Browns lay an egg versus Cowboys: Blame goes to many, credit to Dallas

Uncertain what is next for Cleveland but blame is deserved for many

In Week 1 of an NFL season, a lot can be blown out of proportion. Unfortunately for the Cleveland Browns and their fans, believing that the Browns were terrible to start the season is not an overreaction. It is the truth.

First and foremost, the Dallas Cowboys deserve some credit. If Cleveland was playing a worse team, the loss may not have ended up as bad as it was. The Cowboys had an offensive plan to get the ball out of Dak Prescott’s hands quickly and use misdirection, end around and the type of routes that take advantage of the Browns press man-to-man defense.

The defense from Dallas also brought a ton of heat at a banged-up offensive line starting James Hudson III and had Germain Ifedi in for a series.

For Cleveland, it is easy to point a finger directly at QB Deshaun Watson and HC Kevin Stefanski. Given the contract given to Watson and the nature of the NFL as a quarterback and head coach league, they deserve the initial attention.

Watson and Stefanski are not alone in the blame.

DC Jim Schwartz failed to make the kind of adjustments needed after getting shellacked in the AFC playoffs by the Houston Texans last year. Most things just looked easy for Prescott and DE Myles Garrett was easily double and tripled team instead of moving him around and running stunts/twists up front.

Watson’s pass catchers dropped a number of passes including a few that would have led to first downs. WR Elijah Moore’s drop in the fourth quarter led to the second interception. TE David Njoku had a drop earlier in the game that would have extended the drive. Moore had a drop on a sliding attempt later in the first half.

Even the reliable Amari Cooper dropped a sure touchdown late in the game.

While it is easy to say that the offensive line was bad because of Jed Wills and Jack Conklin being out at left tackle, the rest of the starters were out there and looked bad as well. Again, some of that was due to a great plan by Dallas and their talented defensive line but that doesn’t take the blame away from the rest of the offensive line.

Much like Schwartz’s defensive game plan, the plan on offense seemed more like preseason. Instead of putting together plays that make sense or taking advantage of what the Cowboys defense was doing, Stefanski’s game plan seemed to just run random plays. Very few rushes, no draws, no screens (until late in the game) and nothing creative.

So who/what deserves blame?

• Watson
• Stefanski
• Schwartz
• OLine
• No rushing attack
• Pass catchers
• Lack of impact plays on defense

Did we miss anything?

While it is easy to point the finger at the QB with the big contract or the head coach calling plays on offense, it is important to note that, besides Dustin Hopkins, Corey Bojorquez and Jaelen Darden, the Browns as a whole team deserves the blame today. A lot has to get fixed if Cleveland plans to beat the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 2 and compete following that.

Did we miss anyone who deserved blame for the terrible game the Browns put up in Week 1?