Cowboys Catch Big Break for Week 1 Matchup as Browns Star Ruled Out

With the NFL preseason officially over, the Dallas Cowboys can officially focus on the regular season. Pressure is mounting as the Cowboys aim to win the Super Bowl for the first time since 1996 and it all begins with a Week 1 road showdown against Kevin Stefanski's Cleveland Browns.

Although America's Team is poised to be a championship contender, the Browns shouldn't be underestimated. After all, Cleveland's roster is loaded with playmakers on both sides of the ball — including star running back Nick Chubb, who's currently recovering from his 2023 season-ending knee injury.

While there was hope from the Browns camp that Chubb would be healthy by Week 1, the latest news indicates that the Cowboys may have got a break.

Cowboys News: Browns RB Nick Chubb to Miss Week 1?

The Browns plan to open the 2024 regular season with Chubb on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, per NFL insider Ian Rapoport. Any player who opens the year on the PUP list is unable to play for the first four weeks, meaning the 28-year-old RB will be ineligible to face the Cowboys in Week 1.

The Cowboys boast one of the better defenses in the NFL, but that doesn't change the fact that they're likely sighing in relief after learning that they won't have to face Chubb.

After all, the four-time Pro Bowl rusher is one of football's most dangerous backfield entities. Since debuting for the Browns in 2018, Chubb ranks second in the NFL when it comes to rushing yards (6,511), sixth in rushing touchdowns (48), and sixth in carries (1,238). The fact that Dallas no longer has to game plan for him will likely increase any chances of victory.

With Chubb sideline, the Browns' RB1 in Week 1 will likely be Jerome Ford, who racked up over 1,100 scrimmage yards with nine TDs in the former's absence last season. Veteran rushers Pierre Strong Jr. and D'Onta Foreman will share any opportunities whenever Ford needs a breather.

The Cowboys have won three consecutive road games against the Browns, leaving time to tell if that trend continues in less than weeks. Having said that, Dallas came up short in the former of a 49-38 loss when these teams last met four years ago at AT&T Stadium.

Although Mike McCarthy's squad is good enough to beat any team, oddsmakers don't see them opening the season with a win. The Cowboys are currently projected to be the 2.5-point road underdogs against the Browns, according to DraftKings Sportsbook.

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