Browns’ New Offense Falters In Season Debut: Cowboys’ 33-17 Victory
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- William D
- September 9, 2024
There was excitement and high expectations for the Cleveland Browns going into their 2024 season opener. Before kickoff, the Muni Lot was packed with supporters, led by Myles Garrett, a standout defensive player for the Browns, who got everyone excited by yelling, “Here we go, Brownies!”
The atmosphere inside Huntington Bank Field was electric, particularly after Machine Gun Kelly, a native of Cleveland, electrified the audience with a powerful guitar performance.
In a match that was sure to be a must-watch between two teams with high expectations, even Tom Brady made his broadcast debut for Fox Sports.
Even with the hype leading up to the game, the Browns’ on-field performance fell well short of the fairytale start their supporters had hoped for.
Deshaun Watson battled under relentless pressure from the Cowboys’ formidable defense as he recovered from surgery and sought to silence his detractors.
Near the end of the game, Watson was strip-sacked, intercepted twice, and sacked six times, leaving the Browns’ newly revamped offense in disarray.
The Browns’ offense put up a poor performance, earning only one first down and 54 total yards by halftime, as they trailed 20-3.
Dak Prescott and the Cowboys exploited Cleveland’s errors to their advantage, taking control of the game in the second quarter. Watson was severely injured by Dallas’ defense, especially by Micah Parsons, and their special teams team added insult to injury with a 60-yard punt return for a touchdown.
The Cowboys had scored a commanding 33-17 victory by the time the final whistle blew, leaving Browns supporters and coaches alike with more concerns than answers regarding the team’s potential this season.
D'shaun Watson's Challenges
Deshaun Watson struggled throughout the game against the Cowboys, turning his eagerly awaited return to play into a nightmare.
Watson was dominated for the majority of the game despite entering the season opener with great expectations to silence his detractors. Watson concluded with a miserable 51.1 passer rating after being sacked six times and picked off twice.
He had little time to locate open receivers or develop consistency in the passing game due to the Cowboys defense’s unrelenting pressure, which was led by Micah Parsons.
Watson’s subpar performance was mostly caused by the unavailability of important offensive line starters. With Jack Conklin and Jedrick Wills Jr. sidelined and James Hudson III stepping in at left tackle, the Cowboys pass rush overpowered the Browns offensive line.
Particularly Hudson found it difficult to contain Parsons, and Watson often found himself hit, rushed, or forced to scramble because of failures in defense.
The offensive line’s conspicuous lack of consistency made Watson susceptible to pressure and out of rhythm the whole game.
The Browns’ offense collapsed in numerous ways as a result of this unrelenting pressure. Penalties and costly errors from Watson’s supporting group made it much harder for him to get into a groove.
The team’s attempts to gain momentum were thwarted by late penalties and dropped passes, especially by Amari Cooper and David Njoku.
Watson tried to lead a scoring drive on multiple occasions, but his attempts were cut short by errors that prevented the team from getting any momentum.
These difficulties added up to a disorganized offensive effort that never really troubled the Cowboys. In the first half, the Browns only managed 54 yards overall and one first down, going 0 for 6 on third-down conversions.
Even while Watson showed signs of improvement, he was unable to settle into a rhythm and the attacking errors were too great to overcome.
The ineffective play coupled with the defensive lapses demonstrated how much work needs to be done before Watson and the Browns offense can play to their full potential.
recapping our Week 1 matchup with the Cowboys
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) September 9, 2024
📰 » https://t.co/H6IgFEUT9k pic.twitter.com/ON8hDV1fYd
Believing in Defensiveness
Before the game, the highly anticipated matchup between Myles Garrett and Micah Parsons, two of the best defensive ends, took center stage, but the result was lopsidedly in Parsons’ favor.
Parsons was a constant threat, even though Garrett, who was playing against rookie left tackle Tyler Guyton, only managed one sack and had a quiet night overall.
Parsons put Deshaun Watson under constant pressure, which resulted in incomplete passes and set the Browns offense back.
He was credited with a sack, many quarterback hits, and bragging rights over Garrett for his unrelenting pass-rush in what was supposed to be a matchup between two of the top edge rushers in the NFL.
The Browns’ defensive errors were fully exploited by the Cowboys on offense. Despite being sacked three times, Dak Prescott was able to take advantage of Cleveland’s coverage errors at pivotal occasions.
The Cowboys were able to maintain drives and score a lot of points thanks to his connection with wide outs CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cooks as well as running back Ezekiel Elliott’s contributions.
The Browns’ safety Juan Thornhill was outclassed by Cooks on a 21-yard touchdown ball from Prescott, demonstrating the Cowboys’ propensity to take advantage of mismatches in the secondary.
The Browns’ defense, which finished the previous season among the best in the league, appeared unusually weak. Players like Za’Darius Smith, who sacked Prescott at a crucial juncture, put up great individual efforts, but the unit as a whole struggled to limit the Cowboys’ offensive weapons.
Because to missed tackles, blown coverages, and a lack of turnovers, the Cowboys were able to keep control of the game. Dallas’ well-rounded offensive onslaught outclassed Cleveland’s defense, which had been outstanding at home the previous season.
Final from the opener. pic.twitter.com/JexQsidSQx
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) September 8, 2024
Early in the second half, Dallas’ KaVontae Turpin returned a punt 60 yards for a touchdown, opening up a huge window of opportunity and increasing the Cowboys’ lead to 27-3.
It was one of the most crucial plays of the game. For the Browns, who were already having trouble finding any offensive rhythm, this play was a game-ender.
Normally dependable, Cleveland’s special teams unit completely collapsed in coverage, which enabled Turpin elude tacklers and sprint unharmed into the end zone. It was a turning point in the game that basically decided the Browns’ fate.
This punt return was more than just one slip-up; it was a symbol of the Browns’ more significant problems during the game, as errors in crucial situations accumulated up.
The Cowboys’ lead was extended and a deficit that Cleveland was unable to overcome thanks in large part to special teams, which are frequently the unseen third phase of the game.
The Browns’ special teams also had trouble with field location, penalties, and not being able to build any momentum off their own returns in addition to Turpin’s touchdown.
Conversely, Dallas made the most of every chance their special teams presented. In order to give Deshaun Watson and the Browns offense bad field position to start drives, they were able to frequently pin Cleveland deep in their own territory.
Kicker Brandon Aubrey of the Cowboys added three more field goals, one a 57-yarder, to increase Dallas’ lead and demonstrate the effectiveness of their special teams unit. The Browns’ incapacity to react was exacerbated by the mix of big plays and reliable execution throughout this time.
The Browns needed their special teams to perform better in a game where both the offense and defense were having trouble, but they were unable to do it. In addition to making the game even more unlikely, Turpin’s touchdown return dashed any hopes of a second-half comeback.
Special teams are frequently disregarded until an important situation like this occurs, and in this instance, they were a major factor in the Browns’ collapse.
The Browns now realize that strengthening this area of the game will be essential to winning their next game after such a depressing defeat.
The Browns’ season-opening 20-3 deficit in the first half against the Cowboys set the tone for the team’s eventual 33-17 loss. Dustin Hopkins’ 51-yard field goal gave Cleveland the early lead, but things rapidly got out of hand.
In response, the Cowboys put together a string of deliberate drives, while Cleveland’s offense faltered and was only able to muster one touchdown opportunity. The Browns were in serious trouble because Dallas had taken over by the time the teams entered the locker room.
It was evident how ineffective the Browns’ offense was in the first half. They managed just one first down, 0-for-6 on third downs, and only 54 total yards.
Cleveland’s improvised offensive line was regularly breached by the Cowboys defensive line, which was led by Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence.
Deshaun Watson suffered under intense pressure. Watson’s passes were not on target, his receivers’ timing was off, and the offense was unable to build any momentum. Their problems were made worse by costly penalties and mishandled passes, which left the offense in neutral.
The Browns’ defensive shortcomings gave the Cowboys opportunities to score crucial plays and take advantage of openings. Despite being sacked three times, Dak Prescott managed to lead the offense on multiple successful drives.
He connected with Brandin Cooks for a 21-yard touchdown throw and guided the offense to two field goals. Crucial plays like Cooks’ touchdown and CeeDee Lamb’s 34-yard reception demonstrated the Browns’ defensive shortcomings.
Dallas was able to move the ball effectively due to missed tackles and mishandled assignments, which kept Cleveland’s defense on the field and eventually wore them down.
The Cowboys capitalized on a Deshaun Watson interception that was tipped by Micah Parsons to close out the half with a 40-yard field goal, making it 20-3. This series encapsulated the Browns’ problems from the first half: costly errors, ineffective offense, and shoddy defense.
Cleveland faced a hard uphill struggle going into the second half as they were unable to stop the Cowboys from extending drives and getting chunk yardage, despite their good defensive reputation.
After the Browns’ 33-17 loss to the Cowboys, head coach Kevin Stefanski wasn’t afraid to call out the team for their lackluster effort. Stefanski accepted responsibility for the team’s shortcomings in his post-game speech, asking, “Who’s the blame go on? The players, the coaches, and me.
All of us. He made it clear that although Dallas is a formidable team, the Browns have to swiftly get back on track after falling well short of their potential. Stefanski made it very apparent that the team had to own up to its mistakes and apply the knowledge gained from the challenging loss going ahead.
The offense’s ineffectiveness was one of Stefanski’s main worries, particularly with regard to Deshaun Watson’s protection. He commented, “We can’t let our quarterback get hit that many times, period,” alluding to the six sacks Watson took and the constant pressure he was under all during the contest.
The offensive line was a makeshift unit without several important players, and the protection deficiencies were obvious.
Stefanski emphasized that Watson can’t lead the offense well without enough time to create plays, thus resolving this issue is a top goal. If the Browns want to get better in the upcoming weeks, they will have to review and tweak their blocking techniques.
Stefanski also brought up the team’s inability to develop an offensive rhythm, highlighting squandered chances in the passing and running games.
The Browns’ inability to maintain drives was hampered by penalties, drops, and errors, which made Watson’s attempts to carry out the game plan even more difficult.
Stefanski emphasized that the Browns needed to improve their third-down performance, as they were 0 for 6 in the first half.
He said that strengthening this area is essential to putting the offense back on track, particularly when facing elite defenses like Dallas’.
Stefanski clarified that the group’s goal going forward will be to get better in every aspect of the game. Offensively, the focus will be on improving Watson’s protection while getting rid of the mistakes the Browns made that hurt their prospects.
Stefanski is aware that considerable changes are required, but he is still optimistic about his team’s prospects. The Browns possess the skill to contend at a high level; Stefanski’s task will be to make sure that going ahead, those components fit together more harmoniously.
The Browns desperately need to make changes and improvements after their season-opening loss to the Cowboys if they want to win in the coming weeks.
The effectiveness of the offensive line, Deshaun Watson’s protection, and the offense’s overall efficiency will be given major priority. With several offensive line starters who are either injured or performing below par, Cleveland needs to find a way to solidify its pass protection.
The coaching staff’s main priorities will probably be to improve the offensive scheme, get Watson reads more quickly, and cut down on the penalties that hurt the team in the opening game.
For the Browns to save their season, they must be able to bounce back in the upcoming games. If early losses are not addressed, they can worsen, thus the Browns must be resilient in their next games.
While the defense needs to return to its dominant form, particularly at home, Watson and the offense need to find their confidence back. The team’s ability to regroup and refocus on its objectives will be greatly aided by the leadership of players like Nick Chubb and Myles Garrett.
Gaining the next game could boost the squad morale and regain some of the momentum that was lost in the first game.
Analysts and fans alike will be eagerly observing to see how the Browns react. Many had low expectations for Cleveland going into the season, wondering if Watson would be able to regain his peak after surgery and if the new offense would click quickly enough.
Although the early defeat is upsetting, the season is not defined by it. The Browns still have a strong roster that can compete in the challenging AFC North, but how this team responds to obstacles and performs in the next weeks will determine whether it can live up to the hype.
The storyline of the Browns’ season will ultimately be shaped by how they react to this setback. Fans’ confidence in the team’s potential to make the playoffs will grow again if they can learn from their mistakes and perform better. But if things don’t improve, the players and coaching staff will be under more and more strain.
In the meanwhile, as they get ready for the challenging portion of the season to come, the squad will try to make the required corrections and apply the knowledge gained from the Cowboys’ game.