Good morning Cowboys fans, it's Sunday! It's game day and the Cowboys are in Cleveland. Kickoff is at noon and while the Dawg Pound are sitting at zero wins on the year, the Cleveland Browns are sitting at zero wins on the year… wait, what?
That wasn't a mistake. The Dawg Pound, the fan base in Cleveland, has no wins this year from their beloved football team, which probably makes last year's championship for LeBron and the Cavaliers a little saltier. But regardless, the team is at zero wins and, as you've undoubtedly heard throughout the week, that can be dangerous.
Can anyone say trap game?
Oddly enough, these Cowboys are the young guns we're so pumped about at 6-1 on the season — just 1 or 2 erroneous plays from 7-0 — and my gut instinct is that because they're young, they'll avoid the potential pitfalls of this game. Everything is newer, including the confidence of being 6-1 with Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott leading the charge. It's hard to get caught up in that when you really don't even believe it yet. But let's not forget what it was like to be young. It's easier to get swept away.
The Cowboys have had good luck against the Browns in recent years, winning four of their last five meetings, but haven't played the Browns since November of 2012. It's an unfamiliar team for them, and especially with rookie QB Cody Kessler, the Browns' third round selection of the 2016 draft.
Of course, the Cowboys are battling injuries (same story, different year, right?). Both Morris Claiborne and Barry Church are ruled out for this contest, two guys who have helped shore up this secondary.
Long story short… nobody knows what to expect today.
A winless team through the first half of the year is hungry. The Cowboys just need to avoid getting bit.
So let's have a look at what the guys here at Inside The Star expect from today's game.
Brian Martin | @Bmart0204
This is a matchup the Dallas Cowboys should dominate in all three phases of the game. I think the Cowboys will rely heavily on the running game, led by Ezekiel Elliott, and try to limit the time their defense is on the field.
I have the Cowboys dominating the time of possession and easily defeating the Cleveland Browns on their home turf.
Cowboys 31 – Browns 17
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Justin Grohowski | @Grohowknowhow
I have a feeling this one will be a closer game than most may expect.
Cleveland has been in almost every game this season, minus a select few, and they aren't short on play makers at wide receiver with Corey Coleman back in action. With a banged up secondary, the Cowboys defense could struggle in this one.
In the end, though, the offensive firepower of the Cowboys will be too much for Cleveland. Ezekiel Elliott runs for 150 on an awful run defense as Dallas pulls out a close one.
Cowboys 27 – Browns 23
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Sean Martin | @ShoreSportsNJ
I became a Dallas Cowboys fan because they won their most recent Super Bowl on my birthday – January 28th, 1996. Now, 20 years later, I'll be in attendance for my first ever game – and they simply are not losing this one.
I gave some thought to the “trap game” narrative earlier in the week, but Dak Prescott is out for some redemption, and the Browns also aren't ready for Ezekiel Elliott. 7-1? Here we come.
Cowboys 31 – Browns 17
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Jess Haynie | @CowboysAddicts
The Browns offense moves the ball better than you'd think from a 0-8 team, but they can't finish drives. This fits well with the Dallas defense, which can give up yardage but keeps teams out of the end zone. The Cowboys offense will feel liberated after a tough week against the Eagles, facing the 31st-ranked defense in Cleveland.
Cowboys 34 – Browns 16
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Ian Koplowitz | @BleedingTheStar
The Browns' run defense is extremely suspect. I expect Scott Linehan to use a steady dose of Zeke Elliott and Alfred Morris throughout the afternoon. The Browns have some weapons coming back, but I think we're the better team.
As long as we don't get cocky, this should be a routine win.
Cowboys 27 – Browns 17
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Kevin Brady | @Kevinbrady88
This game scares me.
Yes, the Browns are winless and the Cowboys are riding high on a six-game win streak, but that just might be the problem. I think the Browns give the Cowboys a good fight, keeping it close for three quarters. In the end, talent wins out and the Cowboys improve to 7-1.
Cowboys 30 – Browns 21
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John Williams | @John9williams
While this has the opportunity to be the infamous trap game for a Dallas Cowboys team that is rolling, I think they came back to work focused and determined after a poor showing for 3 1/2 quarters against Philadelphia last Sunday Night.
Jason Garrett's mantra of focusing on making yourself better with each rep and each practice is only going to get this team more prepared to play. Against the second worst rushing defense in the NFL, the offensive line and Ezekiel Elliott are going to have a field day.
Cowboys 38 – Browns 14
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Bryson Treece | @BrysonTreece
Nothing is guaranteed in this league, especially not when one team is chomping at the bit for their first win in week 9, so I don't expect a trouncing today.
The Browns have some weapons on offense that can make a difference. They also have a rookie QB starting, and those haven't been very predictable this year. With the Dallas defense banged up, this could be much closer than people expect, even without it being a trap game. In the end, the Cowboys win.
Cowboys 27 – Browns 20
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I'd like to note that Staff Writer Sean Martin made the drive from New Jersey to Cleveland for this one, so if you see a skinny kid wearing a #70 Martin jersey, give him a shout. It's his first Cowboys game! Can't be easy being a life-long Cowboys fan in New Jersey… so enjoy it, brother.
Be safe, be happy, and GO COWBOYS!!!
