The Dallas Cowboys are back. After a long-awaited return, America’s Team was back in action and did not disappoint. After a few bumps in the road for the offense due to penalties, the Cowboys promptly took control of the game and opened up a big lead over the Cleveland Browns. Thanks to limiting the Browns to 0-for-5 on third down attempts in the first half, Dallas took a 20-3 lead into halftime. The defense shook up Deshaun Watson, holding him and the Browns to a miserable 2.3 yards per attempt entering the break. The Cowboys kept the offense going after halftime when KaVontae Turpin returned a punt 60 yards for a touchdown to nearly put the Browns away early in the third quarter. It was a dominant performance and a great way for the Cowboys to get off to a good start. Here’s a closer look at the players who helped the Cowboys pull out a win.

Caelen Carson

The Cowboys are relying heavily on rookie fifth-round pick Caelen Carson. It’s a tall order to expect a rookie to perform as well as he did, taking on the tough task of being paired with crafty route runners like Amari Cooper and Jerry Jeudy. On Sunday, Carson’s traits were as good as advertised. His excellent instincts for reading routes as they unfold put him in an ideal position while in coverage on multiple occasions. On a couple of occasions, he was able to jump routes and nearly came away with interceptions. The Browns tested Carson deep, and he didn’t panic with the ball in the air. At no time did Carson look like the moment was too big for him, or was he awe-inspiring in his first NFL game. As the Cowboys await the return of DaRon Bland, Carson gives the defensive coaching staff confidence and they should be pleased with how balanced he looked.

CeeDee Lam

It must be the money. Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb were fresh off their brand new contracts, and Lamb showed why the Cowboys paid a premium to have him. Lamb is one of the most fearless receivers in the NFL when it comes to going over the middle. Lamb caught the attention of the Browns’ talented defense and didn’t hesitate to sacrifice his body over the middle to make tough catches. Perhaps his best catch of the day was a 34-yard grab over Denzel Ward, much to the chagrin of the Browns sideline. Lamb contributed with an energetic 25 yards on the ground game, another shining example of his toughness. He led the team with 61 receiving yards. Lamb’s performance was modest by his usual standards. However, he cemented his status as the engine of the Cowboys’ offense and seemed poised to give the Cowboys an immediate return on their investment with a new contract.

Micha Parsons

Micah Parsons is great. What else is new? The Dallas pass rush was relentless, setting up shop in the Browns backfield all afternoon. Without their top two tackles, the Browns were besieged by the Cowboys pass rush led by Micah Parsons. Parsons registered nine quarterback pressures against the Browns’ makeshift offensive line. Their unit was nervous at the prospect of having to stop Parsons. He drew multiple pre-snap penalties on backup tackle Dawand Jones. Parsons was lined up all over the field with multiple offensive linemen watching him, which meant nothing. He sorted through double teams and countless chips from running backs, but he still managed to make things difficult for Watson and the Browns. The Lion jumped on the Browns.

DeMarvion Overshown

It’s easy to forget that this was DeMarvion Overshown’s first regular season game as a professional. Overshown, however, looked like a seasoned veteran. His best attribute is his explosive speed for the position. He moves like a safety but hits with every bit of power like a linebacker. Overshown was a heat-seeking missile as he launched his way into the Browns’ ball carriers. Overshown led all players with a game-high 11 tackles, six of which were solo. He also joined in the sack frenzy, finding Deshaun Watson for his own sack. Watson’s defining attribute as a passer is extending plays from outside the pocket and hitting his playmakers deep down the field. With Overshown in hot pursuit, that didn’t happen. The mobile quarterbacks the Cowboys will face will have to watch out. Overshown is an excellent counter to defending quarterbacks out of the pocket, and his athleticism is an asset the team loves to have.

Demarcus Lawrence

DeMarcus Lawrence made splash play after splash play. In addition to consistently catching Watson with plenty of quarterback knockdowns and pressure, he also played the run game like he has for years. Lawrence dropped the ball carrier in the backfield three times. He also tackled Watson twice, including forcing a fumble. The 11-year pro just keeps ticking.

Eric Kendricks

What was a weakness has become a strength with the Cowboys’ talented linebacker corps, led by Eric Kendricks. Kendricks was also Johnny-on-the-spot when he alertly intercepted a pass that was deflected by Parsons. The linebacker unit looked great and Kendricks’ two sacks were a sight to behold.