Cleveland Browns lose to Dallas Cowboys in record-setting day

The Cleveland Browns remained winless on the season after falling on Sunday to the Dallas Cowboys by a score of 35-10.

The Cleveland Browns dropped another game on Sunday in falling to the Dallas Cowboys, 35-10, at FirstEnergy Stadium.

The loss drops the Browns to 0-9 on the season and, dating back to the 2014 season, have now lost 12 in a row and 28 of their past 32 games.

While on the surface this will look like just another loss – after all, what is one more defeat when you are already 0-8 entering the game? – but this one carries with it some historical aspects. Consider that the Browns have now set or tied the following franchise or league records:

• The Browns have started 0-9 on a season for the first time since 1975.
• The Browns are the first team since the 1964 Denver Broncos to allow 25 or more points in each of their first nine games of the season.
• The 12 consecutive losses are a franchise record.
• The Browns are on pace to give up 485 points – the most in franchise history in a 16-game schedule.

Sunday’s game was basically over as soon as the Cowboys offense got its hands on the ball.

The Browns won the toss, elected to receive (more on that in a moment) and drove 62 yards in six plays for a Cody Parkey field goal. The drive started out great with consecutive completions from Cody Kessler to Terrelle Pryor for 16 yards and Isaiah Crowell for 44 yards, but ultimately bogged down.

Oh, and center Cameron Erving was ejected for fighting with Dallas defensive end David Irving on the game’s opening drive. We’ll leave it up to you, Browns fans, to determine of that was a positive or a negative for the guys in Orange and Brown.

After the Browns opened the scoring, Dallas would go on to score touchdowns on five of their next six possessions (not counting a one-play kneel down at the end of the first half) to quickly erase any hope that this would be the day that the Browns notched their initial win of the 2016 season.

The Browns generally defer win they win the coin toss, much to the befuddlement of some members of the local media who believe that the defense can’t stand the pressure of taking the field first. Today should put that silly argument to rest for the remainder of the season.

Defensive coordinator Ray Horton and the Browns defense was hopeless against the Cowboys, which:

• ran 70 plays on offense
• had 423 yards of total offense
• was eight-of-12 on third down
• rushed for 168 yards
• allowed quarterback Dak Prescott to complete 21-of-27 passes for 247 yards and three touchdowns, while not coming close to sacking him.

There is no question that the Cowboys offense is superior to Cleveland’s defense, but it is fair to wonder why players were routinely out of position, especially on Ezekiel Elliott’s second touchdown run and Jason Witten’s touchdown catch.

Offensively the Browns did what they could, but going just one-of-nine on third down, rushing for just 45 yards and 3.5 yards per carry, and gaining just 28 yards of offense in the second half helped to shut down any hope that they could keep the score close.

Kessler returned to the starting lineup and finished 19-of-27 for 203 yards and a touchdown, but he also took four sacks. Corey Coleman also made his return, finishing with three catches for 41 yards.

Pryor led the Browns with five receptions, although they only gained 47 yards, while Duke Johnson led the team in rushing with six carries for 30 yards.

Crowell, the team’s leading rusher entering the game, continued his streak of inconsistent performances by rushing six times for four yards.

Today’s game may have been bad but cheer up, Browns fans. You only have to wait four more days until the Browns return to the field, as they take on the Baltimore Ravens this Thursday.