A recurring theme throughout this season has been the Cowboys’ preparedness each and every game. They were ready for knock-down, drag-out fights on the road against the Buccaneers and Chargers, even if they split those games. Ditto for the Patriots game. Against lesser competition, they made sure everyone knew how much better they were. And McCarthy even had his team ready to win on the road with a backup quarterback just last week.
That’s why it was so surprising to see this same team get demolished by the 4-4 Broncos. Not only that, but the Broncos had won just one of their last five games and traded away their biggest star player in the week leading up to this.