Starting a three game homestand and seeking to get back there record back to .500, the Dallas Cowboys took on a dangerous Cleveland Browns offense at AT&T Stadium, losing 49-38 in Arlington on Sunday.
Unfortunately for Dallas, the same problems that have plagued during the first three weeks of the season caught up with them again here, and the results were more of the same.
After getting off to a fast 14-7 start, the Cowboys looked to be in full control of the game in the first quarter. However, a Cleveland touchdown and two consecutive turnovers later, Dallas trailed 31-14 heading into the half, and the game was, for all intents and purposes, over.
At the start of the second half, the Cowboys gave up another quick 10 points, making an already seemingly impossible deficit even greater at 41-14.
Then, Dallas's offense came alive, wracking up 24 consecutive points, and cutting the Cleveland lead to just three points.
From there, however, Cleveland was able to respond, closing the game out with a 50-yard reverse to Odell Beckham Jr. for a touchdown, followed by a Leon Lett-esque play from Jaylon Smith that resulted in two points for the Browns.
Now sitting two games below .500, the Cowboys (1-3) will have two consecutive home games to try and close that gap, with the struggling New York Giants next Sunday, and the 2-2 Arizona Cardinals coming to town for Monday Night Football the following week.
Despite the late start, the Cowboys offense had another historic day, with Dak Prescott becoming the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for at least 450 yards in three consecutive games.
Thanks to the defense, however, it wasn't enough, as they let Cleveland to rack up 508 yards of total offense, including a franchise record 307 yards rushing, and have now allowed at least 38 points in three consecutive games.
With their margin for error now razor thin, and their season on the line, Dallas will have to go back to the drawing board against a Giants team that will know the its strengths and weakness on both sides of the ball, thanks to new Giants offensive coordinator, Jason Garrett.
The Cowboys and Giants will kick off at 3:25 next Sunday afternoon on FOX.
