Dallas Cowboys vs Cleveland Browns Match Player Stats: Complete 33-17 Breakdown

Looking at the Dallas Cowboys vs Cleveland Browns match player stats from their Week 1 showdown reveals why Dallas dominated in their 33-17 victory.

I’ve crunched the numbers from this September 8, 2024 contest to give you the full picture of how the Cowboys outclassed the Browns at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland.

If you’re wondering which players stepped up, who disappointed, and how the game unfolded statistically, you’ll find everything broken down in detail below.

Game Overview: Cowboys Control from Start to Finish

The scoreline tells most of the story – Dallas controlled this game nearly from start to finish:

• Browns took an early 3-0 lead (Hopkins 51-yard FG)
• Cowboys responded quickly with Prescott to Cooks TD (21 yards)
• Ezekiel Elliott punched in a 3-yard TD in his Cowboys return
• Cowboys led 20-3 at halftime
• KaVontae Turpin’s 60-yard punt return TD made it 27-3
• Final score: 33-17 Cowboys

The attendance at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland was 67,431, who witnessed a dominant defensive showing by Dallas.

Head-to-Head Team Stats Comparison

The raw numbers show efficiency was key for Dallas:

Stat	Dallas Cowboys	Cleveland Browns
Total Net Yards	265	230
Passing Yards	163	137
Rushing Yards	102	93
First Downs	15	15
Third Down Success	4/14 (28.6%)	2/15 (13.3%)
Fourth Down Success	0/0 (0%)	3/5 (60%)
Total Plays	60	70
Yards Per Play	4.4	3.3
Penalties	11 for 85 yards	11 for 64 yards
Time of Possession	29:06	30:54
Sacks Allowed	3	6
Interceptions	0	2

While Cleveland ran more plays and held the ball longer, Dallas was much more efficient with their possessions.

Cowboys Offensive Stars: Prescott Manages While Turpin Electrifies

Dak Prescott managed the game effectively with no major mistakes:

• 19/32 completions (59.4%)
• 179 passing yards
• 1 touchdown, 0 interceptions
• Sacked 3 times
• 85.3 passer rating

The ground game was split between several Cowboys:

• Ezekiel Elliott: 10 carries, 40 yards, 1 TD
• Rico Dowdle: 8 carries, 26 yards
• CeeDee Lamb: 3 carries, 25 yards
• Small contributions from Vaughn, Prescott, and Rush

In the receiving game, CeeDee Lamb was the primary target:

• CeeDee Lamb: 5 catches, 61 yards (10 targets)
• Brandin Cooks: 4 catches, 40 yards, 1 TD (7 targets)
• Jake Ferguson: 3 catches, 15 yards (5 targets)
• Seven different Cowboys caught at least one pass

Browns Offensive Struggles: Watson Under Pressure

Deshaun Watson had a rough outing against the Dallas pass rush, posting one of his worst statistical performances since joining Cleveland:

• 24/45 completions (53.3%) – well below his career average
• Only 169 passing yards (just 3.8 yards per attempt)
• 1 touchdown, 2 costly interceptions
• Sacked 6 times for significant yardage losses
• Dismal 51.1 passer rating (compared to his career average near 90)
• Pressured on 17 of his dropbacks (37.8% pressure rate)

The Browns rushing attack never established rhythm against the Cowboys front:

• Jerome Ford: 12 carries, 44 yards, 1 TD (just 3.7 yards per carry)
• Deshaun Watson: 5 carries, 39 yards (mostly scrambles under pressure)
• Pierre Strong Jr: 2 carries, 10 yards (limited opportunities)
• Team rushing efficiency: 3.3 yards per attempt (below league average)

Cleveland’s receiving corps spread the ball around:

• David Njoku: 4 catches, 44 yards (5 targets) – left with ankle injury
• Jordan Akins: 3 catches, 27 yards (4 targets)
• Jerry Jeudy: 3 catches, 25 yards, 1 TD (8 targets)
• Jerome Ford: 6 catches, 25 yards (7 targets)
• Amari Cooper: Just 2 catches on 9 targets for 16 yards

Defensive Statistical Comparison: Cowboys’ Pressure vs Browns’ Missed Opportunities

Cowboys Defensive Playmakers

The Dallas defense dominated the statistical categories that matter most:

• Eric Kendricks: Complete performance with 6 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 interception, 3 QB hurries
• DeMarcus Lawrence: 4 tackles, 2 sacks, 4 QB pressures, 1 tackle for loss
• Micah Parsons: Game-wrecking presence with 3 tackles, 1 sack, 11 QB pressures (35.5% pressure rate)
• Trevon Diggs: 4 tackles, 1 interception, 2 passes defended
• DeMarvion Overshown: 5 tackles, 1 sack, 2 QB hurries
• Team defensive efficiency: 6 sacks on 45 dropbacks (13.3% sack rate), 2 interceptions (4.4% INT rate)

Browns Defensive Bright Spots

Cleveland’s defense applied some pressure but failed to create game-changing plays:

• Juan Thornhill: Led team with 8 tackles (7 solo), 1 pass defended
• Jordan Hicks: Active with 7 tackles (3 solo), 1 tackle for loss
• Myles Garrett: 1 sack, 3 QB pressures, 1 tackle for loss
• Za’Darius Smith: 1 sack, 4 QB hurries, 2 QB hits
• Dalvin Tomlinson: 1 sack, 2 tackles
• Team defensive shortfalls: 0 turnovers forced, allowed 4.4 yards per play, 28.6% third down conversion rate

Special Teams Difference-Maker

The special teams battle was decisively won by Dallas:

• Brandon Aubrey: Perfect 4/4 on field goals (57, 40, 50, 46 yards) and 3/3 on PATs
• KaVontae Turpin: Game-changing 60-yard punt return TD, plus averaged 19.2 yards on 5 returns
• Bryan Anger: 49.0 yard average on 6 punts

Cleveland’s special teams were solid but not spectacular:

• Dustin Hopkins: 1/1 on field goals (51 yards) and 2/2 on PATs
• Corey Bojorquez: 51.0 yard average on 7 punts
• Jaelon Darden: 24.3 yard average on kickoff returns

Snap Count Analysis: Key Player Usage

The Cowboys’ snap distribution tells us about their game plan:

• Dak Prescott: 62 snaps (98%)
• Ezekiel Elliott: 32 snaps (51%)
• Rico Dowdle: 28 snaps (44%)
• Brandin Cooks: 50 snaps (79%)
• CeeDee Lamb: 45 snaps (71%)
• Jake Ferguson: 39 snaps (62%)
• Micah Parsons: 69 snaps (91%)
• Trevon Diggs: 72 snaps (95%)

The near-even split between Elliott and Dowdle shows Dallas plans to share the backfield duties this season.

Why the Cowboys Won: Four Key Factors

1. Turnover Battle: Dallas won 2-0, with both interceptions leading to points
2. Defensive Pressure: 6 sacks and 11 QB pressures from Parsons alone
3. Special Teams: Turpin’s punt return TD changed momentum completely
4. Efficiency: Cowboys did more with less (4.4 yards per play vs 3.3)

Even with similar total yardage numbers, Dallas was clearly the better team in all phases.

• Also Read: Denver Broncos vs Seahawks Match Player Stats.

FAQs About Dallas Cowboys vs Cleveland Browns Match Player Stats

Who was the statistical MVP of the Cowboys vs Browns game?

While several players starred, Eric Kendricks dominated statistically with 6 tackles, 2 sacks and an interception. His disruptive performance on defense directly contributed to Dallas holding Cleveland to just 3.3 yards per play.

How did Ezekiel Elliott perform in his return to the Cowboys?

Elliott delivered an efficient return performance with 10 carries for 40 yards (4.0 avg) and a touchdown, plus 2 receptions. He split backfield duties nearly 50/50 with Rico Dowdle, suggesting Dallas will employ a committee approach this season.

What do the statistics reveal about Deshaun Watson’s struggles?

Watson’s statistics show comprehensive struggles: 53.3% completion rate, 3.8 yards per attempt, 2 interceptions, 6 sacks taken, and a 51.1 passer rating. Most concerning was his pressure-to-sack ratio, with 6 sacks on 17 pressures (35.3% conversion rate).

Which statistical advantages led to the Cowboys victory despite less possession time?

Four key statistical advantages: Dallas won the turnover battle 2-0, converted third downs at a higher rate (28.6% vs 13.3%), averaged more yards per play (4.4 vs 3.3), and scored a special teams touchdown via Turpin’s 60-yard punt return.

Which Browns offensive player had the best statistical performance?

Despite the loss, Jerome Ford produced the most complete statistical performance for Cleveland with 93 total yards (44 rushing, 49 receiving) and a touchdown. He touched the ball 18 times (12 carries, 6 receptions), accounting for 25.7% of the Browns’ total offensive touches.

Key Statistical Insights for Fantasy Players

If you’re managing fantasy teams, these dallas cowboys vs cleveland browns match player stats offer several takeaways:

• CeeDee Lamb’s 10 targets show he remains Prescott’s go-to receiver
• Ezekiel Elliott and Rico Dowdle splitting carries suggests a committee approach
• Brandin Cooks remains a red zone threat with touchdown upside
• Jerome Ford getting 12 carries and 7 targets indicates he’s Cleveland’s primary back
• Amari Cooper’s 2/9 catch rate is concerning for his fantasy outlook
• David Njoku’s ankle injury needs monitoring for future availability

Final Thoughts

The Dallas Cowboys vs Cleveland Browns match player stats paint a clear picture of Dallas’ dominance in their Week 1 victory. While the Cowboys weren’t perfect (just 265 total yards), they controlled the game in all three phases and showed why they remain a championship contender this season. For the Browns, these numbers highlight critical areas to address before their Week 2 matchup.