5 plays that shaped the Cowboys’ big win over Browns (2024)

Football is back and the Cowboys are undefeated! They marched into Cleveland as 2.5 point underdogs and whooped the Browns to the tune of a 33-17 final score. It wasn’t the most exciting game ever, but Dallas controlled things for the majority of the day with a methodical offense, stifling defense, and some really special moments on special teams. These five plays were especially crucial in the final outcome of the game.

False start forces Browns to settle for field goal

It’s easy to forget now, but things didn’t look too hot for the Cowboys right out the gate. Their offense started with a three-and-out and Bryan Anger shanked a punt, setting the Browns up at midfield. It didn’t take much to get into field goal range, but the defense made a stop on third down.

Facing fourth and two at the Dallas 28, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski opted to go for it. However, tackle Dawand Jones - starting in this game in place of injured Jack Conklin - moved early, drawing a false start and backing Cleveland up five yards.

That led to the decision to take the field goal instead. Considering that Cleveland had averaged 4.6 yards per play on that opening drive, odds seem good that they would’ve been able to convert the fourth and two attempt. Instead, they settled for three points, giving the Cowboys the chance to take the lead instead of just tie things up.

Dak Prescott drops dime to CeeDee Lamb to flip field

Following the Browns’ field goal to go up 3-0, the Cowboys offense retook the field, looking to do better than they did on their first drive. That happened almost immediately, with CeeDee Lamb gaining a first down on a jet sweep run and moving the ball near midfield.

Following a dropped pass from KaVontae Turpin, the Cowboys faced second down at their own 40-yard line. Dak Prescott, who had an uneven performance on the day, uncorked a beautiful pass that dropped right into CeeDee Lamb’s bread basket.

All in all, the pass picked up 34 yards and completely flipped the field from the Dallas 40 to the Cleveland 26. Three plays later, Prescott found Brandin Cooks in the endzone for a touchdown to give the Cowboys the lead. They never gave the lead back to the Browns either, but it was the Prescott-to-Lamb connection here that set it all up.

Micah Parsons’ first sack of year comes on third down

The Cowboys’ next offensive possession ultimately ended in a punt, a harbinger of the struggles they’d face all day against this talented Browns defense. Still facing a narrow 7-3 score, Cleveland had a chance to retake the lead.

Two quick incompletions from Deshaun Watson brought up third and long, though. Standing at their own 20-yard line, the Browns had Watson drop back to pass again. That’s when Micah Parsons came through:

Parsons not only fought off the chip from the running back, but he managed to circle around his defensive tackle on the delayed stunt and get right to Watson for the impact play. This was just one of many big plays for Parsons in this game, who put up nine total pressures, but it set the tone for the game this defense was about to have.

Micah Parsons tips the pass to Eric Kendricks for the interception

Following the Cowboys’ next touchdown, they had staked out a 17-3 lead with a little over two minutes to go in the first half. Things were getting close to blowout status, but the Browns were just one good drive away from being right back in it.

That didn’t happen. The Browns followed up the two minute warning with a holding penalty that backed them up to their own 26 on second down. As Watson looked for somewhere to go with the football, Parsons made another impact play, getting his hands up at the right time.

The headshands-up play tipped the ball up and allowed Eric Kendricks to get underneath it and secure the interception. Dallas would ultimately settle for a field goal, but that extended the lead to 20-3 and further damaged the confidence of Watson and the offense. That allowed the Cowboys to enter halftime with a strong lead.

KaVontae Turpin ices the game with first career return TD

Coming out of the halftime break, the Cowboys hadn’t put the game on ice just yet, but they were getting close to it. Cleveland got the ball to start the third quarter, but a sack from DeMarcus Lawrence on third down ended that drive quickly.

Corey Bojorquez came on to punt the ball away to KaVontae Turpin, who had already put together some solid returns in this game. This time, though, Turpin did the thing that Cowboys fans have been waiting years for:

Turpin returned the punt 60 yards for a touchdown, his first return touchdown in the regular season and, in doing so, he put this game on ice. The Cowboys went up 27-3 early in the third quarter, an insurmountable lead given how the Browns offense had played all day. Even when Watson threw a touchdown pass on the following drive, this game was pretty much over the moment Turpin took the punt to the house.