Nothing went right for the Cleveland Browns on Sunday in their season opener at Huntington Bank Field.
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The Cleveland Browns season opener couldn’t have gone much worse.
The Browns (0-1) lost 33-17 to the Dallas Cowboys (1-0) in an overall disastrous game for Cleveland in which they committed 12 penalties and turned the ball over twice.
The Browns only converted two of their 15 third down attempts.
Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson finished the contest with 169 passing yards, one touchdown and two interceptions on 24 of 45 throwing. Running back Jerome Ford led the team with 34 rushing yards.
Defensively, Cleveland safety Juan Thornhill and linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah tied for a team-high nine combined tackles.
First quarter:
The Brows defense started on the field. A sack by defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson helped force a three-and-out. A 28-yard punt return by Jaelon Darden started Cleveland’s offense in Dallas territory.
The Browns kept their offense on the field on 4th and two but a false start by Dawand Jones forced a Dustin Hopkins 51-yard field goal, which he sent through the uprights. Cleveland took a 3-0 lead with 9:23 to go in the first quarter.
SCORE: Browns: 3 | Cowboys: 0
Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott connected with wideout Ceedee Lamb for a 34-yard one-handed snag down the right sideline over Cleveland corner Denzel Ward. Then, on third down, Prescott found wide receiver Brandin Cooks behind Thornhill for a wide-open 21-yard touchdown on a Cleveland all-out blitz with 6:55 left in the first.
SCORE: Cowboys: 7 | Browns: 3
The Browns second drive started with a false start against Jones, his second in as many possessions. Cleveland’s offense stalled out and punted it back to the Cowboys.
Despite back-to-back catches by Lamb, Cleveland’s defense got off the field on a 3rd and five incompletion intended for Cooks.
Second quarter
Cleveland edge rusher Myles Garrett forced a strip sack on Prescott but was recovered by Dallas. On third and 15, the Cowboys only got seven yards and punted the ball back to the Browns.
The Browns offense continued to struggle and was forced to punt on another three and out.
Dallas proceeded to go on an 11-play, 78-yard drive capped off by a three-yard touchdown rush by Cowboys running back Ezekial Elliot with 5:15 left before the half.
SCORE: Cowboys: 14 | Browns: 3
The Browns failed to convert their fifth third down, resulting in another punt by Cleveland punter Corey Bojorquez.
Dallas moved the chains once before the Browns defense forced a third down. Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey booted through a 57-yard field goal with 2:06 remaining in the second quarter.
SCORE: Cowboys: 17 | Browns: 3
In the two-minute drill before the half, Watson’s pass was deflected into the air by Parsons and intercepted by Dallas linebacker Eric Kendricks. The Cowboys took over at Cleveland’s 23-yard line.
The Browns defense stood pat. On third down, Cleveland defensive lineman Za’Darius Smith sacked Prescott. Aubrey made a 40-yard field goal to up Dallas’ lead with 51 seconds left before halftime.
SCORE: Cowboys: 20 | Browns: 3
Cleveland would go into the half with one total first down and 0-for-6 on third down. Watson was 7-for-15 throwing with 36 yards and an interception.
Third quarter
Out of the break, the Browns continued their offensive woes. But a sixth three and out gave the ball back to Dallas.
On the Bojorquez punt, Cowboys All-Pro returner KaVontae Turpin returned the ball 60 yards for a touchdown with 12:59 to go in the third quarter.
Cowboys: 27 | Browns: 3
Led by a 29-yard catch by Njoku, on the 12th play of Cleveland’s drive, Watson found wideout Jerry Jeudy for a six-yard touchdown. The catch, with 8:42 left in the third, completed a 75-yard touchdown drive.
Cowboys: 27 | Browns: 10
Some momentum for Cleveland, the Browns defense forced a Cowboys three and out and gave the ball back to the offense.
Despite picking up a first down via a defensive penalty, Watson was sacked on third down by Kendricks, sending Bojorquez onto the field again to send the ball back to Dallas.
But Cleveland’s defense remained intact. They forced a second consecutive three and out after a pass breakup by Browns cornerback Greg Newsome and got the ball back to their offense.
With good field position, starting on their own 45-yard line, the Browns ran the ball up the middle on third and four for a loss of yards. Then, on fourth down Watson was sacked for the fifth time, resulting in a turnover on downs.
The Cowboys offense stalled but was still within Aubrey’s range. He made his third field goal of the day, this one from 50 to make it 30-10 with 1:27 to go in the third quarter.
Cowboys: 30 | Browns: 10
Fourth quarter
Offensively nothing changed. Another failed fourth down attempt and incomplete pass by Watson.
The Browns defense bent but didn’t break and Aubrey converted a 46-yard field goal, his fourth make of the game. Dallas upped their lead to 23 with 11:51 to go.
Cowboys: 33 | Browns: 10
Watson led the Browns down the field, into Dallas territory. But a ball off the hands of wideout Elijah Moore’s hands bounced into Cowboys cornerback Trevon Digg’s hands with 9:06 remaining.
With 29 seconds to go, Ford punched in a two-yard touchdown to close out the scoring.
Cowboys: 33 | Browns: 17
