Dallas ran and passed all over them and the Steelers are up next.

Dallas ran and passed all over them and the Steelers are up next.

BEREA (AP) — One Mississippi. Two Mississippi. Three Mississippi. Four Mississippi. Five Mississippi...

Cleveland’s pass rush was so painfully slow and ineffective in Sunday’s season-opening loss to Dallas that Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo could have rattled off the names of several other Southern states and maybe a few above the Mason-Dixon line before the Browns’ defense finally put any pressure on him.

Unable to knock Romo out of his rhythm or on his backside, Cleveland’s secondary was shredded in a 28-10 defeat that was even more lopsided than the final score showed. The Cowboys rolled up 487 total yards, 30 first downs and had drives of 80, 69, 69, 86, 76 and 66 yards — the final one eating up the game’s final 10:13.

“They were hitting our zones,” strong safety Sean Jones said. “They were finding the holes and Romo did a good job of finding time for himself. We definitely have to get it corrected.”

Fast.

It was a disappointing debut for a defensive unit that finished ranked No. 30 overall last season and figured to be a whole lot better because of the offseason additions of nose guard Shaun Rogers and tackle Corey Williams as well as a more seasoned group of linebackers in coach Romeo Crennel’s 3-4 system.

But one game into a new season, and with the Steelers up next, Cleveland’s defense has more holes than ever.

Jones, the top playmaker and most experienced back in a shaky secondary, will undergo arthroscopic knee surgery today and will miss at least one month. Jones’ injury comes one week after the Browns, who escaped major injuries in 2008, lost outside linebacker Antwan Peek for the season after he blew out his knee during practice.

The Browns aren’t the only team bitten by the injury bug in the early season. Across the NFL, injuries are taking their toll.

“I don’t think you can account for it because it wasn’t like we beat them up in training camp or anything like that,” Crennel said. “It’s just these things happen and sometimes it goes in cycles. Evidently this is our cycle.”

Jones first hurt his knee in the exhibition opener against the New York Jets. He played the following week but missed the final two preseason games with swelling. Although he was in pain, Jones made it through Sunday’s game but his knee swelled up again and he and the team decided to have the operation.

“I tried to push through it,” said Jones, who had made 33 consecutive starts. “The best thing for me now is to get a scope and get everything cleaned out so I can be ready for the rest of the season.”