Who are the announcers and referees for Browns vs. Cowboys today?

Just like that, Dallas Cowboys football is back. Excitement around the Cowboys is tempered after another sluggish offseason that followed arguably the worst playoff loss in franchise history as a heavy home favorite.

The Cowboys will get a scrappy Cleveland Browns team in Week 1. It's a unique first matchup for Dallas, who historically has opened the season against an NFC rival. Regardless, the Browns' stingy defense and strong running game will be an excellent test for Mike McCarthy's group.

Nobody anticipates this to be a future Super Bowl matchup, but it is also no surprise it will be showed in FOX's late afternoon slate. That is typically reserved for the de facto best game that won't be in primetime.

Announcers for Browns vs. Cowboys

• Network: FOX
• Play-by-play: Kevin Burkhardt
• Color commentary: Tom Brady
• Sideline reporter: Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi

Fans in Dallas won't be surprised that FOX is sending out its A-team to cover the Cowboys and Browns. The late afternoon slate on FOX -- otherwise known as America's Game of the Week -- was the Cowboys' de facto home whenever they did not play in primetime.

Cowboys fans got tired of hearing Burkhardt and Greg Olsen on the call every week, but they are objectively two of the best play-by-play announcers and color analysts in the game.

However, Tom Brady will replace Olsen as FOX's lead color analyst this season. Brady inked a 10-year, $375 million deal with FOX after he retired. Sunday will mark the seven-time Super Bowl champion's broadcasting debut. Rest assured, Brady's performance will be its own story during the game.

Cowboys vs. Browns is by far the most appealing matchup of the late afternoon slate, but it was written in the stars that Brady would get the Cowboys in his first game.

Referees for Browns vs. Cowboys

The head referee for Cowboys vs Browns in Week 1 will be Clete Blakeman, who's entering his 15th season as a referee. Blakeman has been a very neutral ref in his career. He called the Cowboys' home opener against the Jets last season and Dallas was flagged six times to New York's five.

However, Blakeman caught some heat for his performance in the Cowboys-Seahawks game on Thursday night. A whopping 17 penalties were called through the third quarter. Several calls were questionable and Blakeman's crew picked up another handful of flags. Even Al Michaels voiced his frustration.

It was a typical ref-show in primetime. Coming into the game, Blakeman and his crew called the third-fewest penalties in the NFL. Luckily, Cowboys-Browns is not in primetime so hopefully Blakeman and his crew don't try to steal the spotlight.

Here is the rest of the crew that will be calling the game with Blakeman:

• Umpire: Scott Campbell
• Down Judge: Dana Mckenzie
• Line Judge: Julian Mapp
• Side Judge: James Coleman
• Field Judge: Karina Novar
• Back Judge: Jonah Monroe

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