Cowboys vs. Browns: Halftime Updates
The Dallas Cowboys are playing the Cleveland Browns today as they try to win back-to-back games for the first time this season.
The following is a brief synopsis of each possession in the first half:
The Cleveland Browns won the toss, but elected to kick the ball to the Cowboys.
Possession 1, Dallas Cowboys:
Lance Dunbar took a knee in the endzone; the Cowboys started on their own 20. Mckemnzy Bernadeau started at center for the cowboys. After a no-gain RB Felix Jones on 1st down, QB Tony Romo hit Jason Witten for a 1st down on the next play. On the ensuing 1st down, Romo hit Jones in the flat for a 5 yard gain. A run by Felix Jones up the middle set up the Cowboys with 3rd and 2. On 3rd down, Romo set up in the shotgun with 4 wide receivers, a lame duck pass by Romo floated downfield miles away from any Cowboys WR.
Possession 2, Cleveland Browns:
Nov 18, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Brandon Weeden (3) throws prior to the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Cowboys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-US PRESSWIRE
After a poor Cowboys’ punt, the Browns started with 1st and 10 on their own 25. Browns rookie QB Brandon Weeden went to RB Trent Richardson for no gain on first down. On 2nd down, Weeded found WR Greg Little for a 1st down and gain of about 20 yards. Dallas Cowboys safety Danny McCray was injured on the play. McCray left he field. He was replaced by Charlie Peprah
Brandon Weeden, despite being a rookie, is 29 years old.
On the 1st down, Weeden overthrew Josh Cribbs for an incompletion. On 2nd down, Richardson fought for a few yards to bring up 3rd and 7 on the 44 Browns yardline. Weeden hit an open rookie WR Josh Cooper on the sideline, but he made a rookie mitake by cutting his route short of the first down marker. The Browns were forced to punt.
Dwayne Harris fielded the punt for the Cowboys; he juggled the fair catch on the Cowboys 14..
Possession 3, Dallas Cowboys:
On 1st down, Romo threw an incomplete to Jones in the flat, but Derrick Dockery was called for holding. The result was 1st and 17 from the Cowboys’ 7 yardline. A decent run by Felix Jones outside the left tackle got the ball outside the Cowboys 10. On 2nd and 12, Romo hit Witten to bring up 3rd and 4. On 3rd down, Romo was again focused on Witten and the pass was incomplete.
Josh Cribbs fielded the punt at the Browns 32 and returned all the way to the Cowboys 48.
Possession 4, Cleveland Browns:
Nov 18, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; Cleveland Browns running back Trent Richardson (33) runs the ball during the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Cowboys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-US PRESSWIRE
On 1st down, Browns RB Richardson found some dancing room for the first time, bring up 2nd and 3. The Browns went back to Richardson; he looked to be wrapped up, but Trent fought for a few yards. On 3rd down, Weeden, facing a 3 man rush from Dallas, hit Richardsardon in the falt for a 1st down. On the next play, Weeden hit WR Gordon for a big gain. After a short run, it was 2nd and 2 at the Cowboys 13 yardline. The Cowboys defense managed to stop Richardson for almost no gain to force a 3rd down. A quick handoff to the Browns fullback netted a short gain requiring a measurement to see if the Browns got a first down. They did.
On 1st and 10 from the 10, the Cowboys had good coverage, the line eventually flushed Weeden from the pocket and he threw the ball away. On 2nd down, Richardson lost yards. On 3rd and goal, the Browns went 5 wide; the Cowboys rushed just 3 men, choosing to srop 8 players into coverage; Weeden hit the TE Benjamin Watson in the endzone.
Dallas Cowboys 0 – Cleveland Browns 7
Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-US PRESSWIRE
Possession 5, Dallas Cowboys:
After a touchback and rush by Jones, the Cowboys were facing 2nd and 10 on their own 20. Tony Romo had tons of time to survey the field, but chose to run for 5 yards after not being able to find a receiver; defensive holding on the play gave them a 1st down at the 30. On the next play, RT Doug Free got driven back into Romo, and the play resulted in an incomplete. The Cowboys next play saw Romo get sacked for a 10 yard loss, but a defensive penalty gave the Cowboys a 1st down. Huge mistake from the Browns to give the Cowboys new life.
After a short completion and a rush by RB lance Dunbar that resulted in a loss os several yards, the Cowboys faced a 3rd and 11. Romo fired incomplete ( poor pass that sailed way too high) to WR Dez Bryant to force a punt.
The punt went out of bounds at the Cleveland Browns 16 yardline.
Possession 6, Cleveland Browns:
Browns RB Richardson continued to run up the middle for 4 and 5 yard chunks. On 2nd down, after having all day to survey the field, Weeden dumped the ball off to Richardson for a near 30 yard gain. The Cowboys pass-rush was non-existent.
END OF 1st QUARTER
Click on the next page to see the 2nd Quarter recap.