Cowboys vs. Browns final score 2016: Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott lead Dallas to a 35-10 win

The Dallas Cowboys (7-1) took care of business on the road, defeating the Cleveland Browns (0-9) 35-10 at FirstEnergy Stadium. As expected, the Cowboys went on an offensive barrage. Here are four things to know about this matchup.

The Cowboys have a balanced offense

Whether it’s rookie running back Ezekiel Elliot running the ball or rookie quarterback Dak Prescott throwing accurate passes, the Cowboys will light up the scoreboard. On Dallas’ first possession of the game, Prescott led his team down the field and capped it off with a 26-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jason Witten.

Prescott took the snap, stood tall in the pocket, set his feet, and delivered a strike to Witten on the sideline. Witten ran into the end zone for the easy score. The Cowboys took the 7-3 lead. Early in the second quarter, Elliot punched the ball into the end zone with a 10-yard scamper to increase the lead to 14-3.

On the Cowboys’ next possession, Prescott struck again with a 6-yard touchdown strike to receiver Cole Beasley, who was wide open in the end zone. The Cowboys offense is lethal, and opposing defenses in the NFL are having a hard time defending it. Let’s not forget that Dallas’ offensive line is the catalyst for the Cowboys’ success on offense this season.

Prescott finished the game with 247 passing yards and three touchdowns. Elliot ran for 92 yards on 18 carries and two touchdowns.

The rookies set new records.

Prescott’s three touchdowns give him 12 on the season. That also gives him the Cowboys’ franchise record for touchdown passes by a rookie, surpassing Troy Aikman.

Elliott is the third player in NFL history to rush for more than 875 yards and seven touchdowns in his first eight career games. Eric Dickerson and Adrian Peterson are the other two. The Cowboys rookie is on pace to break Dickerson’s record for the most rushing yards by a rookie.

Jason Witten is still a lethal tight end

Since 2003, Witten has been a model of consistency for the Cowboys. He can make tough catches over the middle, contribute in the run game, and run superb routes. On his 26-yard touchdown reception, Witten burned Browns linebacker Jamie Collins. In the first half alone, he hauled in five passes for 66 yards and a touchdown.

When the Cowboys needed a play, Prescott looked in Witten’s direction. He finished the game with eight receptions for 134 yards and a touchdown.

Kessler’s up-and-down performance

Cody Kessler, the Browns rookie quarterback, had an up-and-down performance against the Cowboys. For the most part, he looked comfortable in the pocket, extended plays with his legs, and made great throws down the field. On the Browns’ opening drive of the game, he threw to running back Isaiah Crowell over the middle for a 44-yard gain to get the Browns into the red zone.

Late in the second quarter, Kessler finally drove his team into the end zone with a 12-yard strike to receiver Terrelle Pryor. Kessler scrambled out of the pocket to evade the pass rush and found Pryor in the back of the end zone.

However, Kessler was sacked four times, and he had to throw the ball away a few times to avoid sacks. The rookie quarterback finished the game with 203 passing yards and one touchdown.

Cleveland’s defense continues to struggle

Yes, Dallas’ offensive line is the best in the NFL, so it will be difficult for opposing defenses to get pressure on Prescott. However, he had a lot of time to make decisions. The Browns could not generate any pressure, and Prescott sat back in the pocket and picked the defense apart all game. Coming into this matchup, Cleveland was tied for 21st in the league in sacks. The Browns did not record a single sack in this game.

Cleveland had a difficult time clogging up holes in the run game. Dallas’ offensive line drove defenders back to create lanes for Elliot, and the Browns did not have an answer for it. They gave up 423 total yards of offense.

Quarterback is not the only need for Cleveland. The defense is struggling to make plays in the run game and get to the quarterback.

What’s next for both teams

The Cowboys will travel to Pittsburgh to take on the Steelers in Week 10. Dallas is sitting comfortably at the top of the NFC East. The Cowboys are the hottest team in football, and their offense knows how to score points.

The winless Browns will have to put this blowout behind them quickly. Cleveland will travel to Baltimore to face a divisional foe in the Ravens on Thursday night. The Browns are struggling to get in the win column, but they always play well against the Ravens.