Position battleground (defense): Cowboys vs Browns head-to-head breakdown

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Which team has the better defense, the Dallas Cowboys or the Cleveland Browns?

Previously we broke down the offense for this week’s upcoming game for the Dallas Cowboys. Now we dive back into the position battleground, this time looking at how the defensive positions and special teams stack up against each other.

DEFENSIVE LINE

Last year, the Cowboys’ defensive line was regarded as a strength for the team in pass rush; however, this year it presents itself as a significant uncertainty. Key rotational pass rushers from last season have left the team, and Sam Williams has fallen victim to the unfortunate ACL curse. Osa Odighizuwa is poised to assume a crucial role this year, becoming an integral component of the team’s success as the starting and primary inside defensive lineman. Mazi Smith is also expected to play an important role this year and has shown considerable improvement during training camp. The challenge for Smith lies in his ability to translate this progress into an effective performance during games.

The standout player remains Micah Parsons, who aims to initiate his campaign for Defensive Player of the Year with a strong start this week. If Parsons can effectively disrupt Watson, who is making his return since last November, it will hinder the Browns’ offensive plans and reduce the workload for the Cowboys’ offense.

For the Browns this is straightforward; this is the Myles Garrett show. For Tyler Guyton, this marks his first challenge in the NFL, and it is a significant one. Guyton has demonstrated considerable promise during training camp and appears ready to embrace this challenge, but this week the stakes are exceptionally high. Should Guyton manage to endure the relentless pressure from Garrett and safeguard Dak’s blindside, it will greatly benefit the offense’s performance. But the Browns also have Za’Darius Smith, giving the team two bookend pass rushers that can cause problems.
Win: Browns

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LINEBACKER

Eric Kendricks/Damone Clark
Vs.
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah/Jordan Hicks

This season presents a notable shift in the linebacker positions for both teams. The Dallas Cowboys have enhanced their roster with the addition of veteran linebacker Eric Kendricks, whose experience and understanding of Mike Zimmer’s system will be crucial for the unit’s performance this year. His instinctive play against the run, coupled with his leadership qualities, significantly strengthens the group making his acquisition a substantial offseason improvement. While Kendricks has consistently excelled in run defense, he has also developed his pass-rushing skills as he has aged, which will be intriguing to observe this season. DeMarvion Overshown has emerged as a favorite during training camp, but he must now translate his practice success into game performance. Additionally, Marist Liufau shows promise, contributing to a renewed sense of optimism for a position that struggled last year.

The Browns have made significant changes to their linebacker corps by bringing in Devin Bush and Jordan Hicks. Hicks, who is now 32 years old, adds veteran experience to the team. Although he sat out four games last season, he has consistently shown himself to be a dependable tackler when he plays. With his impressive size and reach, Hicks excels at pursuing runners who try to escape to the outside and is known for his strong finishing ability as a tackler. Owusu-Koramoah led the Browns in total tackles last season, showcasing his speed and explosiveness as an off-ball linebacker. While he may not have the size for the position most would like (which has caused him to miss some games), his versatility and knack for making plays are assets when he’s on the field.

Conclusion:
Both sides have many new parts this season and the effectiveness of both sides will boil down to the support they get up front with their defensive lines. Both sides are also playing with questions at the running back position, so this makes this positional head-to-head one of the hardest to project. Given Dallas added Kendricks to the roster, this does change this initial evaluation for the first game.
Win: Cowboys

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DEFENSIVE BACKS

The crown jewel of the Cowboys’ defense is undoubtedly its defensive back unit. This group is among the finest in the NFL, showcasing a blend of talent, depth, and youth. While fans are eager to see the dynamic duo of Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland in action, they will have to wait a bit longer due to Bland’s injury, which opens the door for Caelen Carson to step up.

Last season, the Browns faced challenges in their passing game, relying heavily on Amari Cooper, and they are now looking to unlock Jerry Jeudy’s potential, which has been underwhelming since he entered the league. A major point of interest for fans at cornerback is how Diggs will perform in his first game back after last year’s ACL injury. His matchup against Cooper will be a great indicator of his current form.

The Browns also feature a skilled defensive back unit that allowed the fewest passing yards last season. However, they will face CeeDee Lamb, who led the league in receptions and ranked second in both receiving yards and touchdowns last year. This places Lamb in an elite category and makes him crucial for the passing game this week. While the Cowboys’ offense topped the league in points per game and recorded the most passing touchdowns, the Browns held their ground by limiting opponents to a 74.7 passer rating (the second-lowest) and achieving a league-low 56.4 percent completion rate, along with a 23-18 touchdown-to-interception ratio. That’s quite an achievement!

Conclusion:
It would have been nice to have Bland here to make this competition tighter, but even then, this Cleveland defensive back unit is one of the best in the league.
Win: Browns (but this is extremely close)

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SPECIAL TEAMS

Brandon Aubrey, need we say more? During the preseason, he showcased his impressive kicking skills, demonstrating that he’s more than capable of leading the league once again. His accuracy is solid, his kicking power is exceptional, and it seems like Aubrey is fully prepared for the challenges ahead. This week, his powerful leg will be crucial in a matchup where Cleveland is favored to win by 2.5 points.

Dustin Hopkins also had a fantastic season last year, successfully making 33 field goals, ranking him third overall. With a field goal accuracy of 91.7%, he placed ninth in the league and only missed two extra points, which is one fewer than Aubrey.

Bryan Anger wrapped up last season with an impressive average of 51.7 yards per punt, the second highest in the league, and he also ranked second in net punt yards with 44.9. Corey Bojorquez finished ninth among punters with an average of 49.4 yards per punt and achieved 42.5 net punt yards, placing him 11th overall.

It will be exciting to see KaVontae Turpin in action on kickoffs. He ended last season with the second-highest kickoff return average at 29.2 yards per attempt, and his longest return of 63 yards was the second longest recorded.

James Proche served as Cleveland’s specialist last year but is now on the Browns’ practice squad. He’s been replaced by Pierre Strong to start the season. Last year, Strong had eight kickoff returns, averaging 25.0 yards per attempt.
Win: Cowboys

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