The Dallas Cowboys asserted complete control during their 33-17 victory over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, a game that was never truly in doubt.
Hours after Dak Prescott signed a contract extension making him the highest-paid player in NFL history, the Cowboys silenced doubters who had favored the Browns by 2.5 points.
Dallas began the game on offense, and it didn’t start well. The first play was a handoff to Ezekiel Elliott, who hurdled a defender for a big gain, only for the play to be nullified by a holding penalty. This miscue led to a stalled drive, and the Cowboys were forced to punt on fourth and 11. The Browns took over with good field position following a short punt by Bryan Anger. After a few plays, they settled for a field goal, taking an early 3-0 lead.
This modest lead would be Cleveland’s last gasp. Dallas quickly took control, with Prescott connecting with CeeDee Lamb for 44 yards on two plays, setting up a pinpoint fadeaway touchdown pass to Brandin Cooks—the first touchdown of the season for Dallas.
Week 1: Cowboys vs Browns
All around great effort in a 38-17 W! Dak threw for 406yds 4tds 2ints. Tolbert grabbed 4 for 139yds 2tds. 🐑 caught 4 for 111 2tds. Phillips added 2.5sacks, while Parsons had 1.5! Bell had a huge user 82yd pick-six!! Booth Jr added a int.@DaDYNASTYCFM pic.twitter.com/UkXtabEdk5— Hot Tub (@DML_Cowboys) September 9, 2024
This marked a turning point as the Browns’ offense sputtered from that point onward, failing to move the chains once over their next seven possessions, which extended well into the third quarter. The Cowboys’ defense, under new coordinator Mike Zimmer, smothered the Browns’ attack, frequently pressuring quarterback Deshaun Watson and bottling up their run game.
While the Cowboys’ offense wasn’t perfect, punting twice more in the first half, they managed to find some success against a Cleveland defense that ranked among the league’s best last season. Head coach Mike McCarthy devised a game plan focused on quick passes to negate Cleveland’s pass rush, led by Myles Garrett, and emphasized the run game.
Dallas finished with 102 rushing yards on 25 carries, with Elliott leading the way in his return to the Cowboys, rushing for 40 yards on 10 carries and scoring a touchdown to give Dallas a 14-3 lead. Rico Dowdle added 26 yards on eight carries, contributing to a balanced offensive approach.
Kicker Brandon Aubrey extended the lead with two field goals in the first half, pushing the score to 20-3. Aubrey nearly tied Justin Tucker’s NFL record with a 66-yard field goal attempt just before halftime. However, a delay of game penalty nullified the kick due to confusion over the play clock not being reset properly.
Despite the miscue, Aubrey’s powerful leg, especially in the notoriously windy conditions of Cleveland, showcased his potential as a special talent, raising the odds that he could tie or break Tucker’s record this season.
The second half began explosively. Dallas forced a quick three-and-out, capped by a third-down sack from DeMarcus Lawrence, which set up a punt return. That’s when KaVontae Turpin displayed his return skills, although his subsequent play calmed the game down for a stretch.
The Browns managed a 12-play drive that resulted in a touchdown, narrowing the deficit, but Dallas remained in control. The Cowboys ran the clock down with their remaining possessions, adding two more field goals, while Cleveland scored a late touchdown with 29 seconds left, making the final score appear closer than the game actually was.
The standout story from this game was the Dallas defense. After a strong showing in the preseason, this was the first time the starters operated under Zimmer’s new system, and the results were outstanding.
The defensive front stifled Cleveland’s run game, holding running back Jerome Ford to just 44 yards on 12 carries, while the pass rush harassed Watson throughout, recording six sacks and numerous pressures. Lawrence and linebacker Eric Kendricks led the way with two sacks each, while Micah Parsons and rookie DeMarvion Overshown added a sack apiece.
Dallas also dominated in the turnover battle. Eric Kendricks intercepted a pass that was tipped at the line of scrimmage by Parsons, and Trevon Diggs grabbed his first interception of the season on a deflected pass late in the game. Rookie cornerback Caelen Carson came close to securing multiple interceptions, and Lawrence’s second sack forced a fumble, although Cleveland recovered.
While the Cowboys will aim for greater consistency from their offense, this performance against one of the best defenses they may face all year was more than sufficient. The offensive unit managed to score points in critical situations, while the defense continued to do what it has done for several years: dominate the line of scrimmage and force turnovers. Special teams also played a meaningful role, further emphasizing Dallas’s control of all phases of the game.
At 1-0, the Cowboys are now tied for the league’s best record. While the win may not have been the most thrilling, it was a drama-free display of competence and control.
The Cowboys executed their game plan effectively from the outset and walked away with a comfortable road victory to kick off the season. For a Week 1 performance, it was about as much as one could hope for from Dallas.
