(Editor’s Note: The content provided is based on the opinions and/or perspective of the editorial staff of DallasCowboys.com and not of the Cowboys football staff or organization.)

CLEVELAND — The wait was over and the games officially started to matter, but first it was Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys who made big news in the form of a historic multi-year deal that makes him the team’s franchise quarterback through the 2028 season.

But while that news was still circulating across all media platforms, the Cleveland Browns wanted to ruin the celebration.

Prescott and Lamb were hoping for a hot start, as the latter had missed the entire training camp due to a contract rejection that ended in a mega-deal of his own. However, the offense also featured the return of running back Ezekiel Elliott and a revamped offensive line featuring rookies Tyler Guyton and Cooper Beebe at left tackle and center, respectively, opposite Myles Garrett and one of the best defenses in the NFL.

Speaking of defenses, the Cowboys welcomed back Mike Zimmer this year to coordinate their defense and returning All-Pro cornerback Trevon Diggs leads the offense behind Micah Parsons and co., though rookie Caelen Carson has been thrust into the spotlight without DaRon Bland, the other record-setting All-Pro cornerback.

Ultimately, the Cowboys opened the season with a 1-0 win at Huntington Bank Stadium, and it wasn’t as exciting as the final score suggests.

Let’s talk about some of the people who explosively jumped out of the movie in this game.

Yes, the $240 million man came to play in Cleveland. Prescott looked as fresh and determined as ever and, combined with some surgically precise play-calling from Mike McCarthy, the Cowboys offense wasted little time getting on the board via an athletic touchdown throw from Prescott to Brandin Cooks — in the face of a Cover-0 blitz, no less — for a 21-yard pay-dirt drive. There was rarely an errant throw from the All-Pro quarterback, as some of his incompletions were essentially drops by targets, but overall, he cooked in Week 1 and made sure to show everyone why he’s worth every penny of that new contract.

Rust? What rust? There was no rust on Lamb, despite missing the entire training camp with the holdout. Not only is the All-Pro a bit bigger, but he’s also arguably more crafty than he was during his record-setting season, and that’s saying a lot considering how slick he’s already been in his young career. Lamb has operated at both receiver and halfback, keeping the good times rolling with the latter after showing last season that he’s a viable option there. There wasn’t much Lamb couldn’t do in Cleveland, and that means it’s unlikely there’s anything he can’t do going forward — considering the Browns have one of the best defenses in the NFL.

In 2023, Cooks got off to a slow start in McCarthy’s first season as a playcaller (and Cooks’ first year in Dallas), but he picked up steam as the season progressed. The veteran wideout looked more impressive this offseason than he’s ever looked in his NFL career, yet he flew under the radar as younger wide receivers took center stage in the headlines as CeeDee Lamb locked in a new contract. But Cooks did his damage in Oxnard, and he carried it into the season opener, refusing to start cold for the second straight year.

Rumors of his demise have been greatly exaggerated. There are those outside the building accusing Elliott of being washed, but so far he appears to be dry clean. The former two-time NFL rushing champion began his afternoon against the Browns by taking a handoff on the first play from scrimmage and then hurdling the defender because, hey, he can still do it. The play was called back due to a holding penalty behind him, but the message had been sent. Elliott proceeded to wreak havoc on both short and middle yardage as a halfback and receiver out of the backfield.

It always feels like Turpin is a hair’s breadth away from taking one home, but he was bare on Sunday against the Browns. DeMarcus Lawrence tackled Watson in the third quarter to force a punt that Turpin caught and took the other way for a 60-yard touchdown — something he’s come close to doing at several points in his young career in Dallas. It gave the Cowboys a 20-3 lead at the time and made the Browns look almost completely one-dimensional, but more importantly, it reestablished the threat Turpin can be as a returner in this league.

So this is what it looks like to have dominant linebackers, plural, on the roster? The 180-degree turnaround the Cowboys experienced at the position in the first year of Mike Zimmer’s return was a sight to behold, and it was led by Kendricks’ decision to let the San Francisco 49ers read his stuff at the last minute and take his talents to Dallas. Kendricks was a man possessed against the Browns, leading the team in tackles for much of the game and adding an interception and an eight-yard return to his bottom line. Another former All-Pro who many worried about because of his age showed that they should never have doubted him in the first place.

Micah Parsons, W (Arms)

He doesn’t want to be the killer. He doesn’t want to be the hitman. Parsons wants to be the killer for the Cowboys in 2024, and he’s off to a good start on that mission. Zimmer had him play multiple positions against the Browns on Sunday, and it paid off with plenty of pressure on Watson and a sack in the first half, along with a PBU that led to Kendricks’ interception in the second quarter. The film of Parsons’ performance in Cleveland will make your jaw drop, even if his stat line won’t.

Mission number one was to stop the run, and Lawrence helped make sure the Cowboys did just that. Mission number two was to bully the hell out of Watson, and yes, Lawrence made sure that happened. The former Pro Bowl edge rusher was a brick wall when the ball was run his way, and with the help of Osa Odighizuwa a time or two, he was able to bring Watson down for one of the Cowboys’ many sacks on the night. In short, Lawrence continues to play at a high level as a heartbeat of the defense, adding a second sack of the day to his total late in the fourth period as Watson tried to escape.

WOW. I mean, I could stop here, but I’ll tell you a little more about what I saw from Overshown in Cleveland. Despite it being a de facto rookie debut for the former Longhorn, Overshown played like he’s been in the league for years — a high football IQ to go along with his unreal athleticism. In the days leading up to the matchup, Overshown told me he was “looking for” Watson to make a run, and he meant it. In the second half, he basically chased Watson down like a cheetah on a hyena when the QB tried to escape on 4th-and-6 to take him down for a loss of three yards on a play you have to see to believe. Overshown and Kendricks were a deadly LB duo.

He’s back. He’ll be back soon. Diggs showed few signs of rust, if any, during four quarters of a heavy workload for the All-Pro. His coverage was sensational, even when the play broke down, and his tackling was just as solid in the open field. And when Watson decided to target him one too many times in the fourth quarter, Diggs reminded him why he had 11 interceptions not so long ago. An interception on a throw to Elijah Moore sent Watson back to the sideline to ponder his mistake, and Diggs was immediately back in the conversation as one of the best corners around.

Amari Cooper is a threat, which makes what Carson did all the more impressive. On Cooper’s second target, Carson landed a PBU and then stood over the five-time Pro Bowler, taunting him, something that would be unwise if you’re unable to continue to stop him throughout the game. Carson helped shut Cooper down completely, backing up his taunting, holding the former Cowboys’ WR1 to just 16 total yards on two receptions as the game neared its end — living up to his “Seat Belt” nickname in his rookie debut against one of the best to ever do it.

Because of course, amirite? Aubrey was just doing what Aubrey always does: being accurate from any distance. He went a perfect 4-for-4 on the afternoon, adding 12 points to the final score. The NFL’s most powerful kicking weapon also had a chance to make history with a 66-yarder, but a penalty ended the opportunity and the Cowboys opted not to attempt a 71-yarder, likely out of fear of injury risk. They didn’t need it, as it turned out, but they do need it, so it was a smart decision.