When the Cleveland Browns kick off the season at home this Sunday, it’ll mark just under four years since they last faced off against the Dallas Cowboys.
On October, 4th, 2020, during Week 4 of the regular season, the Browns defeated the Cowboys 49-38 in a thrilling high-scoring affair that Cleveland controlled for a majority of the game, entering the 4th quarter up 41-14.
Dallas added a barrage of points and cut the lead down to just three before wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. put the game away with a rushing 50-yard touchdown. Even stranger, the Browns accidentally converted a two-point conversion when Dallas blocked the extra point but Cleveland recovered in their own end zone.
Cornerback Denzel Ward intercepted quarterback Dak Prescott on the final drive to seal the game.
For the Cowboys, this would be part of a down year following the retirement of All-Pro center Travis Frederick and the release of tight end and legend Jason Witten. They stumbled to a 2-3 start before Prescott fractured his ankle and missed the rest of the season.
Without him, Andy Dalton would lead the team the rest of the way at quarterback as the team finished 6-10.
Remaining from that 2020 team are Prescott, wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, running backs Ezekiel Elliott and Rico Dowdle, offensive tackle Terrance Steele, offensive guard Zack Martin, defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, and defensive backs Donovan Wilson and CB Trevon Diggs.
For the Browns, this game would mark their third win with a 4-1 start to the season. They would continue that momentum behind quarteback Baker Mayfield and head coach Kevin Stefanski to secure their first playoff appearance since 2002.
This game would mark the peak of the Odell Beckham Jr. tenure in Cleveland as he totaled 154 yards and three touchdowns, including a 37-yard pass from LSU teammate Jarvis Landry. The running back duo of Kareem Hunt and Nick Chubb combined for 114 yards on 17 attempts (6.7 yards per carry). Tight end Austin Hooper added a score himself.
We also saw vintage defensive end Myles Garrett, who secured two of the team’s three sacks while forcing a fumble.
Returning from this game for the Browns are Garrett, Ward, Chubb, tight end David Njoku, offensive tackle Jack Conklin, offensive tackle Jedrick Wills, and guards Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller.
This will be a revenge game for wide receiver Amari Cooper, who put up 12 receptions for 134 yards and a score in this game but would be traded to Cleveland two seasons later.
This game took place during the COVID-19 Pandemic and thus only saw an attendance at AT&T Stadium in Dallas of 25,000, barely 30 percent of its capacity.
This will be the 33rd meeting between the two franchises spanning back to 1960, with the Browns leading the all-time series 18-14.
