(Editor’s be aware: The content material offered relies on opinions and/or perspective of the DallasCowboys.com editorial workers and never the Cowboys soccer workers or group.)
CLEVELAND — The wait was over and the video games formally started to matter, however first it was Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys delivering blockbuster information by means of a historic multi-year deal that secures him because the staff’s franchise quarterback by the 2028 season.
However whereas that information was nonetheless transferring at fever pitch throughout all media platforms, the Cleveland Browns had sights on spoiling the celebration.
Prescott and Lamb have been seeking to get off of a scorching begin, the latter having missed all of coaching camp on account of a contractual holdout that resulted in a megadeal of his personal, however the offense additionally featured the return of Ezekiel Elliott to the working again depth chart and a revamped offensive line with rookies Tyler Guyton and Cooper Beebe at left deal with and heart, respectively, up towards Myles Garrett and among the finest defenses within the NFL.
Talking of defenses, the Cowboys’ welcomed again Mike Zimmer this 12 months to coordinate theirs and the return of All-Professional cornerback Trevon Diggs leads the cost behind Micah Parsons and Co., although being with out DaRon Bland, the opposite record-setting All-Professional cornerback, thrust rookie Caelen Carson onto heart stage.
In the long run, it was a blowout at Huntington Financial institution Stadium to start the Cowboys’ season at 1-0, and it actually wasn’t shut as the ultimate rating implies.
Let’s discuss a few of those that jumped off of the movie on this sport, in explosive trend.
Sure, the $240 million man got here to play ball in Cleveland. Prescott seemed as crisp and as decisive as ever and, mixed with some surgically-precise play-calling from Mike McCarthy, the Cowboys’ offense wasted little time getting on the board by way of an athletic landing toss from Prescott to Brandin Cooks — within the face of a Cowl-0 blitz, no much less — for a 21-yard go to to pay dust. There was not often an errant throw from the All-Professional quarterback, as a few of his incompletions have been really drops by the targets however, all in all, he was cooking in Week 1 and made positive to indicate everybody why he is price each penny of that new contract.
Rust? What rust? There wasn’t any on Lamb, regardless of having missed all of coaching camp with the holdout. The All-Professional isn’t solely barely greater, however he is arguably shiftier than he was throughout his record-setting season, and that is saying so much when you think about how slippery he has already been all through his younger profession. Lamb was energetic as each a receiver and a halfback, protecting the nice instances rolling with the latter after having proven he is a viable possibility there final season. There wasn’t a lot of something Lamb could not do in Cleveland, and meaning it is unlikely there might be something he cannot do going ahead — seeing because the Browns have among the finest defenses in your complete NFL.
In 2023, Cooks bought off to a gradual begin in McCarthy’s first season as playcaller (and Cooks’ first 12 months in Dallas) however picked up steam because the season went alongside. This offseason, the veteran wideout seemed as spectacular as he ever as at any level in his NFL profession, and but he flew below the radar as youthful broad receivers took heart stage within the headlines as CeeDee Lamb held out for a brand new contract. However Cooks was doing injury in Oxnard, and he carried that over to the common season opener, refusing to get off to a chilly begin for a second 12 months in a row.
Rumors of his demise have been drastically exaggerated. There are these outdoors of the constructing who accused Elliott of being washed, however he is trying dry clear solely to date. The previous two-time NFL speeding champ began his afternoon towards the Browns with a handoff on the primary play from scrimmage after which hurdling the defender as a result of, sure, he can nonetheless do it. The play was known as again on account of a holding penalty behind him, however the message was despatched. Elliott went on to do injury in each quick and center yardage as each a halfback and a receiver out of the backfield.
It all the time feels as if Turpin is a hair away from taking one to the home, however he was bald on Sunday towards the Browns. DeMarcus Lawrence sacked Watson within the third quarter to drive a punt that Turpin fielded and took again the opposite manner for a 60-yard landing — one thing he is been near doing at a number of factors in his younger profession in Dallas. It gave the Cowboys a 20-3 lead at that time and practically turned the Browns totally one-dimensional however, extra importantly, it reestablished the risk that Turpin could be as a returner on this league.
So that is what it seems prefer to have dominant linebackers, plural, on the roster? The 180-degree flip the Cowboys have skilled on the place within the first 12 months of Mike Zimmer’s return has been a sight to behold, and it is led by Kendricks’ determination to depart the San Francisco 49ers on learn on the final minute and convey his skills to Dallas. Kendricks was a person possessed towards the Browns, main the staff in tackles for a lot of the sport and including an interception and eight-yard return to his backside line. Yet one more former All-Professional that many questioned about on account of his age confirmed they need to’ve by no means doubted him within the first place.
Micah Parsons, W (Weapon)
He does not need to be the killer. He does not need to be the hitman. Parsons desires to be the murderer for the Cowboys in 2024, and he is off to a pleasant begin in that mission. Zimmer performed him in a number of positions on Sunday towards the Browns and it paid off with loads of pressures towards Watson and a sack within the first half, together with a PBU that led to Kendricks’ interception within the second quarter. The movie on Parsons’ efficiency in Cleveland will make your jaw drop, even when his stat line will not.
Mission numero uno was to cease the run, and Lawrence helped make sure that the Cowboys did precisely that. Mission numero dos was to bully the hell out of Watson and, sure, Lawrence made positive to assist make sure that occurred as effectively. The previous Professional Bowl edge rusher was a brick wall every time the ball was run to his aspect and with the assistance of Osa Odighizuwa a time or two, he was capable of take Watson down for one among a number of Cowboys’ sacks on the night. Backside line is Lawrence continues to play at a excessive stage as a heartbeat of the protection, including a second sack of the day to his tally late within the fourth as Watson tried to flee.
WOW. I imply, I might cease there however I am going to offer you a bit extra about what I noticed from Overshown in Cleveland. Regardless of it being a de facto rookie debut for the previous Longhorn, Overshown performed like he is been within the league for years — excessive soccer IQ to go together with his unreal athletic skills. Within the days main into the matchup, Overshown informed me he was “trying ahead” to Watson making an attempt to run and he wasn’t kidding. Within the second half, he principally hunted Watson like a cheetah on a hyena when the QB tried to flee on 4th-and-6 to take him down for a three-yard loss on a play you need to see to imagine. Overshown and Kendricks have been a deadly LB duo.
He is again. He’s so again. Diggs confirmed little indicators of rust, if any in any respect, over the course of 4 quarters that concerned a heavy workload for the All-Professional. His protection was sensational, even when performs broke down, and his tackling was simply as stout within the open subject. And when Watson determined to focus on him within the fourth quarter, as soon as too typically, Diggs reminded him why he had 11 interceptions not so way back. An interception on a throw to Elijah Moore despatched Watson again to the sideline to ponder the error of his methods, and Diggs proper again into the dialog as among the finest corners round.
Amari Cooper is a menace, and that is what makes what Carson did that rather more spectacular. On the second goal to Cooper, Carson landed a PBU after which stood over the five-time Professional Bowler, taunting him, one thing that might be ill-advised for those who’re not able to persevering with to cease him over the course of the sport. Carson helped to close Cooper down totally, backing up his taunting, holding the previous Cowboys’ WR1 to a complete of solely 16 yards on two receptions as the sport neared its conclusion — making good on his “Seat Belt” nickname in his rookie debut towards among the finest to ever do it.
Due to course, amirite? All Aubrey did is what Aubrey all the time does: be correct from any distance. He went an ideal 4-for-4 on the afternoon, including 12 factors to the ultimate rating. Essentially the most potent kicking weapon within the NFL additionally bought a shot at making historical past on a 66-yarder however a penalty deleted the chance and the Cowboys opted to not attempt a 71-yarder, doubtless for concern of danger of harm. In addition they did not want it, because it turned out, however they do want him accessible, so it was a sensible determination.