DENVER — Admittedly a work in progress, the Denver Broncos’ new 3-4 defense faces its first big test Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys.

Despite a banged-up backfield, the Cowboys (2-1) are the league’s top-ranked rushing team behind a behemoth offensive line that promises to pose problems for the Broncos (3-0), who sport the NFL’s top-ranked defense.
“We’ve got to buckle down and eat a lot of steak and potatoes this week,” Denver linebacker Elvis Dumervil suggested.
Actually, too much starch and protein might bog down Dumervil, who has six sacks in the last two games, proving he’s adjusted quite well from a defensive end in the old 4-3 scheme to a linebacker in the 3-4.
Although Dumervil would love to be in quarterback Tony Romo’s grille all day Sunday, he’s especially eager to see Dallas linebacker DeMarcus Ware, whom he considers the best pass rusher in the game even though he hasn’t put any quarterbacks on their backs this season.
“Hands down. Stats don’t really account for what he’s really done on the field,” Dumervil said. “He is very disruptive. You have to account for him. He just disrupts the whole offense.”
Dumervil wants to see how he stacks up to the top sacker.
“Whenever you go against a guy that’s a real good rusher, we all look at each other and see what he’s doing that I can’t do?” Dumervil said. “There’s a competitive spirit and I’ll definitely be watching to see how he moves.”
So will the Cowboys, who led the league in sacks last season when Ware outpaced everybody with 20.
Dallas coach Wade Phillips said opponents are loading up to defend the Cowboys’ pass rush, grinding on Ware, who has played plenty of downs because of injuries.
“They are probably doubling him more than they have, certainly,” Phillips said. “He’s had a number of hits on the quarterback. I think it’s unrealistic to say you’re going to get 20 sacks in a year. ... He’s getting a lot of pressure on the quarterback. I don’t think Denver is going to say, ’Hey, we don’t have to put anybody on him or we don’t have to double him some.’
“He’s still a significant force out there. His sacks will come.”
Kyle Orton, 24-12 as a starter and an NFL-best 16-2 at home since joining the league in 2005 with the Bears, sure hopes they don’t start coming Sunday.
“Size and speed and physical and he’s coming right at the quarterback,” Orton said, clicking off Ware’s many attributes. “He’s not too interested in the run game and he’s coming right for me.”
Never has Orton been happier to have left tackle Ryan Clady, the league’s most athletic offensive lineman, on his side. Clady owns the league’s longest active streak — all 19 career games — among starting tackles without allowing a full sack.
“You kind of just forget about him a little bit because he’s always doing his job over there,” Orton said. “He’s been great for us this year, just like all five of them have. They work well as a unit and he’s certainly special on the left side for sure.”
That pass protection has helped Orton play mistake-free ball for much of his first three games with the Broncos, unlike when he was in Chicago and often had to hurry his throws under pressure.
“Yeah, you certainly don’t have to get the ball out so quickly,” said Orton, who hasn’t thrown an interception. “When the run game gets going, that’s the quarterback’s best friend. So, it’s kind of twofold, when they can get the running game going and also protect so well, it makes it pretty easy on me.”
However, Orton could be without left guard Ben Hamilton (hamstring) and right tackle Ryan Harris (shoulder) this week.
Although Orton doesn’t have the 300-yard passing games like his predecessor, Jay Cutler, he hasn’t had to because Denver’s running game (fourth in the league) and defense (an NFL-low 5.3 points per game) have done so well.
The Broncos rank fourth with running backs Correll Buckhalter, who stands second in the NFL in yards per carry, and Knowshon Moreno, who leads all rookies in yards rushing.
The Cowboys are tops in the league, averaging 193.7 yards per game behind the trio of Marion Barber, Felix Jones and Tashard Choice.
Barber, however, has a thigh injury, and Jones is dealing with a balky knee.
“We’re lucky to have depth at that position. Not everyone has it,” Romo said. “I know definitely you need to have more than one guy in this day and age. We’re lucky to have three guys.”
The Cowboys were glad when Broncos safety Brian Dawkins, who has faced them two dozen times, left Philadelphia after 13 seasons. But here he is on their schedule again.
“He is a great player,” Romo said. “I think he’s one of the top three safeties in the league and has been for a long time. You can put him anywhere. He is outstanding. When he was in Philly, he was the heart of that defense. You can tell when you look at him on film, he’s the heart of that defense, as well.”
Dawkins is acting as though he’s never seen the Cowboys.
“There is a trap in saying you know people,” Dawkins said. “You don’t want to get to a point where you say, ’I know this team.’ That may affect your preparation. That may affect your thought process.
“Yes, I played against them, and obviously, I will be up for this game because I have been groomed in Philadelphia to dislike Dallas, so obviously, my emotions are going to be high.”