The seventh month-long wait for football has ended, with the NFL season officially kicking off on Thursday night in dramatic fashion, followed up by Friday’s international thriller in Brazil.
4 Super Bowl-contending teams over two days to start out the season off with a bang.
On Sunday, two more contenders face off in a nationally televised afternoon game in Cleveland.
The Cowboys and Browns — owners of two of the NFL’s best defenses — open up against one another with high hopes of ending the season in Latest Orleans, site of Super Bowl LIX.
Here is my prediction and pick for Cowboys vs. Browns (4:25 p.m. ET, FOX).
Cowboys vs. Browns odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cowboys | +2.5 (-110) | +118 | o40.5 (-118) |
| Browns | -2.5 (-110) | -136 | u40.5 (-104) |
Cowboys vs. Browns prediction
So far as offseasons go, the Cowboys had one in every of the worst of any team within the NFL.Â
On offense, they lost LT Tyron Smith, C Tyler Biadasz and RB Tony Pollard and replaced them with rookie LT Tyler Guyton, rookie C Cooper Beebe, and well-past-his-prime RB Ezekiel Elliott. Woof!
Then, there was the offseason drama with CeeDee Lamb, Dak Prescott and Jerry Jones that occurred during contract renegotiations. Unnecessary to say, it has all been a multitude.
As a rookie, Guyton has essentially the most unenviable Week 1 matchup of any player, as he will probably be forced to maintain Myles Garrett at bay for 60 minutes.
Regardless that the Cowboys have probably the greatest guards in football in Zack Martin, they aren’t going to get much achieved in the bottom game with Elliott because the lead back.Â
And historically, Prescott has not been elite under pressure, which will probably be the case on nearly every passing play on this Week 1 matchup.
On the same note, the Browns even have inquiries to answer, including the play of Deshaun Watson and the way they are going to fill in for Nick Chubb’s absence in the beginning of the season.
Watson has been extremely inconsistent in his first 12 games with the Browns, throwing 14 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
He had an injury-riddled 2023 season, missing many of the campaign.
Not having Chubb hurts the Browns’ offense. Without him, they are going to not find a way to lean on the bottom game as heavily, putting much more pressure on Watson to supply within the air.
Betting on the NFL?
Cowboys vs. Browns pick
Ultimately, this game is a toss-up, however the under at 41 on DraftKings has value.
Each offenses should struggle to consistently produce, especially with two of the perfect defenses within the NFL on the opposite side of the ball.
Pick: Under 41 (-108, DraftKings)
