On a wild day for Dak Prescott, the Browns show the Cowboys and their QB why the mega deal is a win for both

CLEVELAND – Emotions were running high in the back locker of the Cleveland Browns’ locker room.

Dak Prescott had reason to celebrate on Sunday after his agent Todd France confirmed in a morning FaceTime call that France and Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones had reached a contract extension worth $60 million a year – an NFL record.

He also had reason to celebrate with his team after a Cowboys team that struggled on the road last season earned a 33-17 victory over a Browns team that had played well at home.

But Prescott was frustrated, or at least annoyed. The early offensive momentum that gave the Cowboys more points in the first half than the Browns had all day flickered in the second half. Prescott's own statistics were efficient and turnover-free, but more like a quarterback helping his team rather than carrying it.

That's what the quarterback's never-satisfied bones said to him while the locker room around him wanted to celebrate.

“In the locker room, you try to be disappointed about it, but you know it's an away win that's good for the team, and then you tell your teammates, 'That was a hell of a day for you,'” Prescott said afterward. “I'm not happy with my personal performance today and that motivates me.

“No one is a greater critic than myself and I expect great things from myself.”

By making Prescott the highest-paid player in NFL history, the Cowboys signaled that they expect big things from him, too. Sunday's game didn't undermine their expectations. But it did show why the deal made sense for both Prescott and the franchise. It also showed how society's confluence of quarterback value and quarterback performance sometimes clouds the reality of the NFL.

Prescott's guaranteed salary of $231 million surpassed the previous NFL record set by fellow Sunday player Deshaun Watson by $1 million. While their financials are now similar, their franchises' opening performances tell very different stories.

Prescott contributed enough to a talented team's road victory. Watson was hit 17 times and had six sacks while fumbling the ball and throwing two interceptions. Shaky defense, missed shots by the quarterback and miscommunication by the receivers all contributed to the loss. Even though Watson reiterated after the game that there were no excuses, the Browns organization knew something had to change.

“He got hit way too many times,” Cleveland head coach Kevin Stefanski said. “We can't let that happen to him. He fought like crazy, and listen, the football team fought like crazy until the end.”

“But the bottom line is that we need to protect our quarterback better.”

While Prescott had to take 4 hits, Watson had to take 17 (!).

Before Prescott found his rhythm in Cleveland, he had to endure a heavy blow of his own.

A holding penalty had put the Cowboys on first-and-20 on their opening drive. Dallas started with two rookies on the offensive line, but the first of three sacks Prescott suffered was not the result of a rookie. Browns defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson instead recorded the rare sack that comes from beating nine-time Pro Bowl right guard Zack Martin. Tomlinson ran right through to Prescott, who sacked him for a loss of 7 yards.

On the sideline after the resulting punt, Prescott said, “I needed that.”

Consider the wake-up call heard.

Prescott was reminded not only of how hard the hits were, but also how quickly and precisely he had to target his receivers, or in this case, tight end Jake Ferguson. His attractive new contract would not change the challenge ahead.

So on the next drive, Prescott grabbed a rebound and found receiver CeeDee Lamb twice, including a go ball 34 yards down the right sideline, even though the duo hadn't paid attention to go ball timing during training camp and Lamb was hoping for a contract extension. Even in Lamb's week back at practice, they had little luck on the route.

But the Cowboys needed momentum for their away game against the No. 1 defense of 2023, and the expensive duo delivered.

Three plays later, Prescott spotted Brandin Cooks breaking away from safety Juan Thornhill and threw a 21-yard pass from the collapsing pocket for the game's first touchdown.

By halftime, the Cowboys had 13 first downs and 20 points. The Browns had one first down and one field goal. Cleveland could not overcome that.

Prescott and the Cowboys offense returned from the locker room and put together a second half that several Dallas players described as “sloppy.” The Cowboys struggled with the first- and second-down rhythm they had found in the first half, and their diminished efficiency led to a third-down pressure they couldn't resist. Stalling offenses gave kicker Brandon Aubrey plenty of work on the day, and a punt return touchdown by KaVontae Turpin further extended Dallas' lead. But the Cowboys offense didn't score a touchdown in the second half, managing just two first downs compared to 13 in the first half. By the end of the game, the Browns had caught up statistically in several categories, even if they never really seemed within striking distance.

“We just couldn't score on the third down, and that's something we did really well and I'm very proud of,” Prescott said. “We had a couple of three-and-outs in the second half that made the team think they had a chance to get back in the game and put a little pressure on our defense.”

“I can be better in this game in many ways.”

His counterpart expressed similar views.

Both teams went into this opening game knowing they would face tough defenses and a lot of pressure. Neither had a fully established offensive line, although the Cowboys' two rookie starters fared far better than a Browns group missing both starting tackles. Cleveland also has yet to bring running back Nick Chubb back from the physically unable to perform list. Chubb demands defensive attention, which forces opponents to apply some of the pressure that Watson faced on Sunday.

Still, the Cowboys recovered from an early sack to score 33 points and lead for the final 53 minutes and five seconds of the game, coming away with no turnovers and only four hits against Prescott.

The Browns let Watson take 17 hits in his first game back from shoulder surgery and entered the final minute with just one touchdown. That score came from a referee mix-up involving a first-down attempt in the red zone that both teams thought was a fourth-down attempt. Their defense's steadfast effort was for naught.

“No excuses,” Watson said. “I'm going to take the blame and get the guys on the same page, and next week we've got to be better. We've just got to go out there and execute. … Find any kind of positivity.”

What the Browns can't do, the Cowboys can.

Jerry Jones hinted to Dak that the deal was imminent – ​​and then delivered

Prescott didn't expect Jerry Jones to come at him on Saturday.

The quarterback had so little expected his team owner's comments that when Jones went out to warm up the team, his quarterback briefly looked at the ball and then continued throwing.

As Jones got closer, Prescott asked his quarterback colleagues: Is he coming to talk to me?

“F***,” he said, not sure in which direction he was even shouting, but knowing that more specific words would not express his feelings.

“He asked me, 'Have you talked to anyone in the last 24 or 12 hours?' And I said, 'No, I haven't,'” Prescott told Yahoo Sports. “When I left practice, I called [my agent] Todd [France] and said, 'Hey, Jerry just came up to me and asked.' And Todd literally said, 'Yeah, who knows. Nothing much has really happened. We talked all night. … We're not that close.'”

“When I got on the plane, I thought, 'I'm playing without it.'”

But the Cowboys have long said deadlines are how you get deals done, and this case was no exception. The team has seemingly acknowledged the reality that negotiating with other prospects in 2025 would give Prescott literally unimaginable benefits. Prescott and his representative wanted to consider that earning potential while recognizing that the Cowboys are giving him a chance to play for his favorite childhood team, near his family, alongside a talented cast.

They agreed that $60 million per season now reflects not only the 2024 market, but also the 2025 market they were otherwise heading toward. Jones said “he's our best chance at a Super Bowl,” and the 82-year-old added that he hopes Prescott remains the Cowboys' quarterback for the rest of his life.

Prescott celebrated from his hotel room with 2016 draft classmate Ezekiel Elliott and physical therapist Luke Miller. He FaceTimed with his team of pros who have become like family to him, then with his girlfriend Sarah Jane Ramos and daughter MJ Prescott, called his father and sent more text messages.

He then prepared for the start of the season in a stadium within sight of his hotel.

He played a game alongside a stellar defense and special teamers who reminded him why the Cowboys' roster may give him a better chance to win the Super Bowl than any other 2025 contender. And the Cowboys watched the Browns fall apart without a quarterback to keep them afloat in the chaos of that day. They were glad their quarterback got off to a strong start, even if the offense showed weaknesses later in a league where players and units rarely dominate an entire day.

Prescott's teammates reminded him to celebrate the win and the contract, even if his and their work wasn't done. Running back Malik Davis was the first of a group that playfully gave Prescott wrist sizes and asked him when he would give them watches with his signing bonus, while Turpin — who scored the punt return touchdown — told Prescott he now owed the receiver $1,500 a week, with little context.

Prescott sighed with relief because the expectations of a maybe-soon-maybe-not contract were over, the prospect of a near-divorce from Dallas had evaporated, and his team was one win closer to its ultimate postseason goals.

The Cowboys had fulfilled their commitment to Prescott both financially and roster-wise, and he was eager to fulfill his commitment in the coming months.

“I just want to keep my end of the bargain and give it to him,” Prescott said. “I'm blessed and grateful.”