Cowboys 100: Facts + Figures for Browns
Mark Lane
MARK LANE
2:13 PM
The Cowboys continue their march to the playoffs with a tour to the shores of Lake Erie where they will wear their "cursed blue jerseys" for the first time this season. By the way, what's the Cowboys' record in those? Does referee Jeff Triplette have a history with Cleveland? And just how well has Jason Garrett been coaching these Cowboys? We have that and more, so check out our facts!
CLEVELAND BROWNS FACTS
The Cowboys are 6-1 for the 11th time in club history. All 10 of those previous teams went to the playoffs with 9/10 of those teams having won the division.
This is the second time in Browns history the club started 0-8. The last team in 1975 finished 3-11 but ended up taking two-time Pro Bowl running back Mike Pruitt with the seventh overall pick in next year’s draft.
Since 1990, when playoff formats were lasted formatted, teams that started 6-1 made the playoffs 51/60 times with 41/51 of those teams having won the division.
Since 1970, when the NFC East was formed, only 5/18 teams that started 6-1 failed to win the division.
No team has started 0-8 in NFL history and made the playoffs. The closest team was the 1949 Buffalo Bills who started 2-5-1 and made the playoffs, but were ironically eliminated in the first round by the Cleveland Browns.
The Cowboys are 64-66-1 all-time in their blue jerseys.
The Cowboys are 3-7 against the Browns in their blue jerseys. Here are the results:
1964 – @CLE, 6-27 – L
1965 – @CLE, 17-23 – L
1966 – @CLE, 21-30 – L
1967 – @CLE, 21-14 – W
1968 – @CLE, 20-31 – L
1969 – @CLE, 10-42 – L
1970 – @CLE, 6-2 – W
1979 – @CLE, 7-26 – L
1988 – @CLE, 21-24 – L
2008 – @CLE, 28-10 – W
The Browns are 1/11 teams that used to be division opponents of the Cowboys. The other teams are the Falcons, Steelers, Saints, Cardinals, Packers, Lions, 49ers, Colts, Bears, and Rams.
Cleveland is 1/10 franchises that has beaten the Cowboys in their last playoff meeting without suffering a loss. The other teams are Indianapolis, Washington, New York, Carolina, Minnesota, Green Bay, Seattle, Los Angeles, Arizona, and San Francisco.
Because the former Browns owner, the late Art Modell, moved the Browns to Baltimore to become the Ravens, the Cowboys were 10-17 against defunct franchises from 1996-98, the years the Browns were not reactivated into the NFL.
The first game the Browns played in 1999 was in the Hall of Fame Game against the Cowboys, who were also wearing their road blues. The Browns won 20-17 led by first-round rookie quarterback Tim Couch.
The Cowboys are 4-10 against the Browns on the road. Here are the results broken down by venue:
Cleveland Municipal Stadium: 3-10
FirstEnergy Stadium: 1-0
The Cowboys are 3-3 against the Browns in November.
DAK PRESCOTT FACTS
Prescott becomes just the fourth Cowboys rookie quarterback to start in the road blue jerseys. The other three were Troy Aikman (1989), Steve Walsh (1989), and Chad Hutchinson (2002).
Prescott is making his first start in the road blue jerseys. Here are a list of rookie quarterback records while sporting the alternate uniforms:
Most attempts: 40 (Aikman, ’89, @Cardinals)
Most completions: 21 (Aikman, ’89, @Cardinals)
Most yards: 379 (Aikman, ’89, @Cardinals)
Most touchdowns: 2 (Aikman, ’89, @Cardinals)
Most interceptions: 2 (twice, both held by Aikman)
Highest passer rating: 81.5 (Aikman, ’89, @PHI)
Most sacks: 5 (twice)
Longest pass: 75 yards (Aikman, ’89, @Cardinals)
With a 99.6 passer rating, Prescott is on his way to set the Cowboys record for best passer rating for a starting rookie quarterback.
Prescott’s 99.6 passer rating is the sixth-best in the NFL. The nearest rookie passer rating is Cleveland’s Cody Kessler with a 94.4 passer rating, 14th-best overall.
Among quarterbacks who have started four or more games this season, Prescott’s 11 sacks are tied for the sixth-fewest in the NFL.
Prescott’s two interceptions are the seventh-fewest by a Cowboys rookie quarterback who has played through the first eight weeks of an NFL season, let alone the fewest among all who have started.
Prescott’s two interceptions are tied for the third-fewest for a Cowboys starting through the first eight weeks of the season. Only Roger Staubach (1977) and Troy Aikman (1995) are ranked ahead of Prescott.
Last week, Prescott became the first Cowboys rookie quarterback to win a game in overtime.
Prescott has the most fourth quarter comebacks for a Cowboys rookie with two.
Prescott is tied with Quincy Carter for the most game-winning drives for a Cowboys rookie with two.
Much is made how Prescott compares to Romo’s 2014 season. Here is a comparison of the two quarterbacks after the first seven games where Dallas started 6-1:
Most interceptions: 2 (twice, both held by Aikman)
Completions – Romo: 148; Prescott: 144
Attempts – Romo: 214; Prescott: 221
Yards – Romo: 1,789; Prescott: 1,773
Touchdowns – Romo: 14; Prescott: 9
Interceptions – Romo: 6; Prescott: 2
Sacks – Romo: 12; Prescott: 11
Passer rating – Romo: 104.7; Prescott: 99.6
Rushing attempts – Romo: 13; Prescott: 27
Rushing yards – Romo: 38; Prescott: 105
Rushing touchdowns – Romo: 0; Prescott: 4
Fumbles – Romo: 2 (lost, 1); Prescott: 5 (lost, 2)
EZEKIEL ELLIOTT FACTS
A 209-yard rushing performance on Sunday would give Elliott the Cowboys record for most rushing yards by a rookie and surpassing Tony Dorsett’s 1,007-yard season in 1977.
While Eric Dickerson may have the edge on Elliott with 851 yards through the first seven career games to Elliott’s 799, Elliott has the higher yards per carry at 5.03 to Dickerson’s 4.78.
Among Cowboys rookie running backs, Elliott’s 5.03 yards per carry is 10th-best through seven career games. Felix Jones tops the list at 8.87 yards per carry.
The Cowboys rookie rushing touchdown record is 12 set by Dorsett in ’77. Elliott is at five and would need a touchdown for the next nine games to break it.
Elliott’s five total touchdowns are tied for the fourth-most by a Cowboys rookie through his first seven games. Only Bob Hayes (7), Herschel Walker (7), and Julius Jones (6) have more.
Elliott’s 799 rushing yards are the fourth-most for a Cowboys running back through the first eight weeks of a season. Only Murray (2014: 1,054), Dorsett (1981: 894), and Emmitt Smith (1995: 812) had more.
Elliott’s 5.03 yards per carry through the first eight weeks of the season is the sixth-best for a Cowboys running back with a minimum of 100 carries.
JASON GARRETT FACTS
Garrett and Tom Landry are the only Cowboys head coaches to have multiple seasons with a running back with a 5.0 yards per carry or better through the first eight weeks of the season.
The Cowboys’ 236 rushing attempts through the first seven games are the most for a Garrett-led team. Same goes for the 4.9 yards per carry and 12 rushing touchdowns.
The last time Garrett had a chance to extend a winning streak to seven games was Oct. 27, 2014 against Washington. Dallas lost 20-17 in overtime and Romo suffered a transverse process fracture and missed the next game.
Garrett is 12-9 against the AFC with a 4-6 record on the road.
Garrett is currently on a four-game winning streak against the AFC North.
Garrett is 13-9 in November with a 2-5 record without Romo.
Garrett is 19-11 in the Eastern Time Zone.
The Cowboys are currently on a three-game road winning streak, the longest such streak since their 10-game winning streak from 2013-15.
The Cowboys are 6-5 in their road blues under Garrett. Here is how that record compares to other Cowboys head coaches:
Tom Landry: 37-33-1
Jimmy Johnson: 7-8
Barry Switzer: 3-5
Chan Gailey: 2-2
Dave Campo: 2-5
Bill Parcells: 3-7
Wade Phillips: 4-1
Jason Garrett: 6-5
Garrett stands with Switzer and Landry as the only Cowboys head coaches to start 6-1 in two or more seasons.
Garrett is 1-0 against the Browns. Here is how he compares to other Cowboys head coaches:
Jimmy Johnson: 1-0
Bill Parcells: 1-0
Wade Phillips: 1-0
Jason Garrett: 1-0
Tom Landry: 9-16
Barry Switzer: 0-1
Garrett is 17/29 on challenges in his career. In 2016, he is 0/1 and has not thrown a challenge since Sept. 25 in the Cowboys’ 31-17 win over the Bears.
HUE JACKSON FACTS
Jackson is the 19th head coach in Browns history and facing the Cowboys for the first time. 3/9 of the Cleveland coaches who faced Dallas for the first time came away with a win: Paul Brown, Blanton Collier, and Sam Rutigliano.
Jackson is 0-8 with the Browns. In 2011 when he coached the Raiders, his team was 4-4 at the midway point.
Jackson is 1/7 head coaches since the Browns returned in 1999 that has had to start three different quarterbacks in a season. The only head coach who escaped this fate was Pat Shurmur from 2011-12.
Jackson’s offense is tied with Arizona and Tampa Bay for ninth in the NFL with 12 turnovers surrendered. The only teams in this top-10 with winning records are the Giants and Texans.
Despite having the 13th-fewest rushing attempts in the league at 185, Jackson’s offense has the seventh-most rushing yards with 912.
The Browns are tied with Tennessee and Dallas for the third-highest yards per carry in the NFL at 4.9.
With the Raiders in 2011, Jackson had the highest penalized offense in the NFL. Through eight games, his Browns offense is tied with Seattle and Arizona for the 14th-most penalties with 55.
Jackson’s quarterbacks have combined for a 78.0 passer rating, sixth-lowest in the league. In Oakland, where he also started three different quarterbacks, they finished with a 79.4 passer rating and 16th-best in the NFL.
The Browns are 1/6 NFL teams to have hired multiple African American head coaches:
Raiders: Art Shell, Hue Jackson
Colts: Tony Dungy, Jim Caldwell
Vikings: Dennis Green, Leslie Frazier
Buccaneers: Tony Dungy, Raheem Morris, Lovie Smith
Jets: Herm Edwards, Todd Bowles
Browns: Romeo Crennel, Hue Jackson
Jackson is 3/6 on challenges in his career with a 1/3 record as the Browns head coach.
BROADCAST FACTS
This week’s commentators for FOX are Thom Brennaman, Charles Davis, and Chris Spielman. This is the first time the Cowboys will have this team.
The Cowboys are 7-5 when Brennaman calls their games.
Dallas is 0-1 when Brennaman calls their games in the blue jerseys.
The Browns are 2-4 when Brennaman calls their games.
The Cowboys are 1-0 when Davis calls their games: a 38-17 win versus Seattle on Nov. 1, 2009.
The Browns are 0-2 when Charles Davis calls their games.
This is just the second game FOX will broadcast in the series, untying them with ABC for the fewest games broadcast. Here is the complete list:
CBS – 24
NBC – 4
FOX – 1
ABC – 1
The Cowboys are 120-112 all-time on FOX.
Dallas is 16-17 on FOX in their road blue jerseys.
Cleveland is 14-24 all-time on FOX.
JEFF TRIPLETTE FACTS
This week’s referee is Jeff Triplette, who has been an NFL referee since 2000. His last called Cowboys game was the 16-6 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Dec. 27, 2015. The Cowboys own a 5-8 record when Triplette referees their games. Here are the results:
2000 – SF, 24-41 – L
2000 – @Ravens, 0-27 – L
2001 – SD, 21-32 – L
2004 – @NYG, 24-28 – L
2007 – @NYG, 31-20 – W
>2008 – @WAS, 14-10 – W
2009 – @GB, 7-17 – L
2010 – Titans, 27-34 – L
2010 – @Cardinals, 26-27 – L
2012 – PHI, 38-33 – W
2013 – MIN, 27-23 – W
>2015 – @MIA, 24-14 – W
2015 – @BUF, 6-16 – L
> Road blue jersey games
The Dallas Cowboys have won the penalty battle 3/13 times with Jeff Triplette:
2000 – SF: 8/94; DAL: 5/62
2000 – Ravens: 6/55; DAL: 3/15
2001 – SD: 3/57; DAL: 3/27
2004 – NYG: 3/25; DAL: 6/93
2007 – NYG: 8/70; DAL: 10/84
2008 – WAS: 2/10; DAL: 5/40
2009 – GB: 12/100; DAL: 10/67
2010 – Titans: 4/40; DAL: 12/133
2010 – Cardinals: 6/43; DAL: 7/49
2012 – PHI: 1/5; DAL: 7/60
2013 – MIN: 4/35; DAL: 5/45
2015 – MIA: 9/74; DAL: 10/79
2015 – BUF: 7/62; DAL: 8/65
Triplette is tied for the seventh-lowest home team winning percentage in the NFL:
Walt Anderson: 1.000
Tony Corrente: .714
Brad Allen: .714
John Hussey: .714
Gene Steratore: .714
Walt Coleman: .667
Bill Vinovich: .600
John Parry: .571
Ron Torbert: .571
Jerome Boger: .571
Jeff Triplette: .571
Carl Cheffers: .563
Ed Hochuli: .500
Craig Wrolstad: .429
Clete Blakeman: .400
Pete Morelli: .375
Terry McAulay: .125
Triplette is tied for the second-lowest percentage of home team having fewer penalties:
Walt Coleman: .833
Carl Cheffers: .750
Tony Corrente: .714
Ed Hochuli: .625
John Parry: .571
Gene Steratore: .571
Brad Allen: .571
John Hussey: .500
Terry McAulay: .500
Bill Vinovich: .429
Craig Wrolstad: .429
Clete Blakeman: .429
Jerome Boger: .429
Pete Morelli: .375
Ron Torbert: .286
Jeff Triplette: .286
Walt Anderson: .143
The Browns are 5-13 when Triplette referees their games:
1999 – NE, 7-19 – L
1999 – JAX, 14-24 – L
2003 – SD, 20-26 – L
2003 – @CIN, 22-14 – W
2004 – PIT, 10-24 – L
2005 – @Colts, 13-6 – L
2006 – CIN, 0-30 – L
2008 – @PIT, 0-31 – L
2009 – Raiders, 23-9 – W
2010 – @TB, 14-17 – L
2010 – CAR, 24-23 – W
2012 – @Ravens, 15-25 – L
2013 – @GB, 13-31 – L
2013 – CHI, 31-38 – L
2014 – @CIN, 24-3 – W
2015 – @Ravens, 33-30 – W
2015 – CIN, 3-37 – L
2016 – @WAS, 20-31 – L
The Browns have had fewer penalties under Triplette 10/18 times:
1999 – NE: 7/59; CLE: 5/45
1999 – JAX: 4/57; CLE: 5/40
2003 – SD: 12/93; CLE: 7/76
2003 – CIN: 9/66; CLE: 9/69
2004 – PIT: 5/38; CLE: 3/11
2005 – Colts: 3/15; CLE: 7/62
2006 – CIN: 8/75; CLE: 9/93
2008 – PIT: 8/65; CLE: 6/47
2009 – Raiders: 13/126; CLE: 6/64
2010 – TB: 6/55; CLE: 5/47
2010 – CAR: 8/68; CLE: 5/46
2012 – Ravens: 9/82; CLE: 4/31
2013 – GB: 10/97; CLE: 12/106
2013 – CHI: 7/40; CLE: 9/90
2014 – CIN: 7/55; CLE: 6/62
2015 – Ravens: 12/98; CLE: 9/74
2015 – CIN: 5/55; CLE: 7/84
2016 – WAS: 9/75; CLE: 7/101
Triplette is a part of the comical part of NFL lore. On 12/19/99, his ball-bearing filled penalty flag hit Cleveland Brown tackle Orlando Brown in the eye, an injury that forced him out of the NFL for three seasons.
Triplette is also an infamous part of recent Cleveland sports lore as it was his crew that failed to see Duke Johnson’s clear recovery of a fumble awarded to Washington with 9:41 left in the game and the Browns down 24-20 and in Washington territory. Thanks to the misappropriated fumble, Cleveland lost 31-20.
Triplette also refereed the Sept. 24, 2000 match between the Cowboys and 49ers where wide receiver Terrell Owens celebrated on the midfield star at Texas Stadium twice.
Jeff Triplette is a Persian Gulf War veteran and earned the Bronze Star with the North Carolina Army National Guard.
The Cowboys are 5/6 on challenges under Triplette while opponents are 3/5. Replay Assistant is 1/4 with three of those decisions favoring the Cowboys.
The Browns are 0/6 on challenges against Triplette’s calls while opponents are 7/10. Replay Assistant is 4/9 with four of those calls benefiting Cleveland.
MISCELLANEOUS FACTS
Browns defensive coordinator Ray Horton was a member of the 1992 Dallas Cowboys. As an NFL defensive coordinator, he has a 1-1 record against his old team, limiting the run game to 148 yards, the pass game to 238 yards, 20 points, forcing a turnover, and sacking the quarterback five times.
Horton’s defense has the second-highest opposing quarterback passer rating in the NFL at 103.4.
Horton’s defense is tied with Atlanta and Detroit for the most passing touchdowns surrendered with 19.
Horton’s defense is tied with Oakland for the third-worst in the NFL in yards per carry with 4.8 surrendered.
Horton’s defense is also tied with San Francisco and Houston for the fourth-most rushing touchdowns surrendered with 10.
Horton’s defense gives up the third-most points per game at 29.8.
The average drive against Horton’s defense starts at the opposition’s own 30.1-yard line, tied with the Giants for the sixth-shortest distance in the NFL.
Horton’s defense surrenders 2.48 points per drive, the second-most in the league.
Witten is 1-1 against Horton the defensive coordinator. On average, he catches five passes for 40 yards.
Dez Bryant is 1-1 against Horton. On average, he catches nine passes for 95 yards and a touchdown.
While the Browns don’t have an official offensive coordinator, it appears Pep Hamilton is the closest thing holding the title of Assistant Head Coach – Offense/QB’s. Rod Marinelli faced Hamilton once previously: Dec. 21, 2014 when Hamilton was the Colts offensive coordinator. Marinelli’s defense held the Colts to seven points and 229 yards. The pass defense held Indianapolis to 30/44 for 235 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions, and two sacks. The rush defense limited the Colts to 0.1 yards per carry and no touchdowns.
The Cowboys are tied for the ninth-fewest sacks in the NFL with 14, the third-highest output for a Marinelli defense through the first eight weeks of a season.
The Cowboys are tied for the 12th-most takeaways in the NFL with 10, the third-highest output for a Marinelli defense through the first eight weeks of a season.
Romo is 2-0 against the Browns with a 97.3 passer rating. On average, he goes 30/41 for 317 yards, a touchdown, an interception, and takes 3.5 sacks.
Romo is 1-1 against Cleveland defensive coordinator Ray Horton with a 94.5 passer rating. On average, he goes 24/36 for 238 yards, one touchdown, and 4.5 sacks.
The Cowboys offense leads the NFL with 3:14 per drive.
Dallas is second to only the Atlanta in points per drive with 2.63 while the Falcons are 2.76.
FirstEnergy Stadium is tied with Lambeau Field and Gillette Stadium for the second-fewest false start penalties with two.
The Cowboys offensive line is tied for the sixth-fewest false start penalties in the NFL with six.
The Dallas offensive line and the Cleveland offensive line are tied for 14th-most holding penalties with 11.
The Cowboys offense is tied for the ninth-fewest penalties in the NFL with 47.
Shockingly, despite the penalty-palooza with Jerome Boger against the Eagles, the Cowboys defense is tied with the Jets for the fewest penalties in the NFL with 39.
The Cowboys are 4-3 on Nov. 6. Here are the results:
1960 – Rams, 13-38 – L
1966 – @PHI, 23-24 – L
1977 – @NYG, 24-10 – W
1983 – @PHI, 27-20 – W
1988 – @NYG, 21-29 – L
1995 – PHI, 34-12 – W
2011 – SEA, 23-13 – W
Cleveland is 4-6 on Nov. 6. Here are the results:
1955 – NYG, 24-14 – W
1960 – NYG, 13-17 – L
1966 – @PIT, 6-16 – L
1977 – CIN, 7-10 – L
1983 – @GB, 21-35 – L
1994 – NE, 13-6 – W
2005 – Titans, 20-14 – W
2008 – DEN, 30-34 – L
2011 – @Texans, 12-30 – L
2014 – @CIN, 24-3 – W
The Cowboys have three birthdays to celebrate on Nov. 6:
Andy Cvercko, G, 1961-62 – 11/6/1937
John Hunt, T, 1984 – 11/6/1962
Troy Hambrick, RB, 2000-03 – 11/6/1976