Sunday afternoon’s showdown in Cleveland between the Dallas Cowboys and the host Browns in Week 1 is historic.
It’s the only the second Week 1 matchup between the NFL’s No. 1 scoring offense and the NFL’s No. 1 total defense since the 1970 NFL/AFL merger. The Cowboys’ led the league with 29.9 points per game, and the Browns led the league in total defense allowing 270.2 total yards per game, the fewest since the 2014 Legion of Boom Seattle Seahawks. Sunday will assuredly be a strength versus strength matchup when the 2023 NFL passing touchdowns leader Dak Prescott and 2023 NFL receptions leader CeeDee Lamb take the field against 2023 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett and Pro Bowl cornerback Denzel Ward.
Let’s break it all down and predict a winner.
All NFL odds are via SportsLine Consensus.
Where to watch Cowboys vs. Browns
Date: Sunday, Sep. 8 | Time: 4:25 p.m. ET
Location: Huntington Bank Field (Cleveland)
Channel: FOX Stream: fubo
Follow: CBS Sports App
Odds: Browns -2.5; O/U 42
When the Cowboys have the ball
Obviously, Dallas’ No. 1 scoring offense starts and ends with the Prescott-to-Lamb connection. What they do well is in direct conflict with what the Browns do well. No receiver in the entire NFL had more targets (70), catches (49) and receiving yards (734) against man coverage in 2023 than Lamb. Prescott averaged the NFL’s best completion percentage (66%) and the second-most yards per pass attempt against man coverage (8.8) in the entire league.
On the flip side, no defense ran more man coverage in 2023 than the Browns, who did so on 40.9% of their of their snaps. The key to who has the edge when Prescott drops back to pass is Dallas’ pass protection. It is rolling out two rookies as starters on its offensive line in 2024: third-round pick Cooper Beebe at center and first-round pick Tyler Guyton at left tackle.
Guyton will specifically be tasked…
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