Cleveland and Dallas (1-1) both failed to capitalize on critical mistakes by the other team’s turnovers. Julius Jones made his NFL debut with upsetting results as he had just 16 yards on 5 rushes, a fumble, and also suffered a separated shoulder that will force him to miss two months. Eddie George had 18 rushes for 62 yards and a touchdown, but the run of the game came on a fourth-and-inches when the Cowboys apparently decided to play it safe and punt, except in typical Parcells' style, it was a fake.
The direct snap went to Linebacker Dexter Coakley, who rushed up the middle for a 33-yard gain and achieved a momentum-changing first down. The Browns running game was less impressive as William Green (19 carries, 52 yards) started for the second-straight week in the absence of the injured Lee Suggs.
Starting tight-end and first-round pick Kellen Winslow was lost on an onside kick late in the game. He found himself stuck between two Browns players during the play and now finds himself lost for 6-8 weeks with a broken fibula. Winslow, who was the sixth overall choice out of Miami, was a huge part of the Cleveland offense despite having only five catches this year.
DE Courtney Brown, who has had a long history of leg and foot injuries, left in the first half with a mid-foot sprain and is reportedly out for the season. Ryan Tucker, who is also the team’s captain and most consistent player, is out for 2-4 weeks with a strained quadriceps. Starting DT Gerrard Warren was also injured.
"You hate injuries", head coach Butch Davis told reporters. “But it disgusts me to no end that guys get hurt. It’s a tough, physical, violent game and guys play hard. Sometimes, it is incidental contact...Winslow got rolled up with a bunch of people scrambling for the ball.”
As for the game, the Browns managed only 226 yards of total offense and Garcia had a tough game, completing only seven passes, had a 29% completion percentage, and 71 passing yards. The Browns defense gave up 441 yards, but did create four turnovers and held the Cowboys to 4-for-13 on 3rd-down conversions.
Both teams played sloppy and need to rebound next week. The Browns travel to the Meadowlands to take on a Giants team that has gathered a new-born confidence coming off their first win against Joe Gibbs' Redskins. The Cowboys travel to battle that same Washington team in a heated rivalry that will be on center stage on Monday Night Football.
