The Cowboys showcased their dominance over the Browns in a commanding 33-17 victory, excelling in every aspect of the game. They scored two offensive touchdowns, a special teams touchdown, and four field goals. Their defense was relentless, racking up six sacks and forcing two takeaways. For the Browns, it was a dismal home opener marred by ineffective offense and a porous defense. Missing both starting offensive tackles, the Browns' offense struggled against Mike Zimmer's defensive schemes, gaining only one first down, 22 plays, and 54 yards in the first half.

They finished with 70 plays for 230 yards and 15 first downs, averaging just 3.3 yards per play. Eric Kendricks, the Cowboys' major offseason acquisition, led the team with nine tackles, two sacks, and an interception. DeMarcus Lawrence contributed two sacks, while Micah Parsons added a sack, a tipped pass leading to a Kendricks interception, and five quarterback hits. Trevon Diggs made a successful return, securing an interception in his first game back after an ACL tear. DeMarvion Overshown also notched a sack in his first regular-season game after missing his rookie season due to an ACL injury.

Deshaun Watson completed 24 of 45 passes for 169 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. Former Cowboy Amari Cooper was limited to two catches for 16 yards. David Njoku caught four passes for 44 yards before exiting with an ankle injury. Dak Prescott, fresh off a record-setting extension, completed 19 of 32 passes for 179 yards and a touchdown. CeeDee Lamb, who had missed the offseason and training camp over contract negotiations, caught five passes for 61 yards. KaVontae Turpin electrified with a 60-yard punt return for a touchdown, the first of his career. Brandon Aubrey was reliable, making field goals from 57, 40, 50, and 46 yards. A record-tying 66-yard field goal was canceled by a delay of game penalty, preventing an attempt at a 71-yarder. Overall, the Cowboys' performance was a reminder of their talent and their potential to contend this season.