The Dallas Cowboys sit atop the NFC after a huge win over the rival Eagles while the Cleveland Browns haven't won a pro football game since December 12, 2015.
Trap game? Maybe. While there is no such thing as a sure thing in the NFL, if the Cowboys lose in Cleveland on Sunday a lot of Survivor Pools are going to be massacred by Monday. To consider: the Browns, a seven-point underdog at home, haven't beaten the Cowboys since 1994 -- when Bill Belichick was the Browns coach, Vinny Testaverde was the starting QB and the Cowboys were coming off a second-straight Super Bowl victory, thanks, in part, to some guys named Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin.
Some interesting records are on the line in this one. At 0-8, the Browns are off to their worst start since the 1999 return of the franchise to Cleveland as an expansion team. For the Cowboys, Dak Prescott is just a win away from becoming the third rookie QB in the Super Bowl era to win seven straight starts. Ben Roethlisberger won 13 in a row in 2004 while Kyle Orton won eight straight in 2005. Prescott will also look to add to his streak of passing for at least 225 yards in seven straight games, the longest streak by any rookie in the Super Bowl era.
Prescott is the biggest surprise of the NFL season, while Cleveland's ongoing QB woes are anything but shocking. Six different Browns QBs have thrown passes, including converted QB Terrelle Pryor, the team's leading receiver with 41 catches for 532 yards.
Of the 300 passes that Browns QBs have thrown, rookie Cody Kessler has the most, with 133 attempts. Just in case Browns fans wanted to feel any worse about the state of their franchise, Hue Jackson admitted this week that Cleveland considered drafting Prescott before taking Kessler. Kessler returned to practice Wednesday after sitting out Week 8 with a concussion and will get the start against the Cowboys.
While Prescott leads most Rookie of the Year midseason awards lists, his greatest competition is the guy behind him in the Cowboys' backfield. Ezekiel Elliott leads the NFL in rushing (799 yards) and is averaging five yards a crack. He also has five TDs.
Here are more details on the matchup, including how to watch and stream the game.
How to Watch
- What: Dallas Cowboys at Cleveland Browns
- When: Sunday, Nov. 6, 1 p.m. ET
- Where: FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland
- TV: FOX (Thom Brennaman, Charles Davis, Chris Spielman, Peter Schrager)
- Streaming: Verizon NFL Mobile app
- Sunday Ticket: DirectTV
- Online: NFL GamePass (game won't be available on GamePass until midnight)
- Odds: The Cowboys are a 7-point favorite (via SportsLine)
Injury report
Cowboys
- SS Barry Church (Forearm) -- Out
- CB Morris Claiborne (Groin) -- Out
- LB Ryan Davis (Hamstring) -- Out
- OT Chaz Green (Foot) -- Out
- QB Tony Romo (Back) -- Out
- WR Dez Bryant (Knee, Back) -- Questionable
- DT Maliek Collins (Knee) -- Questionable
- RB Lance Dunbar (Knee) -- Questionable
- MLB Anthony Hitchens (Knee) -- Questionable
- DE Demarcus Lawrence (Back, Shoulder) -- Questionable
- OT Tyron Smith (Back) -- Questionable
Browns
- LB Tank Carder (Concussion) -- Questionable
- DB Jamar Taylor (Groin) -- Questionable
- C Cameron Erving (Shoulder) -- Questionable
Prisco's Pick
The Cowboys are riding high, while the Browns still haven't won yet. But coming off a big division game against the Eagles, the Cowboys have to be careful of a letdown. The Browns fight every week. They will here, but it won't be enough.
Pick: Cowboys 27, Browns 17
