NFL Game Preview

Dallas at Cleveland
Sunday, September 7th, 4:15 ET
(Matchup)

Two teams with high expectations for 2008 meet in this afternoon’s National TV game when the Cleveland Browns host the Dallas Cowboys. Despite both teams putting together great regular seasons a year ago, each has a lot to prove. Cleveland became just the fourth team to finish 10-6 and not make the playoffs since the current postseason format was adopted (in 1990) while Dallas was one and done in the playoffs after a 13-3 regular season. Bettors have taken the Cowboys up to the current line of -6 and the total remains at 48.5, so the oddsmakers are expecting this one to be one of the higher scoring Week One affairs.

Here’s an interesting note to pass on. Since the franchise returned to the NFL in 1999, the Browns have opened the season every year at home. While you might think that’s a blessing, it has instead been a curse as Cleveland has won just one season opener over that time frame. Last year, they were crushed by rival Pittsburgh, 34-7, as six-point dogs.

However, HC Romeo Crenell made a QB change following that embarrassing loss, jettisoning Charlie Frye in favor of Derek Anderson. All Anderson did was lead the team to a 10-5 SU record (12-3 ATS!) while throwing for 3,787 yards and 29 TD’s.

Anderson suffered a concussion Aug. 18, but returned to practice Monday and is expected to start the opener. He'll likely have one of his favorite targets back in the lineup as well, as receiver Braylon Edwards also returned to practice Monday after missing three weeks with a severely cut foot.

For Dallas, this year is Super Bowl or bust for a franchise that has not won a playoff game since the days of Aikman, Emmitt and Irvin. QB Tony Romo leads a cast of 13 Pro Bowlers that sputtered down the stretch last season, going 0-5 ATS.

The Cowboys offense was one of the best in the league last year (28.4 PPG) with Romo and Terrell Owens and figures to be great again this year. Wade Phillips is on a 11-2 Over run in non-conference road games. Cleveland wasn’t too shabby at scoring points either in 2007, averaging over 25 PPG, although they did go Under in their final six games (started 9-0-1 Over).

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