Cleveland Browns score predictions: Looking for a Texas-sized win vs. Cowboys in Week 4

Writer: Dan Gilinsky

The Cleveland Browns enter Week 4 with a….2-1 record? That’s not a typo?

In all seriousness, the Browns have played well, to a large extent, these past two weeks. This one is a different opponent, though, and the Browns are going to be in for a difficult test at Jerry World.

The key challenge comes defensively, and while the Browns may have some bodies back this week, it’s still unclear, and those Dallas Cowboys playmakers are going to kill Cleveland through the air. Dak Prescott leads the league with nearly 1,200 yards through the air in three games, and while Seattle’s defense has been, in large part, Swiss cheese, Dak has been big-time thus far.

Zeke Elliot hasn’t really gotten it going just yet, and Myles Garrett and the defensive line should be able to generate their share of pressures, with Dallas being very well without Tyron Smith and perhaps La’El Collins again, causing significant reshuffling. That said, Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup, CeeDee Lamb and company will be in for a field day when Dak is good to throw.

Hopefully, the Browns can still stay committed to the ground game with Nick Chubb and/or Kareem Hunt getting rolling early, and Baker Mayfield should be able to take advantage via check-downs against linebackers. Let’s hope Hunt, for context, (groin) is able to go. Now that Cowboys secondary and rookie Trevon Diggs to go with Jourdan Lewis have been carved up through the air as well, as evidenced by Dallas conceding the second-highest passer rating in the league through 3 at 114.1.

Granted, Dallas has, like the Browns, been getting after the passer, too, however. And Cleveland’s offensive line, which hopefully is mostly ready to go health-wise, will again face a tough rush, led by Aldon Smith, who has somehow led the league in sacks thus far with four after not playing since 2015. He and free-agent add Everson Griffen have combined for 14 pressures, too, with DeMarcus Lawrence banged up some.

In any case, hopefully, the Scottish Hammer and the coverage unit, to go with the kickoff group, do their part this week when needed, as the Browns need to win the game of field position against this stable of playmakers Dallas has. And that’s with Dak operating at a very high level, too.

Either way, even with the Browns seemingly being primed for their share of pressures, and with Mayfield and company, one would think, set for a big day, it’s hard to see the Browns nearly as able to dictate here.

Cleveland plays fairly well for about three quarters in two of three phases and gets a few real hits on Prescott, but Dallas eventually pulls away with big chunks and Dak fantasy owners are content. Unfortunately, there is no Stephen A. Smith “HOW ‘BOUT THEM COWBOYS?!” chuckle this week.

Week 4 Prediction: Dallas 38, Browns 24