The winless Browns have given up a ton of points this season, at least 25 per game in their now nine straight losses. No offense, however, has moved the ball with as much ease and efficiency against them as that of the Cowboys.
Dallas also scored more than any Cleveland opponent in 2016 during Sunday's 35-10 rout.
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Sure, some of that dominance, all the way through the red zone, came from the fact that the Cowboys were playing a terrible defense. But the way they burned the Browns should make all future opponents very afraid.
Four of the Cowboys' five touchdown drives were finished with either short passes by Dak Prescott or long runs by Ezekiel Elliott. The other was a bullet from Prescott just outside the red zone, a 26-yard TD to tight end Jason Witten that started the romp.
Surprisingly, with the mobile Prescott and the powerful Elliott behind Dallas' NFL-best offensive line, the Cowboys came into Week 9 only 14th in red-zone TD scoring percentage (60.7). They were coming off a mostly rough game in that area against the Eagles.
But something started to click in the fourth quarter last week, the first game with top wide receiver Dez Bryant back from injury. Prescott chucked the 22-yard, game-tying TD to Bryant, then finished the Eagles with a 6-yard overtime strike to Witten.
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Bryant and Prescott remain a little off — the WR was the only offensive Cowboy who didn't get in on the fun in Cleveland, with only one catch for 19 yards and a dropped TD pass — but there's no denying Dez's presence. One of his red-zone routes Sunday allowed slot receiver Cole Beasley to score on an easy short pass. Witten was left often wide open all day. Even second tight end Gavin Escobar showed up for his first catch for the season for six.
Against the Eagles, Prescott thought he needed to force the ball to Bryant and was having his worst game as a rookie. Now he's back to using the attention Bryant gets to his advantage ... just like a veteran would.
Now, there's not much defenses can do to slow down Dallas. If they don't bring extra defenders into the box, they'll get run over by Elliott and his blockers. They're damned if they don't double-team Bryant, and they're even more damned if they do.
They could try to rattle Prescott by bringing pressure with blitzes. But then he'll beat them with simple, quick hot routes against single coverage or by taking off and running. Sit back and flood coverage, and it will give Prescott plenty of extra time to find somebody open.
There aren't any teams as bad as the Browns remaining on the Cowboys' schedule, but there aren't any daunting matchups, either, save for a Thursday night trip to Minnesota to open December in Week 13.
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Elliott and the Cowboys' line will keep them from getting into a slump. Prescott is comfortable both getting the ball out quickly to his underneath guys and sitting back, letting it fly downfield. Both rookies also are improving — which is scary — and learning from both their successes and mistakes.
It takes a complete defense to stop the Cowboys, and really, no complete defense exists in the NFL. Run or pass, short or deep, inside or outside, the Cowboys have everything clicking. It's also hard to get them off the field; they led the league in time of possession (33:15), and they doubled up the Browns, 40 minutes to 20, on Sunday.
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Conversation about Tony Romo potentially returning to the lineup is ridiculous at this point. Jerry Jones loves Romo, but he loves winning and team chemistry much more.
The Cowboys' formula is golden, and there's also plenty of silver to match their new shining stars. It's as perfect as an offense can get in the NFL. You don't mess with that kind of clean.
