Dallas Cowboys

Cowboys at Browns: 3 things we learned

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

Mistake-free football is the key to the Dallas Cowboys’ winning run after they beat the Cleveland Browns 35-10 in Week 9.

The 7-1 Cowboys scored five touchdowns on the road at FirstEnergy Stadium thanks to a low-risk, run-first offense. It’s a scheme bringing out the best in rookie duo running back Ezekiel Elliott and quarterback Dak Prescott.

The Browns defense couldn’t handle the efficiency of the Dallas O’ even with newly acquired linebacker Jamie Collins at the heart of the front seven. By contrast, the Dallas defense showed why it’s quietly been so effective this season.

Here’s what we learned about the rampant Cowboys and the winless Browns after Week 9:

Jamie Collins is going to be a big part of Cleveland’s defense

The Browns allowed 415 yards of offense, 168 on the ground. But at least they got a glimpse of what Collins will bring to their D’.

Coordinator Ray Horton is likely to have Collins on the field a lot, after he was heavily involved in his first game since arriving in a trade from the New England Patriots, per NFL Research:

New @Browns LB Jamie Collins played all 32 of the team's defensive snaps in the 1st half vs DAL, registering 5 tackles & 1 tackle for loss

— NFL Research (@NFLResearch) November 6, 2016

The Brown need Collins heavily involved. He’s a natural and dynamic playmaker with the athleticism and attacking instincts to wreck every phase of an offense.

Now it’s up to Horton to make those skills central to his scheme.

Simplicity is the key to Dallas offense

The Cowboys know what they’re about offensively. They don’t deviate from a simple plan. It’s a plan based on running, running, more running and steady, high-percentage passing.

It’s why rookie running back Elliott is thriving. He’s only being asked to do what he does best behind a dominant O-line. Elliott’s also running in tandem with Alfred Morris, a veteran who is easing the pressure on No. 21.

Elliott gained 92 yards and scored two touchdowns off 18 carries. Morris managed 56 from 17. That level of ball control makes defenses obvious, a situation Prescott exploits.

He missed on just six of 27 passes against the Browns. No wonder, when he was facing easy reads against a defense committing eight to playing downhill for the run.

Keeping things simple has been the key to efficiency on offense for the Cowboys. The efficiency was summed up superbly in Cleveland, per ESPN’s Todd Archer:

If you want offensive efficiency, the Cowboys have scored touchdowns in five of their seven possessions today… https://t.co/le7r53GxPm

— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) November 6, 2016

A back-to-basics offense can carry the Dallas groundhogs far.

Dallas defense deserves more respect

Okay, so nobody is mistaking the Browns for the 1999 St. Louis Rams or the ’94 San Francisco 49ers. Or any of the offenses you consider great.

Still, the Dallas defense turned in yet another smothering display in a season so far full of them. The Cowboys held the Browns to just 45 yards rushing and sacked quarterback Cody Kessler four times.

Again, simplicity is the key. This is a vanilla 4-3 scheme with not many frills, but a strict adherence to the fundamentals.

Things like pursuit, sound tackling, lateral speed and gap control are valued highly by the Cowboys. It’s why a unit lacking star power has been so impressive this season.

Being kept fresh by a clock-eating offense also helps, but the Dallas defense is still due more respect.