DENVER, Colo. -- After a rocky start last week in Houston, the Broncos came out firing against the Cowboys. Jay Cutler led the team on consecutive scoring drives to start the game, and Denver never relinquished the lead as they took down the Cowboys, 23-13.

"I was pleased with the effort of our entire football team," Head Coach Mike Shanahan said after the game. "I thought we played extremely hard from start to finish. I thought we did better tonight. We made some strides, but obviously we're not there."

The Broncos quickly moved down the field on their opening drive. Cutler hit Brandon Marshall for a 12-yard gain and followed that up with a 35-yard pass to Eddie Royal down the right sideline. After going for it on a fourth-and-inches, the Broncos' drive continued down the field and ended as Andre Hall charged his way into the endzone, putting Denver up 7-0.

"We practiced hard all week against the Cowboys, and they showed us some different looks," Hall said in the locker room after the win. "We just did our best and got it done. We've got heart, and we believe in each other. Everybody sticks together on our team."

The Cowboys began their first drive in similar fasion, with Isaiah Stanback taking the kickoff out to their 34-yard line. The outcome was not the same, however, as after driving down the field they were eventually forced to punt.

The Broncos got the ball back, and after switching sides of the field at the end of the first quarter, Cutler continued to drive the team towards the endzone. He capped off the drive with a three-yard touchdown strike to Marshall.

"Actually it was a play that was supposed to go to Eddie (Royal)," Marshall said. "I guess the flat got covered upa little bit. So Jay went to his second read, which was me, so he threw it up and I just dove and caught it."

After a pair of three-and-out by each team, Dallas got back on offense. With Brad Johnson at QB, the Cowboys marched down the field slowly and steadily.

Just after the two-minute warning, Johnson lofted a deep ball down the right sideline, which Miles Austin hauled in for a 37-yard gain, giving the Cowboys a first-and-goal from the nine. Johnson then capped off the drive with a five-yard touchdown to Austin, narrowing the Denver lead, 14-7.

Though the Broncos moved down the field after the Dallas score and got in place for a last-second field goal to end the half, Matt Prater kick sailed wide left. The Broncos maintained their one touchdown lead at halftime.

Cutler put on an impressive performance, playing the entire first half. He completed 16-of-20 passes for 178 yards and a touchdown, earning him a quarterback rating of 120.4. Selvin Young finished the half with 36 yards on nine carries. Hall followed him up with 24 yards on seven carries and his touchdown. Marshall led the wide receiving corps, hauling in six passes for 59 yards and a touchdown, while Royal gained 67 yards on just two receptions.

"We had a great tempo, starting with the offensive line," Cutler said. "We came in and we did a great job. They gave me time."

THE SECOND HALF

The Cowboys came out on fire in the second half, quickly moving down the field. But the drive stalled after Nic Clemons took down Felix Jones in the backfield for a three-yard loss. Dallas settled for a 44-yard Nick Folk field goal, further narrowing the lead to 14-10.

Patrick Ramsey came in at QB for the Broncos on their first drive of the second half. Dallas forced a punt, but they didn't get the ball. Tashard Choice blocked the punt, but Brett Kern somehow managed to recover it and run the ball for a 36-yard gain, giving the Broncos an unlikely first down. Another bizarre play followed as the Cowboys thought they had an interception only to have it negated by a defensive foul.

With renewed life, Ramsey led the Broncos down the field and into the redzone. The drive stalled at the 12-yard line however, and Prater came back out to attempt his second field goal of the night. This one he drilled through the uprights from 31 yards out, extending the lead to 17-10.

After a three-and-out by the Cowboys, the third quarter came to a close with the Broncos in possession of the ball and a 17-10 advantage.

Denver continued their drive into the fourth quarter, moving down the field to get in position for another field goal. Prater kicked this 19-yard attempt straight down the middle. 20-10 Broncos.

The Cowboys followed up with a field goal of their own after QB Richard Bartel led them down the field on an eight play, 65-yard drive ending at the Denver 11. Nick Folk's 29-yard field goal again got the Cowboys within 7.

After a pair of three-and-outs, Dallas looked as though they might tie the game. Their hopes were stolen away by rookie cornerback Jack Williams, who registered his first interception as a pro. He might have returned it for a touchdown, but Bartel managed to dive and take down Williams.

"I'm gone, I thought," Williams said, when asked what he thought as he took off after the pick. "As soon as I fell, I looked back, and it was the quarterback."

The Broncos moved down the field on their final drive of the game, getting to the 25-yard line. With 43 seconds remaining, Prater kicked another field goal to seal the victory, 23-13.

"They did great work against the Cowboys both Wednesday and Thursday," Shanahan said. "We got a lot of things done, especially with our young guys. I've said that I believe in these guys."

"They've got a lot of fight."

BRONCOS BYTES

- Seven different Broncos receivers finished with at least two receptions (Marshall, 6-51 TD; WR Brandon Stokley, 3-34; WR Clifford Russell, 3-28; Royal, 2-67; WR Keary Colbert, 2-30; RB Cecil Sapp, 2-12; TE Nate Jackson, 2-11).

- The Broncos dominated in time of possession in the first half owning an 18:50-11:10 advantage. They finished the game with a 33:07-26:53 advantage.

- Denver’s defense held the Cowboys to 128 net yards in the first half on 25 plays from scrimmage (5.1 yards per play). The defense also held Dallas to 0-of-5 on third down conversions in the second half and 4-of-12 (33.3 percent) for the game.

- Broncos K Matt Prater kicked off six times, with four of his kickoffs resulting in touchbacks. For the second consecutive game Prater connected on 3-of-4 field goal attempts. He is 6-of-8 so far this preseason.