Latest intel on Cowboys' 2024 season schedule presents scary scenario for Dak Prescott

The Dallas Cowboys' official Week 1 opponent has been revealed ahead of this week's NFL schedule release as FOX announced on Monday America's Team will be traveling to face the Cleveland Browns while Tom Brady debuts as an analyst in the booth.

The game presents an intriguing matchup for several reasons but the timing likely hurts the offense more than in helps it for one simple reason, or more precisely, one man.

Edge rusher Myles Garrett.

When it comes to the best defensive player in the league, you gotta go with either Micah Parsons or Garrett himself and the latter represents a mismatch against the tackles that will be protecting quarterback Dak Prescott in Week 1.

Although Tyler Guyton is a project that might just yield All-Pro results for a Cowboys front office that has consistently hit home runs when picking linemen in the first round, Guyton is considered someone that'll take time to develop into a top-tier starter, more so than Tyler Smith before him.

To face Garrett in his first career game could be a problem. If this game was in December, it wouldn't be as big a concern as it is right now. Guyton must be ready for a grueling welcome into the NFL.

And if it's not Guyton, then it's Terence Steele, who underwhelmed in pass protection last year. The fifth-year veteran might return to his previous form now that his ACL injury will be rearview mirror but he's got to prove it before we feel confident about matching up against Garrett.

Now granted, on the flipside, handling the matchup would be a huge confidence boost for the Cowboys as it would mean one of the biggest perceived problems with this 2024 squad is not that big of a deal. 

Chances are, however, this will be a game where Prescott needs to be masterful at getting rid of the football at Max Verstappen type speed.

It will also be a huge game for head coach Mike McCarthy and company as they'll need to have answers in pass protection, something this staff has been immensely proud about having overhauled when McCarthy took over as offensive architect.

The good news is the Cowboys have time as we're still about four months away from these two teams taking the field to face each other. As of Monday night, betting odds have not been released for this game. But if I had to put down a number, I'll say the Browns are likely to be favored by three points as they'll be playing at home.