The Cleveland Browns will have more shots at getting their first victory of the season, but this last one stung, and it’s a pretty good indicator of just how bad the Browns are. Cleveland had the Jets on the ropes and was 30 minutes away from that elusive first victory. Alas, it wasn’t to be and the Brownies look like they are destined to become the second team to finish a 16-game season without a victory. They get the Dallas Cowboys in Week 9 and stranger things have happened. But it is the Browns we’re talking about.
This contest in Week 9 of the regular season will go down Sunday, November 6, 2016, at 1 p.m. ET at FirstEnergy Stadium.
Odds Analysis
The Cowboys had the late Sunday game and as a result the spread and total have yet to hit the board. We can expect the Cowboys to be a big road favorite against the winless Browns, likely in the neighborhood of 7-points. Dallas has been real good to its backers this year, going 6-0 SU and ATS since losing its season opener. The Browns have been at least a 7-point dog five times this season and are 2-3 ATS.
Injury Report
Barry Church – Just when the Cowboys secondary was starting to get the pieces back, the injury bug bites them again. Their starting safety left Sunday night’s game with an arm injury and didn’t return. Also, starting corner Morris Claiborne left with a groin injury and he didn’t return. We don’t know the extent of the injuries yet, but their absence could expose the Cowboys to Cleveland’s passing game.
Matchup to Watch
There are no gimmes in the NFL, but his matchup may be the closest to one as any. Cleveland was given its best odds at collecting that first win of the season in Sunday’s tilt with the Jets, and it looked like the Browns might come up with it. But the football Gods weren’t looking down on the Browns, who squandered a 20-7 halftime lead and fell 31-28 for their eighth straight loss. It’s the worst start for the Browns since the 1975 club lost its first nine games. And things don’t look like they’re going to get better any time soon.
With the fragile Jets on the ropes, the Browns opened the second half like they had a 40-point lead. The defense was soft allowing scoring drives of 78, 84 and 81 yards on New York’s first three possessions and the game had turned. The Cowboys have all the weapons to be an elite offense and so far it’s worked out. The Boys accumulated 460 yards against a good Philly defense on Sunday night and face the NFL’s worst overall defense. The Browns surrender over 421 yards and nearly 30 points per game. Those numbers are likely to get worse against a Dallas club that now has Dez Bryant back catching passes.
Free ATS Pick
The Cowboys are becoming a more complete team and that’s scary for everyone. Bryant returned to the lineup for Sunday night’s game and all he did was catch four passes for 113 yards and a touchdown. The pass catchers were doing a nice job while Bryant recovered from his injury, but they don’t have the big play capability of Dez, and it was on display with his 53-yard grab and his game-tying touchdown catch.
Sprinkle a little bit of Bryant along with NFL rushing leader Ezekiel Elliott and let Dak Prescott mix the ingredients behind the league’s best offensive line, and the Browns sieve-like defense shouldn’t be a problem to slice through. And after what the Cowboys had to deal with last season, don’t expect Jason Garrett to let his team overlook the Brownies. Dallas is in a good place after winning six straight and this is one they need with a tough stretch following. You have to feel for the Browns, but they just aren’t a good football team and the Boys should take care of business rather easily on the road.
NFL Odds: Cowboys 34, Browns 20
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