Cowboys 33-17 Browns, Prescott leads Cowboys to victory, summary: score, stats, highlights | NFL Week 1
Cowboys @ Browns LIVE
Cowboys dominate Browns, win 33-17 in season opener
The Cowboys defense absolutely dominated the Browns, who couldn’t get much going on their offense. The Dallas defense also had their way with the Browns, taking advantage of all their weak spots. They beat the odds and won 33-17 over Cleveland in the NFL season opener.
Dominant Dallas
Quarterback Dak Prescott was given a huge contract extension just hours ahead of the game, and it’s good he had a good game because if not, fans may have been wondering just what is the point. But alas, Prescott finished 19-of-31 for 179 yards, one touchdown, and no interceptions. He was sacked three times and fumbled just once on the first drive of the game.
The Cowboys’ run game has been a question going into the season, but running back Ezekiel Elliott did manage to get a touchdown. He finished with 10 carries for 40 yards. Star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb didn’t see the end zone, but he finished with 5 receptions and 61 yards, 34 of which were caught to set up a touchdown pass to Brandin Cooks. Cooks finished with five catches for 40 yards and the TD. Wide receiver and special teams ace KaVontae Turpin made a 60-yard punt return touchdown in the second half.
As for the defense, they were dominant. Linebacker DeMarvion Overshown led the way, finishing with 11 total tackles, five solo tackles, one sack, and one tackle for a loss. Eric Kendricks, DeMarcus Lawrence, Trevon Diggs, Jourdan Lewis, Caelen Carson, and Micah Parsons also had big games. Kendricks and Diggs both caught interceptions.
Kicker Brandon Aubrey made four field goals, from 57, 50, 46, and 40. He also made one from 66 that would have tied the record for longest-ever, but it was called back on a penalty that moved Dallas back five yards, and they chose not to try from 71.
Disappointing Browns
The Browns, on the other hand, struggled to get things going on offense against the Dallas defense and their defense didn’t look like the dominant force we saw last season. The offense was rusty, and it showed. Quarterback Deshaun Watson had only played 12 games in the last two seasons after being suspended following sexual assault charges and then suffering a season-ending injury in 2023. He finished the game against the Cowboys 24-of-45 for 169 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. He added five carries for 39 yards on the ground, but was sacked six times. On top of that, he made several sloppy passes and struggled to escape when under pressure.
With Nick Chubb injured, Jerome Ford led the rushing attack and finished with 12 carries for 44 yards and one touchdown. Pierre Strong Jr. finished with just two carries for 10 yards. Tight end David Njoku finished with five targets, catching four for 44 yards. Jerry Jeudy caught just three of eight targets for 25 yards but caught one touchdown pass, the Browns’ first of the game.
Kicker Dustin Hopkins made his one field goal attempt from 51 yards and all five extra point attempts.
Injuries
Cowboys’ starting tight end Jake Ferguson limped off the field in the third quarter with an apparent knee injury. The Browns’ starting tight end David Njoku also left in the third quarter with an injury, his to his ankle.
Next up
The Cowboys will host the New Orleans Saints at home next Sunday and the Browns will travel to Jacksonville to take on the Jaguars on the road on Sunday as well.
Jerome Ford gets a garbage time TD
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Jeudy gave the Browns their first TD in the 3rd quarter
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Turpin time! 60 YARD PUNT RETURN TD!
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COWBOYS DEFEAT BROWNS
And that's it! The Dallas Cowboys come away with the win over the Cleveland Browns on the road.
Hopkins kicks 65 yards to the end zone - Touchback to the Cowboys 30
Ford drove the touchdown run in for 2 yards to give the Browns one last touchdown. Hopkins' PAT is good. Browns trail by 16 with 29 seconds in the game.
Defensive Too Many Men on the Field on Cowboys - 5 yards
BROWNS TOUCHDOWN!
Ford takes it up 4 yards to the Cowboys 2 - 2nd and goal
Browns go for it on 4th and 9 and Watson scrambles for 16 yards all the way to the Cowboys' 6 - 1st and goal
Ford picks up 4 - 4th and 9
TWO-MINUTE WARNING
That takes us to the 2-minute warning. The Browns are down by 23 points, so they're hoping to go down with some dignity. They're currently at the Cowboys' 26 at 3rd and 13 after a Deshaun Watson sack and fumble.
Watson SACKED by Lawrence and forces the FUMBLE, and it's RECOVERED by Browns' Bitonio at the Cowboys 26 - 3rd and 13
Watson pass to Strong is too low, incomplete- 2nd down
Strong pushes through for 6 yards - 1st down
Watson to Akins for 7 yards - 4th and 1
Browns take second timeout
Watson passes at the last minute just as he's hit by Phillips and throws deep to Cooper, who nearly catches it but he can't hang on - incomplete, 3rd and 8
Watson pass complete to Ford and he gets 2 before Parsons takes him down
Watson scrambles for 6 yards and escapes a sack to pick up the 1st down at the Cowboys 36
Watson scrambles for 6 yards - 4th and 4
Watson's pass to Strong is complete but he's tackled by Diggs right away for no gain - 3rd and 10
Watson pass tipped by Diggs and it's incomplete to Cooper - 2nd and 10
Watson pass complete to Ford and he gets 4 yards
Cowboys' Diggs called for Unnecessary Roughness, 15 yards,
Illegal Formation on Browns' Jeudy - 5 yards
Anger punts 59 yards to the Browns 14 and Darden takes it up 16 yards to the Browns 30
Player Out of Bounds on Cowboys' Goodwin, 6 yards
Prescott pass incomplete to Lamb - 4th and 5, Cowboys will punt
Cowboys fans everywhere
There are LOUD chants of "Let's go Cowboys" at the Browns stadium in Cleveland tonight
Browns' Emerson was injured on the play - able to leave the field without help
Dowdle picks up 6 yards - 3rd and 5
Dowdle taken back a yard by Harris and Hurst - 2nd and 11
Watson pass INTERCEPTED by Diggs - he takes it up 3 yards to the Cowboys 23
Watson pass short complete to Moore for 2 yards - 2nd and 8
Watson pass complete to Akins for 13yards and the 1st down at the Cowboys 24
Watson pass incomplete under pressure - 2nd and 10
Watson pass complete to Strong and he takes off for 20 yards - 1st down
Watson pass complete to Ford for 3 yards - 2nd and 7
Ford pushes through 11 yards for the 1st down
Aubrey kicks 65 yards to the end zone - Touchback to the Browns 30
Aubrey makes the 46-yard field goal without an issue. The Cowboys make it a 23-point lead with 11:51 to play.
COWBOYS FIELD GOAL!
Elliott gets nowhere, tackled by Owusu-Koramoah - 4th down and 12
Prescott pass incomplete to Cooks with Ward all over him - 3rd and 12
Cooks takes off for 17 yards, but it's called back with an Illegal Block Above the Waist on Guyton - 10 yards, 2nd and 12
Browns' Fields was injured during the play
Elliott picks up 3 yards - 2nd and 7
Prescott pass caught by Luepke for 12 yards and a first down
Browns go for it on 4th and 4 and he's hit by Overshown for an incomplete pass - the Cowboys will take over at the Browns 38
Watson scrambles away for 3 yards - 4th down and 4
END THIRD QUARTER
That takes us to the end of the third quarter! The Cowboys are up by 20 heading into the final quarter.
The Browns have the ball on their own 35 at 3rd and 7.
Watson scrambles for 13 yards and the 1st down, but an Illegal Shift on Cooper puts them back 5 yards instead - 3rd and 7
Watson pass complete to Tillman and Diggs takes him down after 3 yards - 3rd and 2
Watson pass complete to Ford and he's taken down by Overshown after 5 yards
Aubrey kicks 57 yards to the Browns 8 and Darden takes it 24 yards to the Browns 32
Aubrey made the 50-yard field goal and made it look easy. Dallas extends the lead with 1:27 to go in the 3rd quarter.
COWBOYS FIELD GOAL!
Prescott pass caught by Lamb but he gets just 3 yards - 4th and 11
Aubrey will try for the 50-yarder
Delay of Game on Dallas - 3rd and 14
Prescott pass way too high to Tolbert, incomplete - 3rd and 9
Dowdle taken down by Garrett after a yard this time - 2nd and 9
Dowdle gets it again and he pushes up 10 yards to the 31 - 1st down
Dowdle takes it up 5 yards - 2nd and 5
Watson SACKED by Overshown for a loss of 4 yards and the Cowboys will take over at the Browns 46
Ford taken down by Lawrence for a loss of 2 - 4th and 6
The Browns will go for it...
Watson pass incomplete to Jeudy - 3rd and 4
Ford picks up 6 yards - 2nd and 4
Anger punts 52 yards to the Browns 31 and Darden took it up 14 yards to the Browns 45
Prescott pass low and too short, incomplete - 4th and 6
Elliott picks up 2, stopped by Owusu-Koramoah - 3rd and 6
Cowboys' Ferguson came down weird on the ankle on that tackle - leaving the field limping
Prescott pass caught by Ferguson for 2 yards
Bojorquez punted 62 yards to the Cowboys 23 and Turpin took it 19 yards, but it'll be called back.
Holding on Cowboys' Goodwin - 10 yards
Watson SACKED by Kendricks for a loss of 8 yards
Illegal Formation on Browns, declined
4th down and 14
Ford picks up 4 yards, taken down by Lewis
Watson pass incomplete to Jeudy with Diggs covering - 2nd and 10
Watson passes deep to Cooper and it's incomplete
Illegal Contact call on Cowboys' Carson - 5 yards
Cowboys' Cooks is helped off the field with an apparent injury
Aubrey kicks 43 yards to the Browns 24 and Darden takes it up 11 yards to the 35.
Holding on Browns' Okoronkwo - 10 yards
Prescott pass to Lamb is incomplete, knocked away by Newsome - 4th down
Lamb picks up 3 yards, taken down by Thornhill - 3rd and 7
Prescott pass deep to Cooks is incomplete - 2nd and 10
Hopkins kicks 65 yards to the end zone - Touchback to the Cowboys 30
The Browns got a few huge plays - one 15-yard catch by Jeudy and one 29-yard catch by Njoku to set up their first TD of the game. Jeudy made the 6-yard touchdown catch and Hopkins' PAT was good to make it a 17-point game with 8:42 still to play in the third quarter.
BROWNS TOUCHDOWN!
Browns' Njoku was injured on the play and has left the field
Watson pass incomplete to Akins - 2nd and goal
Watson throws a bullet to Cooper and it's caught for 9 yards and the 1st down
Watson pass incomplete to Cooper with Carson covering him - 3rd and 10
Watson under pressure, incomplete - 2nd and 10
Watson pass complete to Moore for 4 yards and the 1st down at the 16
Watson pass complete to Akins for 6 yards - 2nd and 4
Watson pass caught by Njoku for 29 yards to the Cowboys 27
Watson scrambles but he's sacked by Kendricks for no gain - 2nd and 10
Watson pass complete to Jeudy for 15 yards - 1st down
Browns take first timeout, avoid delay of game
Watson throws deep but it's too long and Diggs was all over Cooper, incomplete - 3rd and 6
Ford takes it up 4 yards - 2nd and 6
Aubrey kicks 67 yards to Browns -2. and Darden takes it up 27 yards to the Browns 25
Bojorquez punted 49 yards to the Cowboys 40 and Turpin took off and just could not be stopped. He went 60 yards all the way to the end zone for the touchdown! Aubrey's PAT is good and the Cowboys start off the second half on fire. 12:59 to go in the 3rd quarter.
COWBOYS TOUCHDOWN!!!!
Watson SACKED by Lawrence for a loss of 11 - 4th and 24
Watson pass behind Cooper - incomplete, 3rd and 11
Watson pass caught by Ford for 1 yard
Illegal Formation on Browns puts them back 5 - 2nd and 11
Ford takes it up 4 yards - 2nd and 6
And we're back in action for the second half!
Aubrey kicks 64 yards to the Browns 1 and Darden takes it 24 yards to the Browns 25.
Brandon Aubrey would have tied the NFL record
Aubrey made this 66-yard field goal attempt, but a Delay of Game called it back. The Cowboys elected not to try for the 71-yarder, though they definitely considered it.
Aubrey made a 57-yard field goal for the Cowboys earlier in the game as well as all the PATs.
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Aww...just like old times
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Cooks is cookin'! 21 yard-TD!
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CeeDee proving why he's worth the millions
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The Dallas Cowboys offense has been dominating the game. The Browns offense hasn't been able to get anything going. The only points they've scored so far were a field goal set up by a defensive stop on Dallas early in the first quarter.
HALFTIME
Prescott passes deep and it's incomplete, which takes us to halftime
Awww...they're taking Aubrey out and he won't get the shot to make a 71-yarder. He would have made the 66-yarder though, which would have tied the NFL record for the longest FG in history.
Browns take final timeout
Aubrey is trying for a 71-YARD attempt!!
Delay of Game on Cowboys - 5 yards
Shame, because Aubrey MADE that perfectly!
Prescott pass caught by Tolbert for 12 yards at the Browns 48 and steps out of bounds - that's field goal range for Brandon Aubrey
Bojorquez punts 46 yards to the Cowboys 20 and Turpin makes the return 20 yards to the Cowboys 40
Cowboys take first timeout
Watson hands it off to Strong for 4 yards - 4th down and 3
Watson pass to Jeudy is incomplete, hit hard by Carson - 3rd and 7
Watson pass complete to Njoku for 3 yards - 2nd and 7
Aubrey kicks 60 yards to the Browns 5 and Darden takes the return 22 yards to the Browns 22
The Cowboys were in great field position after Kendricks made the interception, but the Browns defense held them out of the end zone. Aubrey made the 40-yard field goal with 51 seconds left in the first half.
COWBOYS FIELD GOAL!
Prescott SACKED by Smith for a loss of 2 yardrs - 4th and 9
Prescott pass is incomplete to Ferguson - 3rd and 7
Elliott takes it up 3 yards to the 20 - 2nd and 7
Watson's pass tipped by Parsons and INTERCEPTED by Kendricks, and he takes it up 8 yards to the Browns 23
Ford picks up 5 yards, but a Holding call on Browns' Njoku puts them back 10 - 2nd and 14
TWO-MINUTE WARNING
That takes us to the 2-minute warning in the first half.
The Cowboys are in the lead as the Browns try to get something going on offense.They have the ball at 2nd and 4 on their own 36.
Ford pushes through for 6 yards - 2nd and 4
Aubrey kicks 65 yards to the end zone - Touchback to the Browns 30
Brandon Aubrey makes the 57-yard field goal to extend Cowboys lead with 2:06 to go in the first half
COWBOYS FIELD GOAL!
Prescott pass is caught by Cooks but he's pushed back a yard - 4th and 8
Aubrey has come on for the FG attempt from 57 yards...
Vaughn picks up 4 yards - 3rd and 7
Prescott hands it off to Dowdle but he is swallowed up by Harris and Emerson for a loss of 1 - 2nd and 11
Prescott pass caught by Cooks for 15 yards - 1st down
Bojorquez punts 33 yards to the Cowboys 44, out of bounds
Watson pass is complete to Moore and he's able to pick up 3 yards
Holding call on Browns' Tillman is declined - 4th and 7
Watson passes deep to no one and Carson almost gets another interception - incomplete, 3rd and 10
Watson is nearly sacked but he escapes and gets the ball away, but it's incomplete to Akins
Aubrey kicks 65 yards into the landing zone to the end zone - Touchback to the Browns 20
Ezekiel Elliott gets his first touchdown of the season after reuniting with the Cowboys. The RB took it in 3 yards and Aubrey's PAT was good. Cowboys extend the lead with 5:15 to play in the first half.
Cowboys PAT is GOOD!
COWBOYS TOUCHDOWN!
Prescott sacked by Garrett
Offsides on Browns' Garrett - 4 yards
Prescott screen pass to Elliott caught and he picks up 9yards - 1st down at the Browns 7
Prescott pass caught by Cooks for 5 yards - 2nd and 5
Prescott hangs onto the ball, makes the pass to JalenBrooks who takes off for an 18-yard gain! 1st down
Dowdle picks up 6 yards for the 1st down
Prescott pass complete to Luepke for 6 yards - 3rd and 1
Elliott picks up 3 - 2nd and 7
Lamb dodges defenders for 12 yards - 1st down at the Cowboys 46
Prescott pushes up the middle for 3 yards - 1st down
Prescott pass short to Elliott and he picks up 9 yards, just short of the 1st - 3rd and 1
Prescott passes deep to Lamb, but he's got Emerson and Ward all over him and he can't make the catch - incomplete
Bojorquez punts 55 yards to the Cowboys 14 and Turpin takes it up 8 yards to the 22
Watson's pass caught by Djoku for 7 yards, taken down by Lewis - 4th and 2 and Browns punt it back
Watson's pass was incomplete to Moore, but Wilson picked it up and ran it into the end zone. For some reason though, the officials called it a catch. They then took it back after the expedited review without Dallas having to call a challenge.
3rd and 9
Ford gets 2 yards, taken down by Kneeland
Anger punts 46 yards to the Browns 23 - out of bounds.
Prescott pass to Ferguson is caught for 7 yards - 4th and 8, Dallas punts it again
Garrett punched the ball out from Prescott as he's SACKED and it was FUMBLED, but RECOVERED by Cowboys' Tolbert - 3rd and 15
Dowdle takes it up 2 yards
END FIRST QUARTER
And that takes us to the end of the 1st quarter. The Cowboys are in the lead 7-3 and will get the ball at 1st and 10 at their own 29 to start the 2nd quarter.
Bojorquez punts to the 35 and Turpin takes it up 20 yards to the Browns 45
Holding call on Cowboys Mukuamu - 10 yards
Watson SACKED by Parsons for a loss of 5 yards - 4th and 15
Watson under pressure by Lawrence, gets it away to a wide-open Njoku but he can't hold onto it - incomplete, 3rd and 10
Watson nearly gets sacked then nearly gets intercepted! He escapes the sack and throws the ball away, with Carson getting his hands on the ball - 2nd and 10
Anger punts 52 yards to the Browns 7 and Darden takes it up 13 to the 20-yard line
Prescott pass incomplete to Cooks - 4th down and 5, Cowboys will punt it back
Prescott's to Prescott pass nearly intercepted by Ward AGAIN - 3rd and 5
Prescott gets it to Lamb again for 5 yards, tackled by Emerson
Prescott to Lamb for 11 yards - 1st down
Elliott topped after a yard this time by Hicks
Elliott picks up 6 yards for the 1st down
Prescott pass complete to Ferguson for 6 yards - 3rd and 3
Elliott gets a yard - 2nd and 9
Bojorquez punts it 58 yards to the Cowboys 10 - downed by Ford
Watson pass caught by Ford for 7 yards - 4th and 3
Watson passes to Jeudy, 5 yards - 3rd and 10
Ford tackled by Kendricks right away - no gain, 2nd and 15
False Start on Browns' Jones - 1st and 15 at the 25
Aubrey kicks 65 yards to Browns 0, penalty enforced. Browns called for Illegal Formation
Prescott made a deep pass to Brandin Cooks and he caught it and ran it just into the end zone for 21 yards. After Aubrey's PAT, the Cowboys take back the lead with just under 7 minutes remaining in the 1st quarter.
Aubrey's PAT is good!
COWBOYS TOUCHDOWN!
Dowdle picks up 5 yards - 3rd and 5
Prescott nearly gets picked off by Ward - incomplete
Prescott pass complete to Lamb and he gets those feet in for 34 yards!
Prescott makes the deep pass to Turpin but he can't hang onto it - incomplete, 2nd and 10
Lamb takes the ball up 10 yards for the first down
Dowdle picks up a yard
But an Offsides on Browns' Hurst gives Dallas 5 yards - 1st and 10
False Start on Cowboys' Luepke - Cowboys keep moving the wrong direction
Hopkins kicks 65 yards into end zone - Touchback to the Cowboys 30
The Browns take an early lead as Dustin Hopkins makes a 51-yard field goal with 9:23 to go in the first quarter.
BROWNS FIELD GOAL!
Browns take first timeout
They tried to draw Dallas offsides but it didn't work
False Start on Browns' Jones - now it's 4th and 7
Watson scrambles to avoid a sack and picks up 8 yards before Kendricks and Odighizuwa get to him
Browns going for it on 4th and 2!
Watson pass caught by Njoku but he slips and slides after 5 yards - 3rd and 10
Rookie Carson knocks the pass away from Cooper - incomplete, 2nd and 15
Watson's pass to Njoku was caught, but he was taken down immediately by Overshown.
Ineligible Downfield call on Browns' Hudson, declined - 1st and 15
Watson pass to formerCowboy Cooper caught for 6 yards and the first
Ford runs it up 4 yards - 2nd and 6
Anger punts 42 yards to the Browns and Darden just takes off for 28 yards to the Cowboys 46
Prescott hands it off to Elliott for 8 yards (interesting choice...) - 4th down and the Cowboys will punt it back.
Prescott's pass to Lamb is caught but he gets just 8 yards - 3rd and 19
Prescott SACKED by Tomlinson for a loss of 7 - 2nd and 27
Elliott is back with the Cowboys after a year in New England. He gets the first run of the game, a 5-yarder. But a Holding call on Tolbert takes them back 10 - 1st and 20. Off to a good start....
Hopkins kicks into the endzone and Turpin takes off 34 yards on the return
GAME TIME!
The Browns won the toss and elected to defer. Here we go with the new dynamic kickoff!
Cowboys starting several rookies
The Cowboys are starting at least three rookies against the Browns: Center Cooper Beebe, left tacke TylerGuyton, and cornerback CaelenCarson. It's also possible they'll be starting linebacker MaristLiufau. If he does, it would be the first time in Cowboys' history that they start four rookies in Week 1.
It was expected that Guyton would start, as Tyron Smith left in free agency. He'll get a tough matchup right off the bat against Myles Garrett.
Beebe is replacing Tyler Biadsz at center, despite never having played a game at center in his college career. Still, he beat out veteran Brock Hoffman for the starting role after the preseason.
Liufau was pushed into the potential starting role a bit more unexpectedly when DeMarvion Overshown suffered fro, a hip injury. The same can be said for Carson, who's replacing All-Pro DaRon Bland.
Micah Parsons vs Myles Garrett
Browns pass rusher Myles Garrett is the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, much to the dismay of Dallas' Micah Parsons, who's been in competition with him for the award.
In his seven seasons in the league, Garrett has totaled 88.5 sacks and has reached double-digit sacks every season for the last six years.
This will be the first time that Parsons faces Garrett and the Browns in his career. This matchup in today's game could go a long way in determining this year's best defensive player in the league, with these two at the top of the list.
Tom Brady in the building
Tom Brady will make his highly-anticipated broadcasting debut for FOX Sports tonight for the Browns vs Cowboys game.
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The Amari Cooper reunion
Speaking of Dallas Cowboys contract extensions...
Yeah, wide receiver Amari Cooper didn't get one. Two years ago, after three and a half seasons with the Cowboys, they traded Cooper to the Browns.
As a reminder, here are the details of that trade:
Browns received:
- WR Amari Cooper
- 2022 sixth-round pick
Cowboys received:
- 2022 fifth-round pick
- 2022 sixth-round pick
With those two late-round picks, the Cowboys chose OT Matt Waletzko and LB Devin Harper.
Not a great move for Dallas in the end, was it? For the Browns though, it was great. Last season, Cooper had 72 catches for 1,250 yards and five touchdowns in 15 games for Cleveland.
What Amari Cooper said about the reunion with the Cowboys
Now, Cooper will face his former team for the first time. Although it's been a big talking point, Cooper himself sounds like he's over it.
"It's been a couple years now. I think it probably would have been more emotional had it been sooner," said the five-time Pro Bowler.
Still, he probably wouldn't mind a little revenge on the Cowboys in the Browns' season opener.
Hangin' with the fans at the tailgate
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Prescott's mega deal with Cowboys
One of the biggest talking points of the offseason for the Cowboys was the fact that their three biggest stars were awaiting contract extensions - quarterback Dak Prescott, wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, and edge rusher Micah Parsons.
Finally, two of those three deals got done. Lamb's contract was signed just after the Cowboys arrived back in Dallas and after their last preseason game, making him the second-highest paid non-quarterback in the league.
And as of just a few hours ago, they got a deal done with Dak.
Dak Prescott becomes highest-paid quarterback in NFL history
The Cowboys and Prescott agreed to a four-year, $240 million deal that will earn Prescott an annual $60 million, making him the highest-paid QB in league history.
The contract with Prescott was a point of contention for a long time. While Lamb held out from camp, Prescott showed up, consistently telling fans he was just focused on football. Meanwhile, Jerry Jones gave mixed signals, saying they were wanting to get a deal done, but also saying that it wasn't a priority to do so before the start of the regular season.
Mind you, Prescott was entering the final year of his former contract extension and ineligible for another franchise tag. He would have become a free agent at the end of the season if a deal was not done, and he very likely would have signed a similar contract elsewhere, leaving the Cowboys scrambling.
Now that the deal is done, Prescott will start his quest to prove he's worth the money and can actually make a deep postseason run. That starts with a win against a difficult Browns defense.
Fun fact: The 10 highest-paid NFL quarterbacks have never won a Super Bowl.
Cleveland Browns Final Injury Report
OT Jedrick Willis Jr. - OUT (knee)
OT Jack Conklin - Questionable (knee)
Dallas Cowboys Final Injury Report
TE John Stephens Jr. - OUT (hamstring)
Where they stand...
The Dallas Cowboys ended the regular season last year at 12-5 for the third year in a row. After a dominant home-win streak that had gone on since the start of the 2022 season, they were embarrassed with a humiliating loss to the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card Round at home.
After an offseason full of tension and questionable moves, the Cowboys have finally given contract extensions to their two best offensive players - quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb. They'll have a challenge ahead against the formidable Browns defense though.
The Browns started five different quarterbacks in the2023season (Deshaun Watson, Dorian Thompson-Robinson, P. J. Walker, Joe Flacco, and Jeff Driskel), the most starting QBs in a season in franchise history.
They ended the 2023 regular season at 11-6, marking their first winning season since 2020. They also made it to the postseason for the first time in as long. However, like the Cowboys, they were eliminated in the first round by the Houston Texans in a blowout 45-14 loss.
In Watson's third season with the Browns, they'll hopefully finally get to see if he's worth the big money they paid him. He was suspended in 2022 and missed 11 games, and then suffered an injury in 2023 that ended his season. In the end, he's played just 12 games in the last two years.
Good afternoon, everyone and welcome to the very first NFL game of the 2024 season between the Dallas Cowboys and Cleveland Browns!
It's Jen here to bring you all the latest scores, updates, highlights, and commentary starting from an hour before kickoff, all throughout the game, and up to the final whistle.
Kickoff is at 4:25 p.m. ET from Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland, Ohio. Let's go!