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Tribune News Service

Sport

Calvin Watkins

5 thoughts from Cowboys-Browns: Dallas' run defense is trash, and turnovers prove costly yet again

Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Tyrone Crawford (98) makes a diving attempt at Cleveland Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (13) on a reverse in the first quarter on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. (Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News/TNS)

ARLINGTON, Texas _ You can discuss the two turnovers by the Cowboys' biggest stars, Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott, but there's no excuse for the defense and how poorly it played against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.

You can also blame defensive coordinator Mike Nolan for the scheme and the players for the lack of execution.

In reality, this mess of a game, a 49-38 victory by the Browns over the Cowboys, resides on the head coach Mike McCarthy. Yes, the Cowboys rallied with 24 fourth-quarter points to make the game close. However, the Cowboys are an onside kick recovery from being 0-4.

Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs (27) brings down Cleveland Browns running back Kareem Hunt (27) short of the goal line during the second quarter on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. (Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News/TNS)

Think about that as you spit out your nachos.

Here are five thoughts from the game.

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Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (88) catches a pass for a touchdown in front of Cleveland Browns free safety Andrew Sendejo (23) during the first quarter on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. (Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News/TNS)

So, have we been here before?

The last time the Cowboys started 1-3 was the 2010 season. Wade Phillips was the head coach, only to get fired that year and replaced by Jason Garrett. The Cowboys finished 8-8 and the rest, as they say, is history. We guess. The Cowboys never got further than the divisional round of the NFC playoffs and Garrett was eventually let go in favor of the man who is now 1-3. McCarthy's been here before. In his first season with the Packers in 2006, they started 1-3 before turning things around to finish, hold on, 8-8.

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Dallas Cowboys center Joe Looney (73) grabs his leg after being injured on the play in a game against the Cleveland Browns during the first quarter on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. (Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News/TNS)

Run defense is trash

With seven minutes and 55 seconds remaining in the third quarter, the Browns had 208 rushing yards. That's right, 208 yards. When the game ended, the Browns had 307 total rushing yards, the most allowed this season by the Cowboys. Nick Chubb finished with just 43 yards before a knee injury knocked him out in the second quarter. No problem. Kareem Hunt finished with 71 rushing yards, some dude named D'Ernest Johnson came in and gained 95 rushing yards and let's not forget Odell Beckham Jr., who picked up 50 yards on an end-around late in the game. It was an embarrassing performance by the Cowboys' run defense. Midway through the fourth quarter, some of the Browns' fans started barking as if the game were in Cleveland.

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Cleveland Browns free safety Andrew Sendejo (23) strips the ball out of the hands of Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) as Cleveland Browns linebacker Sione Takitaki (44) makes the tackle, forcing a Cowboys turnover during the second quarter on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. (Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News/TNS)

Turnovers lead to 14 points

Turnovers are detrimental to an NFL team. The Cowboys had two, costing them 14 points. Myles Garrett beat right tackle Terence Steele for a strip sack with 11:15 to play in the second quarter and the score tied. It was Prescott's third lost fumble of the season, but can you really blame him for this one? The Cowboys allowed Garrett to face Steele one-on-one numerous times in the first half before his benching. After the strip sack, the Browns scored to take a 21-14 lead. On the next possession, Elliott had a long run of 24 yards end in a fumble. Elliott was being tackled and as he sat on the helmet of a Browns defender, safety Andrew Sendejo stripped him of the ball. The Browns recovered and promptly scored to push the lead to 28-14. So, two offensive plays lead to 14 quick points by the opponent in the first half.

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Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) sacks Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) during the first quarter on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. (Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News/TNS)

Offensive line issues

Tyron Smith returned to start at left tackle after missing the previous two games with a neck stinger. Too bad La'el Collins couldn't play at right tackle. With Collins out for the season due to hip surgery scheduled for Wednesday, the Cowboys asked undrafted rookie Steele to protect Prescott from Garrett. He had problems, so many that Brandon Knight took over at right tackle. The Cowboys also lost starting center Joe Looney to a knee injury on the first offensive play of the game. Rookie Tyler Biadasz became the starting center as Looney didn't return. So as the Cowboys move forward in their season, the right tackle spot is uncertain unless you believe in Knight, and the center spot may have a rookie starting next week against the New York Giants.