NFL subtly screwed the Cowboys with Week 1 matchup

The 2024 Dallas Cowboys' schedule has officially been released and overreactions from fans are pouring in on social media. The NFL predictably saw to it that the Cowboys will feature plenty on primetime, but it came as a shock that they won't open the season on national television.

In advance of Wednesday's release, it was learned that the Cowboys will travel to Cleveland in Week 1 to play the playoff-hopeful Browns. It will mark Tom Brady's highly-anticipated broadcasting debut as Fox's lead color commentator.

Brady was obviously on-hand for the big announcement. In analyzing and previewing the game, though, Brady poked fun at one Dak Prescott, seemingly forgetting that Prescott and the Cowboys sent him into retirement in the 2022 playoffs.

Brady's highly ignorant cheap shot did well to distract from the NFL subtly putting Dallas at a disadvantage in their Week 1 matchup.

NFL subtly screwed Cowboys with Week 1 Browns matchup

This means that Cowboys first-round pick Tyler Guyton will face pass-rushing behemoth Myles Garrett in his first NFL game. How's that for a welcome to the league?

This is a huge blow for Dallas, as Garrett could completely wreck this game. Garrett routinely dominates seasoned tackles and now gets to lock horns with a rookie who is transitioning to left tackle after playing exclusively right tackle at Oklahoma.

Guyton only played 26 games in college and made just 12 starts, so he's extremely raw. Luckily for Dallas, the former Sooner has hit the ground running. Following the draft, Guyton rented an Airbnb in the area to train with offensive line mastermind Duke Manyweather.

That's a hugely promising sign for Guyton's future, but he's expected to grow into the left tackle position -- not be a marquee blocker from day one or stonewall the best pass rusher in the world in his NFL debut.

Garrett finished seventh in the NFL with 14 sacks but he was the single-most valuable defensive player in the league. He compiled 30 QB hits, 17 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles and his 30% pass rush win rate ranked second among edge defenders. He deserved to win Defensive Player of the Year.

The lack of trust in Guyton could force Dak Prescott into rushed throws and potential turnovers. If Prescott is under constant duress and unable to locate receivers downfield, it could be a long day at the office for the offense.

Who knows? Maybe Guyton makes us eat crow and holds his own against Garrett. Maybe Mike McCarthy devises a game plan that allows the offense to thrive even with Garrett generating consistent pressure on the left side. At the same time, it's perfectly fine to be worried that Garrett terrorizes the rookie and gives Dallas long odds of winning the game.

Traveling to Cleveland in early September relative to December is a bonus, but the NFL did the Cowboys zero favors by pitting them against the Browns to open the new campaign.

More on the Cowboys' schedule release