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Three Big Takeaways

Browns offense struggles in season opener loss | 3 Big Takeaways

Browns also hurt by multitude of penalty calls in 33-17 loss 

Takeaways vs. Cowboys Wk 1 9.8

The Browns dropped their season opener 33-17 to the Cowboys in a disappointing fashion, one filled with penalties and struggles to create a flow on offense. Cleveland also gave up a touchdown on a punt return and dealt with some inconsistency defensively.

"That's not good enough to win in this game versus a good football team," head coach Kevin Stefanski said. "Really disappointed in our performance, too sloppy. Minus two in the turnover battle, gave up a punt return. Offensively, felt like we were behind the chains the vast majority of the game, which is, again, not good enough and not how we need to play in order to win football games."

Here are three main takeaways from the season opener.

Browns struggle to find offensive rhythm

The Browns could not create an offensive flow throughout their first game with QB Deshaun Watson at the helm of the offense. They ended their opening offensive drive with a 51-yard field goal from K Dustin Hopkins.

Yet, after their opening offensive drive, the Browns had four straight three-and-outs. They had seven total possessions where they were forced to punt.

Watson was sacked six times and hit a total of 17 times over the course of the game. He also threw two interceptions – one in the second quarter when his pass was tipped by LB Micah Parsons and intercepted by LC Eric Kendricks, and a second interception in the fourth quarter on a pass intended for WR Elijah Moore but was caught by CB Trevon Diggs.

Watson finished the game completing 24 of 45 passing attempts for 169 passing yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Stefanski said that Watson took too many hits today and they have to do a better job of protecting the quarterback.

"I think there's things that I know we can do better, things that right away you saw that was not how we wanted to do it," Stefanski said. "But we had plenty of time to prepare, just did not get it done today."

The Browns also turned the ball over on downs during the third quarter and once again at the beginning of the fourth quarter.

The Browns found the endzone twice in the second half, beginning with their first touchdown of the season in the third quarter when Watson connected with WR Jerry Jeudy for a 6-yard touchdown pass. On that possession, the Browns ran 12 plays for 75 yards to set up the touchdown. It was also Jeudy's first touchdown as a member of the Browns. They closed the game out with a 2-yard touchdown run from RB Jerome Ford late in the fourth quarter.

Check out photos of the Browns against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 1

Browns with a defensive spark early, but faltered at moments

The Browns defensive effort started off with a bang as DT Dalvin Tomlinson sacked Cowboys QB Dak Prescott on their opening drive. Then, DE Myles Garrett added to the sack total as he broke through the offensive line and sacked Prescott at the beginning of the second quarter.

Cleveland forced Dallas punt three times through the first half. The defense also only gave up one touchdown in the first quarter. They forced the Cowboys into four field goal situations – all of which K Brandon Aubrey converted – but kept Dallas from finding the end zone. Dallas' second touchdown of the game came off of a punt return that the Cowboys returned for 60 yards.

The Browns limited Prescott to completing 19 of 32 passing attempts for 179 passing yards and one touchdown.

"With them getting on the ball out a bit quicker, us having to speed up our time on the ball and communication," Garrett said. "And I don't think we were communicating well enough and quick enough to keep up with them at their pace. We settled in a bit. We have to get more takeaways. That was an end game. They got takeaways and we didn't, and they kept on chipping away even when they weren't scoring touchdowns or getting more field goals and increasing that lead."

The Cowboys benefited from solid field position, scoring three field goals off of two turnovers on downs and an interception. Stefanski said there were positive elements from the defensive's performance, and other areas where they can look to improve in Week 2.

"I thought we played good defense especially in that second half," Stefanski said. "There were definitely things that I know we can do better, but some opportunities in the pass game and opportunities in the run game where we can try and get them off the field."

Check out photos of players warming up for a preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys

Issues with penalties

The Browns had 11 total penalties through the game for a loss of 64 yards, including multiple illegal formation penalties on the offense. They had seven total offensive penalties. Stefanski said those types of penalties are disappointing because they do not practice in that manner and have to find a way to fix those mistakes.

G Wyatt Teller believes that while it was the first week of the regular season, he knows they offensive line has to be better in preventing those types of penalties because it creates situations where the offense has to play from behind the sticks.

"We had to be smart about that and we weren't," Teller said. "Offsides, false starts, stuff like that we have to be better at. A lot of stuff that, it's those first game jitters, but we played, 80-90 percent of us have played in preseason. We've gotten those jitters out, those pregame stuff but, we have to execute better. We have to be smarter and play better. "

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