Rams 13-12 Cowboys (Aug 11, 2024) Game Recap

Expert analysis and recap for game analysis of Los Angeles Rams vs. Dallas Cowboys NFL game from August 11, 2024, on ESPN.

 

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — — For 57 minutes on Sunday afternoon, Stetson Bennett very much looked like a quarterback who had not seen the field in nearly a year.

In the final 3 minutes, however, Bennett led the Los Angeles Rams on an epic game-winning drive that could bring memories of his time playing for his team at the University of Georgia to two consecutive national championships.

Bennett recovered from a day of four interceptions and scored an 18-yard touchdown pass towards Miller Forristall with just 4 seconds left in the game. Rams were able to rally for victory 13-12 against the Dallas Cowboys in the preseason opener for both teams.

“That was probably the weirdest game that I’ve been a part of,” said Bennett who completed 24 from 38 yards for 224 yards. “But I remarked to myself today that we’re going to take the game as it comes. My objective was to avoid making any mental mistakes. It was essentially to execute the offense properly.

“There were some lapses, obviously, but in the end it was get the ball in the end zone or you lose, and I think everybody fought to do it.”

Bennett was selected to the Rams in the fourth round last season. He did not play for the team for the entire season while he worked on issues with his mental wellbeing.

Bennett was 8-9 for 61 yards, not including his sidearm pass To Forristall on fourth and goal from The Dallas 6 yard line — during the game-winning drive of 13 plays and 70 yards. Forristall was able to score all three of his catches to gain 31 yards in the last game play.

Los Angeles’ day looked to end as it appeared Bennett was throwing his 5th pick in the final play prior to the two-minute warning however, it was rebuffed by the fact that Dallas was penalized for a hold.

“Obviously, want to be able to minimize the turnovers, but didn’t really surprise me,” Rams coach Sean McVay said. “We were talking on the headset as coaches. It’s like, you know what? He’s the type of guy that’s probably gonna go lead us on a game-winning touchdown drive, and Stetson did a great job.”

McVay focused on the game that the wide receiver Jordan Whittington, who threw six receptions for the 74-yard mark, while newcomer Joshua Karty had two Field goals in the Rams.

Trey Lance passed for the 188-yard mark in his debut game with the Cowboys which scored 4 field-goals made by Brandon Aubrey.

Lance had been the third pick of the San Francisco 49ers in the 2021 draft. He played in eight games, including four starts, over his initial two seasons. The team dealt to the Cowboys in the season that ended on Aug. 26 to receive a fourth-round draft pick but was not in the game.

“I believe that I have learned a lot from it. I had the pleasure of playing with a variety of different players. It was nice to feel the excitement in the group,” said Lance, who joined the team in the second game and completed 25 of the 41 passes. “I put a few plays open throughout the first quarter until the fourth. When we’re given the ball with four extra minutes and we don’t score a touchdown it’s not a great feeling.”

Aubrey provided the Cowboys an advantage of 9-6 with just 6:08 left in the game with 6:08 remaining. Following the Rams’ Brock Mogensen took an Bennett throw and took the ball back to the Rams 23-yard line in the following play, Aubrey kicked a 52-yarder that extended the lead to six points (12-6), with 2:52 remaining.

The Rams received the first kickoff and ran through 61 yards in 12 plays. Karty cut the uprights in 28 yards. Whittington played the game-winning catch during the drive, with a 34-yard catch. When second-and-11 was at the Rams 41, Whittington caught it at the 35yard line, and shook off a slap from Dallas cornerback Eric Scott and got to the 11-yard line, only to be confronted by Damone Clark..

Cooper Rush led the Cowboys to the field goal on his first drive. The 43-yard touchdown he completed across the left sideline for Jalen Brooks placed Dallas into the red zone on the Rams 15-yard line. The drive came to a halt in the LA 12 when Aubrey kicks his second field goal of 30 yards in order to keep the score at 3-3.

The teams exchanged field goals in the second quarter. Karty’s field goal of 39 yards, with just 9 minutes left ended an Rams 14-play, 76 yard game. Dallas responded by launching a 12-play, 52-yard drive that led to Aubrey’s 36-yard field kick at 4:51 remaining in the opening half.

“In certain ways, we appeared like we were playing our first game, however in other ways, I’m happy with the lessons learned and how we handled the game. There’s plenty to build on from,” Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy said.

INJURIES

Cowboys OG Chuma Edoga was injured on his foot in the first quarter. He was out for the rest of the match.

Rams: The DT Larrell Murchison suffered an injury to his arm during the second half, and was unable to return.

UP NEXT

Cowboys: At Las Vegas on Saturday.

Rams: At Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday.

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