By Avnish Singh 
CLEVELAND – On a day packed with notable events, including a significant contract extension for Dak Prescott, the Cowboys delivered a thorough drubbing to the Browns on all fronts – offense, defense, and special teams.
Yet, amidst the onslaught, certain plays often get overlooked but could have influenced the final score. Here are some moments that, while they might not make the highlight reel, played a crucial role in the outcome.
False Start by the Browns – On Cleveland’s opening drive, the Browns appeared to be making progress and aimed to continue with a fourth-and-2 attempt at the Cowboys’ 28-yard line. However, a false start on Jack Conklin, who was trying to get a head start on blocking Micah Parsons, pushed them back 5 yards. After a timeout, Dustin Hopkins managed a 51-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead. The penalty potentially cost the Browns a chance at a touchdown.
Lamb’s Jet Sweep – CeeDee Lamb, known for setting franchise records last year and being the highest-paid receiver in Cowboys history, made his mark with a run. Despite a sluggish start for the Cowboys’ offense, marked by a backward move on their initial drive and a penalty on the second, Lamb’s 10-yard run provided a much-needed first down. This play helped stabilize the offense, which then advanced down the field. Lamb later caught a deep pass, and Prescott connected with Brandin Cooks for a touchdown.
Tolbert Recovers a Loose Ball – Early in the second quarter, Prescott was hit by Browns defensive end Myles Garrett on a play that appeared to be a pass. The ball rolled harmlessly to the right, but Jalen Tolbert smartly pounced on it, anticipating it might be ruled a fumble. The play was ultimately judged a sack and fumble, and had Tolbert not recovered, the Browns could have capitalized and potentially scored. Although the Cowboys eventually punted, the Browns failed to secure a first down in the second quarter.
Browns’ Offside Penalty at the 7 – As the Cowboys approached the end of a lengthy drive in the second quarter, they faced first-and-goal at the Cleveland 7-yard line. Prescott was sacked on the first down, but Garrett was penalized for lining up offside. This penalty negated the sack and gave the Cowboys the ball at the 3-yard line. With a new set of downs, Ezekiel Elliott received the handoff and scored. The difference between having the ball at the 7 versus the 3-yard line was significant, and this penalty directly led to a touchdown, extending the Cowboys’ lead to 14-3.
Aubrey’s Rolling Kickoff – In the second quarter, after Elliott’s touchdown run pushed the Cowboys to a 14-3 lead, Brandon Aubrey’s kickoff provided a key advantage. Aubrey’s line-drive kick split the two return men and bounced around the 5-yard line before rolling into the end zone. Under the new rules, a touchback occurs when the ball lands in the 20-yard area and then rolls into the end zone, placing it at the 20. The Browns couldn’t gain a first down, and the Cowboys capitalized on excellent field position, starting at their own 44-yard line, to add another field goal.
Overshown Seals the Deal – Late in the third quarter, with the Browns trailing by 17 and attempting a comeback, Deshaun Watson tried to scramble on fourth-and-7 near midfield. However, linebacker DeMarvion Overshown quickly closed the gap and thwarted Watson’s escape, sacking the Cleveland quarterback and causing a turnover on downs. The Cowboys then added a 50-yard field goal by Aubrey, pushing their lead to 30-10.
