DALLAS — NFL fans, the long wait is over.
The NFL season is back, and the Cowboys kickoff the season on Sunday.
Let me say this right out of the gate: With all the uncertainty surrounding the future of the quarterback, head coach and several players, I think this season is going to be a wild ride.
So let's get to it with "5 Things to Watch" in the Cowboys opener against the Browns:
1. The Quarterback
As of this writing, the Cowboys and Dak Prescott sill haven't reached an agreement on a new deal. If I'm Dak Prescott, with the ability to be a free agent at the end of the season, I'll be asking for a massive record-breaking deal. I don't know if Jerry Jones will cave this time, so this deal could take some time, if it ever gets done.
Cowboys fans have to hope that Dak Prescott really has come to terms with the possibility of not being a Cowboys next season. If so, perhaps he can play free and easy and double down on what was his best professional season a year ago.
Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz and his top-ranked squad last season will provide a stiff test. Prescott said Cleveland has outstanding players on each level of the defense, and that will only add to the degree of difficulty.
Dak's bet on himself before. Cowboys fans have to hope he can hit it big again, starting Sunday in a tough environment.
2. Myles Garrett
The last time the Cowboys took on the Browns, Myles Garrett plagued his hometown team with two sacks and a force fumble in the Browns 49-38 win in 2020. Garrett will be looking to exploit the Cowboys young offensive line, featuring a pair of rookie starters.
Garrett, the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, feasts on young offensive lineman. The last time he lined up against a rookie left tackle in his debut, he dominated the Panthers’ Ikem Ekwonu in 2022. Garrett tallied two sacks, a forced fumble and six quarterback pressures.
Garrett describe the matchup this way: "It’s Dallas. It’s home. I don’t plan on losing.”
Alrighty then.
3. The Cowboys offensive line
First-round pick Cowboys left tackle Tyler Guyton will have his hands full against Garrett. This matchup should give us a feel for how well Guyton can use his great footwork to make up for some of his technical issues. A false step here or there, and Garrett can make you look downright silly.
And don't be surprised if the Browns move Garrett inside for a few rushes. That could give him a chance to exploit new Cowboys center Cooper Beebe. Beebe's never played center before in his football career. He'll have to make sure he's mentally sharp enough to make all the calls and physical enough to execute the scheme. It's a tall order, but Prescott says Beebe has the right mental makeup to work through it.
4. Mike Zimmer's plan for Micah Parson's
While Prescott will have an eye on Garrett. Browns QB Deshaun Watson will have to account for Micah Parsons on every play. This game will be the unveiling of new defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer's scheme.
But the game within the game will be tracking how Zimmer employs the "Swiss army knife" in Parsons. He's coming off a career-high 14 sacks last season and says he can't wait to attack opposing offenses with Zimmer calling the shots.
Zimmer's defense will feature multiple looks and much more variety than Cowboys fans have seen the past few years. Zimmer will hold his squad accountable and pull no punches if they're not assignment sound.
Pay attention to the Cowboy ability to stop the run on early downs. Zimmer has brought in a number of veteran defensive lineman late in the preseason to try and shore up the interior defensive line. Production on early downs will unlock and unleash Parsons.
5. Running back
We'll begin to unravel the mystery of the Cowboys running back run room. Ezekiel Elliott is listed technically as the starter, but he doesn't figure to carry the load as much as Rico Dowdle. Dowdle is an unproven option and will look to improve on a meager career-high 361 yards on 89 carries last season.
Second-year back Deuce Vaugh provides juice, but we'll see what kind of role and how much the Cowboys will use him. Vaughn was active in just seven games last year and had just 30 touches all season.
Meanwhile, veteran Dalvin Cook is waiting in the wings on the practice squad for the time being. How long can they wait before elevated him? And does he have anything left in the tank?
The make-up of this group sparking many questions. We'll finally get some answers in the opener.
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