Cowboys hammer Browns in season opener with $240M QB Dak Prescott leading the way

Dak Prescott and the Cowboys dominated the Browns in their season opener. (Ken Blaze-Imagn Images)

CLEVELAND – A Dallas Cowboys team energized by Dak Prescott’s contract extension raced to an early lead against the Cleveland Browns in their season opener.

With contributions from a Prescott-led offense, a sack-happy defense and a touchdown-scoring special teams unit, the Cowboys never lost their hold even as Cleveland’s defensive front reminded the league how much firepower it can unleash.

Dallas won 33-17, its second consecutive year opening the season with a blowout. But a 16-point road victory against the stingiest defense from 2023 will and should mean more than Dallas confounding the New York Giants Week 1 last year.

Beating playoff-caliber opponents in unfamiliar territory is what the Cowboys will need to do if they want to finally snap their decades-long deep postseason drought.

It’s with those types of lofty goals in mind that the Cowboys agreed to pay Prescott $60 million per year on his extension – and it’s in that vein that the Cowboys will view their win against the Browns.

Prescott rebounded well from a penalty and sack-ridden first series, finding receiver CeeDee Lamb down the right sideline for 34 yards on Dallas’ second drive, en route to a 21-yard touchdown connection with receiver Brandin Cooks to the left.

The Browns’ defensive front found Prescott periodically as the Cowboys started two rookie offensive linemen, including first-round left tackle Tyler Guyton. But between sacks from Dalvin Tomlinson, Myles Garrett and Za’Darius Smith, Prescott connected with targets up the seams and down the sidelines, completing 19-of-32 passes for 179 yards and one touchdown.

Running back Ezekiel Elliott contributed 49 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown in his return after a year in New England.

And perhaps the Cowboys’ most consistent game-changing weapon: kicker Brandon Aubrey connecting on field goals from 57, 50, 46 and 40 yards in addition…

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Author : Yahoo Sports

Publish date : 2024-09-08 23:45:55

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