Takeaways from Cleveland Browns Defensive Performance In Week One

With all the attention the Cleveland Browns’ offense performance in the season opener has received, let’s examine how the Browns’ defense performed against the Cowboys. How did the defense fare, what can they improve upon, and what should we expect of Jim Schwartz’s unit in week two?

Let’s go ahead and start with the numbers and talk about why only half of them are relevant. On the afternoon, the Browns’ defense gave up 265 total yards, with 163 passing yards and 102 yards on the ground. The Cowboys finished with 15 first downs and a time of possession of 29:06. While those do not seem like egregious numbers, they are missing some important context.

The Cowboys’ offense took their foot off the gas and went into complete clock-chewing mode after KaVonte Turpin’s punt return touchdown at the beginning of the third quarter when they took a commanding 27-3 lead. So, for context, let’s examine the Cowboys’ offense efficiency during the first half as a gauge of the Browns’ defensive performance.

In the first half, Dak Prescott completed 14 of his 21 pass attempts for 156 yards and a touchdown. Prescott’s 67 percent completion percentage was 10 points higher than the 57 percent the Browns’ defense averaged in 2023. The Browns sacked Prescott three times in the first half for -16 yards, bringing the Cowboys’ net passing total to 140.

The Cowboys rushed the ball 18 times in the first half for 76 yards, with Ezekiel Elliott leading the way with nine attempts for 35 yards. The Cowboys averaged 4.22 yards per rush in the first half which is just under the 4.3 yards per carry that the Browns’ defense gave up in 2023.

In total, of the 265 total yards the Browns gave up, 216 came in the first half. The Cowboys’ offense, aided by five three-and-outs and an interception by the Browns’ offense, racked up 19:56 of possession time in the first half. The Cowboys had eight possessions in the first half, two touchdown scoring drives, two field goals, three punts (two three-and-outs), and their final possession was ended by the half.