KICKOFF: Matt Prater is in to kick off to start the second half. Raymond Radway is deep to receive, and he finds some room out to about the 24-yard line. There’s a flag on the play — illegal block in the back on the Cowboys. That pushes the ball back to the 10-yard line, where Stephen McGee steps in under center as quarterback.

Q3 14:28: After a 1-yard run on first down, Jason Hunter chases McGee out of bounds, but the quarterback throws the ball away before he steps out, making it third-and-9. On third down, McGee finds a receiver after getting nice blocking in the pocket — it’s an 11-yard gain for a first down. On the ensuing first down, McGee fakes a handoff and fires downfield under pressure from Derrick Harvey, and the pass is incomplete thanks to tight coverage by Cassius Vaughn, who tipped the pass away at the last moment.

Q3 12:56: On second down, Lee Robinson blasts the Cowboys running back after a gain of just a yard, making it third-and-9. Before the next play, the Cowboys are called for a false start. Now third-and-14, McGee is chased out of the pocket by Jason Hunter, and though McGee finds room to take off down the field on a scramble, he’s stopped short of the first down. But now there’s a flag on the play — illegal contact on Perrish Cox, giving the Cowboys a free first down. Head Coach John Fox is not happy with the call on the sideline.

Q3 11:39: After a 2-yard run by Lonyae Miller, McGee finds Kevin Ogletree for an 11-yard gain and a first down. On the next play, Kevin Vickerson and Lee Robinson hit McGee, but he gets the pass off and it flies out of bounds for an incompletion. Now second-and-10, McGee lines up in the shotgun. Phillip Tanner gets the carry on a draw play, and the running back picks up 6 yards before Nate Jones brings him down. On third-and-4, McGee is hit again, but again gets the pass off — and again it’s incomplete out of bounds. That makes it fourth down, and Cox is deep to receive the punt. He calls for a fair catch at the 19-yard line. Looks like it’s Brady Quinn’s turn to take over the offense.

Q3 9:19: A few notes from the first half: Matt Willis leads all receivers with 50 yards on two catches, including a 43-yarder from Tim Tebow. Speaking of Tebow, he finished the first half 6-of-7 for 91 yards and a quarterback rating of 118.8. Kyle McCarthy led all Broncos defenders with three tackles, including an 8-yard sack. Denver’s first-team offense marched 74 yards on 13 plays on its opening drive.

Q3 8:39: Quinn’s first drive ends after three plays — a 5-yard run by Brandon Minor, followed by two incompletions. Britton Colquitt is in to punt, and his kick is fielded at about the 27-yard line. The 49-yard punt is taken to the 36-yard line before David Bruton made the tackle.

Q3 8:22: McGee scrambles to his right for 11 yards on the first play of the drive. On the ensuing first down, the quarterback hands off to Lonyae Miller, who picks up a yard before Lee Robinson and Braxton Kelley make the stop. On second down, McGee seems to have a miscommunication with his receiver, as he throws the ball directly out of bounds while the receiver kept sprinting up the sideline. Now faced with third-and-9, McGee lines up in the shotgun. He squeezes a ball past Vaughn’s coverage to Tysson Poots for a first down at the Denver 43-yard line.

Q3 6:14: The Denver defensive backups are struggling to get pressure on McGee, as he sits in the pocket and finds Dwayne Harris for a 26-yard gain to the 17-yard line. The defensive unit can still hit hard, as Phillip Tanner just found out on a run cut short by Mario Haggan after just a yard. On second-and-9, it’s the McGee-to-Harris connection again, this one setting up a first-and-goal at the 7-yard line.

Q3 4:24: On first down, McGee fakes a handoff and rolls to his right, finding Raymond Radway for the first touchdown of the game. David Buehler’s extra point is good, and the Cowboys grab their first lead of the game.

COWBOYS 10, BRONCOS 9

Q3 4:09: After a touchback, Quinn and the offense take over at their own 20-yard line. On first down, the quarterback falls down as he hands off to Brandon Minor, who picks up a yard on the carry. On second down, it’s Minor again, and he gains 3 yards. Third-and-6 has Quinn in the shotgun. He takes the snap and gets it to Virgil Green for what looks like a first down — there’s a flag on the play, however. Pass interference on Green, negating the catch and pushing the ball back 10 yards. On third-and-16, Quinn finds David Anderson, but the receiver is 2 yards short of the first down. Colquitt is in to punt, and he booms it to about the 15-yard line. Again Dwayne Harris loses yards on the return, as he’s taken down by David Bruton at the 13-yard line.

Q3 1:32: Phillip Tanner takes a carry and it looks like he’s wrapped up, but he escapes a pile for an 11-yard gain and a first down. On the ensuing play, Tanner doesn’t get away — and barely gets back to the line of scrimmage as Haggan and Quinton Carter stop him after a gain of 1. On second down, Shaun Chapas has a pass go through his hands for an incompletion, bringing up third-and-9. McGee lines up in the shotgun, drops back and is quickly sacked by Jason Hunter, bringing up fourth down as the third quarter comes to a close.

Q4 15:00: Perrish Cox is back to field the punt, and he takes it at about the 40-yard line and gains 6 or 7 yards — but there’s a flag on the play for unsportsmanlike conduct on the kicking team, giving the Broncos 15 yards from the end of the play. The ball is now at the Dallas 39-yard line, where Quinn and the offense will begin their drive.

Q4 14:49: Mark Dell gets involved right away to start the drive — streaking down the sideline for a big completion from Quinn, and then breaking away from two defenders to tack on a few more yards. All-in-all it’s a 26-yard gain to the 13-yard line. On the ensuing first down, Quinn holds his hands in the air for a touchdown virtually as soon as he handed the ball to Jeremiah Johnson, and the running back delivers, bursting through a big hole in the line for Denver’s first touchdown of the night. Steven Hauschka is in to kick this time, and his extra point is good as the Broncos retake the lead.

BRONCOS 16, COWBOYS 10

Q4 14:14: Hauschka’s kickoff goes for a touchback, and McGee is back in to start his drive at the 20. He avoids pressure and gets it to Chapas for a 4-yard gain. A run by Tanner for no gain is followed by what looks like some busted coverage for Denver. A short pass to Harris turns into a 76 yard sprint to the end zone for a touchdown. The snap for the extra point is botched and never gets to the holder, however, so the game is now tied.

BRONCOS 16, COWBOYS 16

Q4 12:36: Brandon Bing is deep to field the kickoff, and the rookie finds a little space before being brought down at the 21-yard line. Quinn is back in under center for another drive. He quickly hits Jamel Hamler, who sidesteps a couple defenders for a 6-yard gain. It’s another run by Johnson on second down, and the speedy back picks up 3 yards, setting up third-and-1. Johnson picks up the first down, but Stanley Daniels is down after the play.

Q4 10:39: Minor takes a carry on the ensuing first down, picking up a yard. Second down is a play-action pass to Eron Riley, who picks up a first down. Quinn looks for a wide open Hamler in the middle of the field on the next play, but his pass is batted down at the line of scrimmage.

Q4 9:07: Johnson picks up 10 yards on the next play, giving the Broncos a first down at the Dallas 40-yard line. The next play is a play-action pass to Riley — the defense is focusing on Johnson after his recent string of tough runs. The ensuing first down is a run by Minor, and the back picks up 2 yards. Quinn’s pass is incomplete on second down, bringing up third-and-8, and the crowd — still a large number of people — is getting loud. Quinn is in the shotgun and he finds D’Andre Goodwin for a first down inside the 10-yard line. That makes it first-and-goal at the 8-yard line.

Q4 6:30: A run for no gain is followed by a play-action pass that is broken up in the end zone, setting up third-and-goal. Quinn is in the shotgun. He takes a los wnap and buys time int he pocket before finding Riley in the back of the end zone. The receiver goes high to catch it and bring his feet down in bounds. The Broncos retake the lead, and Hauschka’s extra point is up and in as the Cowboys Stadium crowd boos.

BRONCOS 23, COWBOYS 16

*INJURY REPORT Offensive lineman Stanley Daniels has an ankle injury. His return is questionable.

Q4 5:44: Hauschka kicks and its returned by returned to the DAL 35-yard line.

Q4 5:44: After a 4-yard run, Tanner takes the second down carry 12 yards for a first down at the Denver 49.

Q4 4:14: McGee’s first down pass in incomplete. On second down, Tanner runs 11 yards for another first down.

Q4 3:22: Tanner runs for 2 yards on first down. McGee goes deep down the sideline on second down but its too far and incomplete. Third and 8 upcoming.

Q4 2:43: McGee completes over the middle to Dwayne Harris for two yards. 4th and 6 now.

Q4 2:00: 2-minute warning stops play.

Q4 2:00: McGee goes over the middle and completes to Rucker for a first down all the way to the DEN 5-yard line.

Q4 1:09: After the 26-yard pass, Tanner runs up the middle for no gain. Second and goal now.

Q4 0:31: McGee completes short to Rucker who picks up no gain on tackle by Cassius Vaughn. Third and goal from the five,

Q4 0:21: McGee is sacked on the play by Jason Hunter. Loss of 8 yards. 4th and goal now for Dallas.

Q4 0:15: McGee is drilled but gets the ball out and finds Harris in the end zone for the score. Harris got between two defenders and made a leaping catch.

Q4 0:15: Its a 13-yard TD pass from McGee to Harris. DAL will go for 2 point try.

Q4 0:15: McGee finds Rucker in the end zone on the roll out and Dallas takes a 24-23 lead with 15 seconds remaining.

BRONCOS 23, COWBOYS 24

Q4 0:10: Cox returns the kick and is taken down at the 13-yard line.

Q4 0:02: Quinn completes over the middle to Virgil Green for 18 yards. Timeout called.

Q4 0:00: Quinn throws a hail mary that is knocked down and the game is over.

COWBOYS 24, BRONCOS 23: Final Score

Tags: Dallas Cowboys, Preseason Week 1

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