NFL Week 1: Dallas Cowboys vs. Cleveland Browns

The Boys and the Brownies meet in a duel of great young QBs and powerful offenses that will light the scoreboards on fire.

Cowboys vs. Browns Overview:

Dallas Cowboys QB Tony Romo and Cleveland Browns QB Derek Anderson represent the future of the NFL. With intense leadership and growing talent, Tony Romo and Derek Anderson have all the tools to take their respective teams to the Super Bowl. With a fantastic array of offensive weaponry around them both QBs are also capable of completely destroying opposing defenses. The Dallas Cowboys are tops in the NFC while the Cleveland Browns are a rising power in the tough AFC. Tony Romo and Derek Anderson will only see each other again in the Super Bowl or Pro Bowl so the duel between the young stars is a rare occurrence.

Dallas Cowboys Offense:

Tony Romo is able to operate so efficiently thanks to the enormous Dallas Cowboys offensive line. Featuring several Pro Bowl players including the truly monstrous guard Leonard Davis, the Dallas Cowboys offensive line can crush opposing defenses. Tony Romo is also aided by the aggressive RB Marion Barber and the speedy rookie Felix Jones. The two biggest weapons in Tony Romo’s arsenal are WR Terrell Owens and TE Jason Witten. Possibly the best at their positions in the NFL, Terrell Owens and Jason Witten are an unstoppable duo.

Dallas Cowboys Defense:

Dallas Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips has become known as a master of the 3-4 defense. The Dallas Cowboys use a particularly aggressive form of this defense and there is always a blitz coming from the Dallas Cowboys linebacking corps. OLB DeMarcus Ware is one of the best pass rushers in the NFL and excels at exploding to the QB off of every blitz. Longtime veteran OLB Greg Ellis is another pass-rushing force and gives opposing OTs fits. Big DT Jay Ratliff has been a key to the Dallas Cowboys front seven. The Dallas Cowboys pair their powerful pass rush with a great secondary featuring stars like Adam “Pacman” Jones, Terrance Newman, and Roy Williams.

Cleveland Browns Offense:

The Cleveland Browns also offer an impressive offensive line, but the Brownies O-Line is built for speed not brute force. LT Joe Thomas enters his second NFL season already a Pro Bowl player. Joe Thomas was key to the Cleveland Browns turnaround from mediocrity to one of the top offensive teams in the NFL. RB Jamal Lewis was another big reason for the turnaround but has been hobbled with injuries all preseason. Much like the Dallas Cowboys, the Cleveland Browns have a great WR/TE combo in Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow, Jr. Braylon Edwards has also been hampered by injuries but should be ready to go.

Cleveland Browns Defense:

The Cleveland Browns boast an impressive 3-4 defensive alignment. Unlike the Dallas Cowboys, the Cleveland Browns run a more conservative version that runs off many zones and focuses on turnovers. The addition of NT Shaun Rodgers in the offseason will be a boon for the Cleveland Browns, as he can overpower any center in the NFL. A pair of ILBs in D’Qwell Jackson and Andra Davis rule the middle of the field. OLB Kamerion Wimbley may have hit a slump lately but has the same potential as DeMarcus Ware. The Cleveland Browns secondary may not be filled with stars, but they are all a perfect fit for the Cleveland Browns zone system.

Dallas Cowboys Keys to Victory:

The Dallas Cowboys defense will have a tough time operating against the athletic offensive line of the Cleveland Browns. Joe Thomas has the potential to shut down DeMarcus Ware so Greg Ellis will have to step up his game on the other side. With such a deep secondary playing the backend of the field, the pass rush will not be as important. Adam Jones may be playing nickel back, but he is still one of the best corners in the NFL. Starters Anthony Henry and Terrance Newman have the ability to shutdown Braylon Edwards. Kellen Winslow will be the wildcard as he causes match-up problems all over the field.

The Dallas Cowboys will have a great chance to pass all over the Cleveland Browns. With injuries to both starting Cleveland Browns safeties making them questionable for the game, the back of the Cleveland Browns zone defense will be weak. Terrell Owens will have the ability to rip the Cleveland Browns secondary wide open. The Dallas Cowboys running game may have a hard time getting any push thanks to the presence of Shaun Rodgers in the middle, and the O-Line must be ready to pass protect all game long.

Cleveland Browns Keys to Victory:

Shutting down Marion Barber and Felix Jones will be a priority for the Cleveland Browns. NT Shaun Rodgers will have to play up to his talent and paycheck if the Cleveland Browns hope to accomplish this. With the injuries in the secondary leaving weak spots in the zone, Kamerion Wimbley will have to go back to his old form as an elite pass rusher. Veteran OLB Willie McGinest and young OLB Antwan Peek are both suffering from injuries. If the Cleveland Browns can shut down the Dallas Cowboys running game then the complex blitzing schemes of Romeo Crennel can be fully realized.

Offensively the Cleveland Browns will have to stop DeMarcus Ware and the other pass rushers of the Dallas Cowboys. Joe Thomas will have Derek Anderson’s blindside covered, but the center of the Cleveland Browns O-Line will be the true battlefield. If the Cleveland Browns can establish the run early then the center of the field will be open for Kellen Winslow, Jr. to run wild. Dallas Cowboys SS Roy Williams has proven to be the one consistent weakness in the all-star secondary, and Kellen Winslow will be sure to exploit him for big gains.

Cowboys vs. Browns Outlook

The Dallas Cowboys are armed with 13 returning Pro Bowl players and have improved their team even more with the additions of Pacman Jones and Felix Jones. When it comes to pure talent perhaps only the San Diego Chargers match the Dallas Cowboys. The Cleveland Browns may not have the high talent level but always play with heart. The Cleveland Browns also have the talent and will to win the battle on both sides of the trenches. If the Cleveland Browns can control the line of scrimmage, then they have a great chance of winning.

The injuries to the Cleveland Browns defense will leave them open for attack however. Thanks to a great secondary, the Dallas Cowboys will be able to shut down the passing game with the exception of Kellen Winslow, Jr. If schemed correctly, the Dallas Cowboys could even stop the great TE from being a huge factor. The Cleveland Browns have the heart and drive to take on the Dallas Cowboys, but their injured secondary is outmatched by the Dallas Cowboys dazzling arsenal of talent in the passing game.