Dallas Cowboys vs Cleveland Browns match tips: Underdogs can prevail

The Dallas Cowboys will begin the 2024 season on the road against an AFC opponent that made the playoffs last year. That's never an easy task for a team. When you consider that the Cowboys will have a rookie left tackle making his first career appearance against Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett, the task becomes even more difficult.

But the Cowboys are a very talented squad. Lost in all the gloom of a strange offseason is the fact that the Cowboys have won 12 games in three straight seasons. You can't do that in the NFL with flash. You need solid talent.

So which direction should we go with our prediction for the upcoming game? Our friends at FanDuel have the Cowboys as 2.5-point underdogs. Before we make the BTB pick here, let's see what others are saying.

CBS Sports

Here's a Week 1 matchup between last year's leader in offense and last year's leader in total defense. Something has to happen.

I'm not very happy with the Cowboys this season and think their running back room could be very disappointing. It's not good for the Cowboys that they're facing perhaps the toughest defense in the league on the road while star wideout CeeDee Lamb has spent a lot of time away from the team. Then there are the new starters on the offensive line who will have to somehow keep Myles Garrett in check. The Browns were 8-1 at home last year and allowed just 13.9 points per game. That was, of course, 1st in the NFL.

I can't tell you if Deshaun Watson will finally show up this year, but I still like the Browns' first week.

Expected result: Brown tones 21-17

One for the villains. What's missing from this analysis is that the Browns will have injury issues at tackle, which likely gives Micah Parsons an advantage, as does Garrett, who is going up against a rookie. And the Browns' ground attack will be missing Nick Chubb. Let's get another opinion.

USA Today

Lorenzo Reyes: Cowboys 21, Browns 18

I think Cleveland's defense could be the best in the NFL this season, but I have a hard time trusting Deshaun Watson at quarterback. The Browns have played much better with Joe Flacco at quarterback. And on the other hand, the Cowboys haven't had a great offseason, but the pressure is on Mike McCarthy. I think Dallas could pull off an upset.

Tyler Dragon: Cowboys 25, Browns 24

Tom Brady's televised debut may be more anticipated than the actual game. But the Cowboys and Browns enter the season with a lot of pressure and high expectations. Deshaun Watson is probably under the most pressure of any quarterback this year. He hasn't lived up to expectations after his record-setting contract. Cleveland has a talented roster. They need Watson to regain his H-Town form.

A few for the good guys. And Deshaun Watson's play could mean so much in this game. No position is more important than quarterback, and Watson hasn't been particularly good at it in a while.

To complement those other tips: bet on the Cowboys to cover, but really bet on them to cover and win. Everyone talks about the Browns defense all the time, and rightfully so, but it's not like the Cowboys are weak on defense. And their one Achilles heel, their run defense, was fixed by switching to Mike Zimmer as coordinator, who then set about making the defensive tackle and linebacker positions bigger and stronger. The Cowboys' defense should give Watson problems, and if the Browns can't run the ball efficiently, that's going to be a big problem.

The Cowboys' running game doesn't scare anyone, but Dak Prescott is a far superior quarterback to Watson, and he has CeeDee Lamb, who will be the best receiver on the field. Both offenses may not be able to run the ball as well as hoped, and if that's the case, look to Prescott over Watson to fill the gap. Even though the Cowboys have to start with a rookie at corner, Watson doesn't exactly instill fear in opponents.

Take the Cowboys 24-17.