The Dallas Cowboys began their 2024 season in dominating fashion. With a comfortable 33-17 win over the Cleveland Browns, it took a little bit from everyone to secure their first win of the season on the road.
In Week 1, all three phases were involved: a haunting defensive effort, opportunistic offensive plays, and a special teams weapon.
Let’s look at the Cowboys’ snap count totals and offer some takeaways.
Dallas Cowboys’ Snap Count Totals in Win Over Cleveland Browns
Offensive Snap Counts
- Tyler Guyton, T: 63 (100%)
- Terence Steele, T: 63 (100%)
- Tyler Smith, T: 62 (98%)
- Cooper Beebe, G: 62 (98%)
- Dak Prescott, QB: 62 (98%)
- Zack Martin, G: 62 (98%)
- Brandin Cooks, WR: 50 (79%)
- CeeDee Lamb, WR: 45 (71%)
- Jalen Tolbert, WR: 42 (67%)
- Jake Ferguson, TE: 39 (62%)
- Ezekiel Elliott, RB: 32 (51%)
- Rico Dowdle, RB: 28 (44%)
- Hunter Luepke, RB: 20 (32%)
- Luke Schoonmaker, TE: 19 (30%)
- Brevyn Spann-Ford, TE: 19 (30%)
- Jalen Brooks, WR: 13 (21%)
- KaVontae Turpin, WR: 6 (10%)
- Deuce Vaughn, RB: 2 (3%)
- Brock Hoffman, C: 1 (2%)
- Asim Richards, G: 1 (2%)
- T.J. Bass, G: 1 (2%)
- Cooper Rush, QB: 1 (2%)
Defensive Snap Counts
- Donovan Wilson, SS: 72 (95%)
- Malik Hooker, FS: 72 (95%)
- Trevon Diggs, CB: 72 (95%)
- Micah Parsons, LB: 69 (91%)
- Jourdan Lewis, CB: 68 (89%)
- Osa Odighizuwa, DT: 61 (80%)
- Caelen Carson, DB: 60 (79%)
- DeMarcus Lawrence, DE: 52 (68%)
- Eric Kendricks, LB: 51 (67%)
- DeMarvion Overshown, LB: 44 (58%)
- Marshawn Kneeland, DE: 44 (58%)
- Chauncey Golston, DT: 29 (38%)
- Damone Clark, LB: 26 (34%)
- Nick Vigil, LB: 25 (33%
- Mazi Smith, DT: 23 (30%)
- Israel Mukuamu, FS: 16 (21%)
- Jordan Phillips, DT 15 (20%)
- Linval Joseph, NT: 13 (17%)
- Marist Liufau, LB: 9 (12%)
- Markquese Bell, FS: 4 (5%_
- C.J. Goodwin, CB: 4 (5%_
- Juanyeh Thomas, FS: 4 (5%)
- Tyrus Wheat, DE: 3 (4%)
Special Teams Snap Counts
- Tyler Guyton: 7 (19%)
- Tyler Smith: 7 (19%)
- Cooper Beebe: 7 (19%)
- Jalen Tolbert: 7 (19%)
- Hunter Luepke: 25 (69%)
- Luke Schoonmaker: 13 (36%)
- Brevyn Spann-Ford: 4 (11%)
- Jalen Brooks: 29 (81%)
- KaVontae Turpin: 11 (31%)
- Deuce Vaughn: 8 (22%)
- Brock Hoffman: 11 (31%)
- Anthony Richards: 7 19%
- T.J. Bass: 7 (19%)
- Micah Parsons: 4 (11%)
- Jourdan Lewis: 1 (3%)
- Osa Odighizuwa: 4 (11%)
- DeMarvion Overshown: 8 (22%)
- Marshawn Kneeland: 3 (8%)
- Chauncey Golston: 11 (31%)
- Damone Clark: 10 (28%)
- Nick Vigil: 25 (69%)
- Israel Mukuamu: 22 (61%)
- Marist Liufau: 13 (36%)
- Markquese Bell: 29 (81%)
- C.J. Goodwin: 29 (81%)
- Juanyeh Thomas: 28 (78%)
- Tyrus Wheat: 25 (69%)
Cowboys’ Snap Count Takeaways
Cowboys Offense
- The running back room shook out like many had thought all along. The combination of Ezekiel Elliott and Rico Dowdle almost produced a 50/50 split, with Elliott getting the start and seeing 32 snaps compared to Dowdle’s 28. This figures to be a hot-hand situation going forward, and Week 1 was further evidence of that.
- Hunter Luepke figures to be involved in various ways. The fullback is much more of a hybrid who will see carries in the backfield, be a leading blocker, and also receive passes as a tight end. His 20 snaps on Sunday look to merely just be the beginning of his participation.
- Jalen Tolbert is WR3 by a wide margin. The third-year wideout is looking for a breakout year this season, and when looking at the snap count, it’s clear the Cowboys intend to give him every chance to do that. Tolbert finished with 42 snaps on the day, with the next closest wideout being Jalen Brooks with 13.
Cowboys Defense
- Typically, you see all defensive backs on the top of lists for defensive snap counts, but to see Micah Parsons break the top five with 69 is impressive, to say the least. The pass-rushing extraordinaire was all over the place making plays and did so while getting a heavy volume of work.
- It’s a good sign for the Cowboys to see Trevon Diggs play 72 snaps in his first game back from a torn ACL that robbed him much of his 2023 campaign. He theoretically could’ve played 100% of the snaps, but Dallas took out their starters on the final drive of the game.
- Eric Kendricks and DeMarvion Overshown appear to be getting the bulk of the work at linebacker — and for good reason. Both were excellent against the Browns. And if they can consistently play 67% and 58% of the snaps, respectively, the middle of the Dallas defense should continue to be good in 2024.