Stats Rank 15.5 16.3