Cowboys 12-13 Rams, summary: score, stats, highlights | NFL Preseason Week 1
Cowboys @ Rams LIVE!
Rams beat Cowboys in preseason opener
To be quite frank, this was a pretty dull game for the most part. But it is the preseason and we did mostly get what we came for, which was a look at how the backups, rookies, and veterans fighting for roster spots would play in the game.
The game was mostly an exchange of field goals between Rams kicker Joshua Karty and Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey. In the first half, both kickers had two field goals - Karty for 28 and 39 yards and Aubrey for 30 and 36 yards. Then in the second half, Aubrey missed a 65-yard attempt, but made a 38-yarder and then a 52-yarder in the next quarter to put the Cowboys up 12-6.
It wasn’t until the last 11 seconds that the Rams took the first lead they’d had since their first field goal in the first quarter. Quarterback Stetson Bennett threw a 6-yard pass to tight end Miller Forristall in the end zone for the touchdown and Karty’s extra point was good to give the Rams the 13-12 win over the Cowboys in their preseason opener.
Bennett’s intereceptions
Now if that’s all you knew, Bennett may have seemed like a star. However, he did throw five interceptions in the game - four which counted and one which was called back on a Cowboys penalty. He finished the game 24 of 38 for 224 yards, the one touchdown, and four interceptions.
This was Bennett’s first game since the 2023 preseason, but in those games, he threw three interceptions across the three games as well. Throwing the game-winning touchdown counts for something, of course, but he’ll need to get the turnovers under control if he wishes to be a true backup to Matthew Stafford.
Rams’ sixth-round rookies showing out
Wide receiver Jordan Whittington, the Rams’ sixth-round draft pick, made a solid case for himself that he deserves to be there. He made several big plays and ended the game with six receptions on nine targets for 74 yards.
The Rams’ other sixth-round pick was defensive tackle Tyler Davis, who also had himself a good game, ending with six total tackles (tied for the team lead), two solos, one tackle for a loss, and one quarterback hit.
Cowboys new defense
There has been a lot of talk about Mike Zimmer’s new defense during the offseason, and it seems like he’s picking up where Dan Quinn left off in forcing turnovers. Those four interceptions Bennett threw were all part of that, by Eric Scott, Julius Wood, Markquese Bell, and Brock Mogenson. Other than a fourth-quarter sack on Bennett by linebacker Jason Johnson, however, there wasn’t a lot of pressure on the Rams quarterback.
DT Mazi Smith played three series, finishing with three tackles, one for a loss. Bell, who played linebacker last season, was in at safety, and finished with nine tackles and the interception. LB Demarvion Overshown finished with three tackles, and the Cowboys fifth-round pick, CB Caelen Carson, finished with six tackles and no pass breakups.
Trey Lance
Cooper Rush came in at quarterback for the Cowboys to start the game, leading the offense on a 58-yard scoring drive on their first possession. He finished the game 2-of-3 for 44 yards. Then Trey Lance took over. He had several overthrown passes, including two missed touchdown passes, one to Jalen Cropper, and another to Cam Johnson. He did well scrambling under pressure on several occasions, but was sacked three times.
Tyler Guyton
As left tackle Guyton was the Cowboys’ first-round pick in this year’s draft, all eyes were on him. He had been dealing with an illness over the last week, though, so his reps were limited in today’s game. He didn’t start the game but did play two series and allowed Lance to get that 19-yard scramble he had on third and 10.
Most important highlight of the game
Let's not forget to mention this referee who went viral during the game for his muscles.
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The game-winning TD
Bennett's pass to Forristall was good for the Rams' first and only touchdown to win the game.
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Well, at least they tried! Johnson took it up 34 yards and was taken down by Taylor. RAMS WIN!
Technically, the Cowboys COULD try to return the kick for a touchdown, but...well, hey, you never know.
Cowboys take first timeout
And the Rams score it in the last seconds of the game! Bennett threw four (almost five interceptions), but he made the last-second clutch pass to Forristall in the end zone for the touchdown and Karty's PAT was good to seal the deal.
Karty's PAT is GOOD! RAMS WIN!
Rams went for it and it paid off, Forristall caught the 6-yard pass in the end zone for the touchdown
RAMS TOUCHDOWN!
Bennett pass incomplete to Laap - 4th and goal
Bennett SACKED by Muhammad and Daxon - 3rd and goal
If the Rams can get a touchdown and PAT, they'll win this game. They have 26 seconds to get it done on 2nd and goal at the Cowboys 7.
Rams take second timeout
Scott is taken down for no gain - 2nd and goal
Bennett pass complete to Stoops for 11 yards and the first down - 1st and goal
Bennett tosses it to Forristall for 5 yards and the first down
Scott takes it up 7 yards - 2nd and 3
Bennett pass to Wiglusz was good for 9 yards. Cowboys' Johnson was called for UnnecessaryRoughness.
Wiglusz is down on the field and being helped up by the medical team
Bennett pass complete to Stoops for 10 yards and the 1st down
FalseStart on Rams' McCallister - 5 yards, 2nd and 10
Bennett pass to Scott for 5 yards - 2nd and 5
TWO-MINUTE WARNING
With 2 minutes left to play, the Cowboys have the lead 12-6. No one has made it into the end zone in this game, but the Cowboys have four field goals to the Rams' two field goals.
Rams QB Stetson Bennett just threw his fifth interception of the game, but got lucky that it was called back on a Cowboys holding penalty.
The Rams have the ball on first down at their own 36.
Bennett pass was bobbled up in the air and INTERCEPTED by Johnson who runs it back 22 yards...BUT
Cowboys' Butler get called for Holding for a 10-yard penalty and automatic first down for the Rams
Bennett pass complete to Forristall for 9 yards - 4th and 9
Rams will go for it
Bennett SACKED by Johnson for a loss of 9 yards - 3rd and 18
Bennett pass complete to Scott for 6 yards - 2nd and 9
FalseStart on Rams' McCallister - 5 yards
Aubrey kicks 65 yards to the end zone, touchback
Aubrey made the 52-yard field goal - his fourth of the night - to give the Cowboys a bigger lead with 2:52 remaining in the game.
COWBOYS FIELD GOAL!
VanValkenburg put the pressure on Lance, he gets it away to Peat, but he's pushed back a yard by Speights - 4th and 21
Lance pass incomplete - 3rd and 20
Burnett gets 4 yards, but Cowboys get Holding call on Bell, 10 yards - 2nd and 20
Lance SACKED by Goodlow for no gain
Bennet throws his FOURTH INTERCEPTION this time to Mogensen and he runs it 23 yards
It's Evans again but this time he's taken BACK 2 yards by Butler for a loss of 2 - 2nd and 12
Evans runs it up 24 yards! 1st down
Anddd there's another flag
Aubrey kicked again, 67 yards to the Rams 2 again. Scott ran it 25 yards
Rams' McCutcheon called for Holding - 10 yards
Aubrey kicks 63 yards to the Rams 2 and Smith takes it up 31 yards.
Two penalties - Illegal Formation on Cowboys' Bland and Holding on Rams' Kalinic
Penalties offset and the Cowboys will re-kick
Aubrey makes 38-yard field goal to put Cowboys ahead with 6:08 remaining
COWBOYS FIELD GOAL!
Lance pass incomplete to McMath - 3rd and 4
Lance pass to Johnson for 6 yards - 2nd and 4
Lance pass caught in the air AGAIN by Harmon for a big gain of 26 yards!
Peat takes it up 3 - 2nd and 7
Lance pass caught by Harmon as he's hit by Wallace but he hangs on to it for a gain of 12 yards
Lance pass caught by Burnett for 12 yards and the first down
Lance scrambles for a yard - 3rd and 9
Lance pass bobbled by Burnett, incomplete - 2nd and 10
Evans punts 43 yards into the end zone - touchback
Scott runs it up 9 yards - 4th and 11
Bennett pass incomplete to Wiglusz - 3rd and 20
Bennett pass to Stoops is batted away by Butler - 2nd and 20
Evans picks up 2 yards, but Rams get a Holding call on McCallister - 10 yards - 1st and 20
Evans picks up 2 yards for the 1st
Stoops takes it up 6 - 3rd and 1
Evans runs it up 3 yards
Rams will take over at their own 47
Lance SACKED by VanValkenburg for a loss of 11
Conner gets a yard and it's 4th and 4 at the Rams 36
Lance pass complete to Fant for 4 yards - Ingle's helmet comes off after he makes the tackle
Lance overthrows to Johnson in the end zone - 2nd down
Lance takes it up 4 yards himself - 1st down
END THIRD QUARTER
That will take us to the end of the third quarter.
The game is still tied 6-6 after a series of first-half field goals. It's been a scoreless scond half so far after Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey missed a 65-yard field goal attempt.
After Rams QB Stenson Bennett threw his third interception of the game (caught by Woods), the Cowboys now have the ball at the Rams 45 on 3rd and short.
Lance to Spann-Ford, picks up 6 yards, just short of the first - 3rd and short
Lance to Conner for 3 yards - 2nd and 7
Cowboys take over at their own 35
Lance pass to Burnett for 11 yards and the 1st down
Bennett throws third INTERCEPTION of the game, caught by Woods and taken back 9 yards
Rams will get the ball at the Cowboys 45
Aubrey went for a 65-yard field goal and missed
His career-long is 60
Lance SACKED out of bounds by VanValkenburg for a loss of 5 yards - 4th and 10
Peat picks up just 2 more - 3rd and 5
Lance to Fant for 3 yards
Cowboys go for it on 4th down
Lance escapes a sack by Durden and picks up the 1st down
Lance pass low to Johnson for 4 yards - 4th and 3
Conner picks up 3 yards before Tyler Davis takes him down
Lance pass incomplete - 2nd down
Conner took it up the middle 8 yards and gets hit in the face by Rams' Bruss, called for Unnecessary Roughness - 15 yards
Evans punts it 50 yards into the end zone - touchback
Bennett under pressure, throws it away - 4th and 7
Scott got a gain of 3, but was stopped on the next one - 3rd and 7
Bennett pass to Whittington was good for 7 yards and then Wiglusz gets a 16-yard reception for the first down.
Bennett passes deep to Whittington for 18 yards!
But then Rams get called for a Face Mask on Kalinic, 15yards - 2nd and 18
Scott takes it up 7 yards - 2nd and 3
Lance under pressure throws it to Burnett but he catches it out of bounds and it's another turnover on downs.
Rams will get the ball at their own 32.
Lance pass to Stephens is caught but it's just good for 7 yards - 4th and 6
Cowboys will go for it
Lance pass caught by Stephens but he's tackled by McCollough for just a yard - 3rd and 13
Johnson takes it up 6 yards but an Illegal Shift call on Cowboys' Johnson puts them back another 5 yards - 2nd and 14
Conner takes it up a yard - 2nd and 9
Lance makes the pass to Flournoy for 5 yards and the 1st down
Davis gets 5 yards -
Lance passes to Flournoy and he gets nowhere and then forward FUMBLES out of bounds at the Rams 46.
Lance runs it up 13 yards for another 1st down
Lance makes the pass to rookie WR Spann-Ford for 7 yards and the 1st down
Lance is in at QB for the Cowboys to start the second half. Davis takes it up 4 yards.
And we're back!
Brown kicks it 73 yards to the Cowboys -8 and Johnson takes it up 36 yards to the Cowboys 28.
Rams WR Jordan Whittington has had a great first half
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Bennett's second interception of the first half
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HALFTIME
The Rams and Cowboys are tied 6-6 at the half after both teams managed to trade off field goals for two apiece.
Joshua Karty made a 28- and 39-yarder and Brandon Aubrey made a 30- and 36-yarder.
Rams QB Stetson Bennett has gone 12-of-20 for 110 yards with no touchdowns and 2 interceptipns.
The Cowboys have traded off QBs between Trey Lance and Cooper Rush. Lance has gone 8-of-17 for 78 yards and no touchdowns and Rush has 2-of-3 for 44 yards and no touchdowns.
END 2ND QUARTER
Lance escapes the pocket, passes to Davis, complete for 14 yards for the first down but that takes us to the end of the half
Rams take second timeout
Lance escapes a sack, scrambles up 4 yards - 4th and 6
Lance pass incomplete to Davis - 3rd down
Lance back in at QB and he's under pressure, throws it away
Bennett's pass is INTERCEPTED by Scott and he runs it up 26 yards to the Cowboys 36
Bennett passes to Whittington in the end zone but it's incomplete - 2nd down
Rams take first timeout
Bennett pass complete to Wiglusz for 11 yards and another 1st down!
Rams go for it on 4th down.
Bennett pass to Whittington and he gets the 1st down!
Rams are 3/3 on 4th down conversions in this game.
Cowboys take first timeout
And its Evans for a third time but he's stopped after a yard - 4th and 3
Evans again, picks up 4 yards - 3rd and 4
Evans takes it up 2 yards - 2nd and 8
TWO-MINUTE WARNING
That takes us to the two-minute warning before halftime.
Cowboys and Rams are tied 6-6. Rams have the ball at 1st down at the Cowboys 41.
Bennett pass to Whittington complete for 14 yards and the 1st down
Bennett throws into Cowboys traffic but avoids a pick - incomplete, 3rd and 8
Evans takes it up 2 yards - 2nd and 8
Evans takes it up 6 yards for the first down
Bennett pass complete to Whittington for 6 yards
Aubrey kicks it 58 yards to the Rams 7 and Smith runs it up 24 yards
Aubrey made the 36-yard field goal to even the score yet again with 4:51 to go in the first half.
COWBOYS FIELD GOAL!
Lance pass to Davis incomplete again and the Cowboys will try for a field goal
Lance under pressure by Tyler Davis pass to Davis is incomplete - 3rd and 10
Lance pass to Flournoy is incomplete, hit by Kinchens - 2nd and 10
Lance throws a bullet to Cropper for 12 yards and another first
Lance pass to Stephens and runs it up the sideline 11 yards for another first down
Davis takes it up 4 to the Rams 41 - 2nd and 6
Lance scrambles, gets away, tosses it to Durden for 16 yards and the 1st down
Malik Davis taken back by Tyler Davis for a loss of 3 - 2nd and 12
Davis takes it up 2, good for the first
Lance makes the pass to Cropper for 9 yards - 3rd and 1
Lance pass incomplete to Durden - broken up by Jolly
Karty kicks 65 yards to the end zone - touchback
Karty makes the 39-yard field goal to put the Rams back up at the start of the second quarter.
RAMS FIELD GOAL!
Bennett passes deep into the end zone but Johnson couldn't hold onto it - incomplete - 4th and 6
Bennett pass incomplete to Whittington - 3rd and 6
Boston Scott runs it up 4 yards, tackled by Bell
Evans picks up 1 - 4th and 2
Rams go for it and Evans picks up 3 to get the first down
Bennett pass to Smith complete for 5 yards - 3rd and 3
Evans takes it up 2 yards - 2nd and 8
Scott gets another 14 yards to the Cowboys 36!
Bennett passes it to Johnson for a gain of 11
Bennett pass complete to Smith for 10 yards
An Unnecessary Roughness call on Cowboys' Scott gives Rams another 15 yards
Bennett to Smith for 3 yards
END FIRST QUARTER
Bennett still in at QB and he hands it off to Scott for a gain of a yard and that takes us to the end of the 1st quarter.
The Cowboys go for it on 4th and 1 and they don't get it. Lance makes the pass to Cropper in the end zone. The Rams will take over on downs.
Cowboys take second timeout
Lance pass complete to Cropper for 4 yards - 4th and 1 at the Rams 3
Davis takes the ball but he's pushed back a yard by Yeast - 3rd and 5
Lance under pressure, gets it away to Davis for 6 yards. 2nd and 4 at the Rams 6
Lance scrambles up 19 yards for the 1st down!
Lance takes a deep shot but it's too long - incomplete, 3rd and 10
Cowboys take first timeout
Lance pass to Schoonmaker broken up by Hummel - incomplete
Lance hands it off to Davis and he makes the 1st down
Trey Lance is in
Trey Lance has come in at QB for the Cowboys.
He's got great field position at the Rams 44 and makes a 6-yard pass to Brooks.
Cowboys' Markquese Bell picks off Stetson Bennett
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Bennett pass INTERCEPTED by LB Bell
Bennett pass broken up by Butler - incomplete
Evans takes it up 4 yards - 2nd and 6
Dynamic kickoff kicks off
Aubrey kicks it 64 yards to the 1 and Smith takes it up 23 yards
The Cowboys got down the field after a 43-yard pass from QB Cooper Rush to WR Jalen Brooks. They couldn't make it into the end zone either, but evened up the score on a 30-yard field goal by kicker Brandon Aubrey with 5:20 left in the first.
COWBOYS FIELD GOAL!
Rush under pressure by Davis - pass incomplete
Rush pass bobbled but caught by Cropper for a yard - 3rd and 7
Dowdle makes it just 2 yards, taken down by Johnson
Rush lobs it 43 yards and it's CAUGHT by WR Jalen Brooks
Brooks is in competition for the WR3 position for Dallas
Dowdle takes it again for 3 yards and the 1st down
Rush is in at QB for the Cowboys.
He hands it off to RB Dowdle for 9 yards.
Karty kicks 65 yards into the end zone for the touchback
After going for it on 4th down and 1, the Rams get down into the red zone on a 31-yard run by Whittington. The Cowboys defense kept them out of the end zone, but kicker Karty made the 28-yard field goal to put the Rams on the board and in the lead with 8:27 left in the first quarter.
RAMS FIELD GOAL!
Bennett's pass batted away by Bell - 4th and goal
Bennett pass caught by Scott but he's pushed back by Smith and Overshown for a loss of 1 - 3rd and goal
Whittington breaks through for 31 yards! 1st down!
Illegal Snap on Rams - 5 yards, 2nd and 11
Scott takes it up 4 yards - 2nd and 6
Rams go for it on 4th down
Rams go for it on 4th and 1 and they run the play fake and Bennett takes it up 5 yards for the 1st down!
Bennett hands it off to Scott but the Cowboys push him back and it's 4th down
Scott runs it 2 yards, Bennett makes a 4-yard pass to Smith to put Rams at 3rd and 4
Bennett's in at QB for the Rams and he makes a 13-yard pass to rookie Whittington for a first down!
Here comes the NFL's new kickoff for the first time for these two teams!
Cowboys kicker Aubrey kicked it 65 yards to the endzone for a touchback.
Cowboys @ Rams LIVE begins now!
We're just moments away from kickoff at SoFi Stadium.
Here we go!
More Cowboys-Rams Preseason News
Check out more on today's preseason game between the Rams and Cowboys.
Jerry Jones on CeeDee Lamb drama
In case you haven't heard, Dallas' star receiver CeeDee Lamb has been holding out of training camp while he waits for the Cowboys to give him a contract deal he finds satisfactory.
Just last week, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones got himself "into trouble" when he said there was no urgency to get the deal done. Lamb responded to that on X by saying "lol".
Jones wanted to take this moment to clarify that Lamb is indeed missed on the team, but that there was no pressure or "urgency" to get him back in time for the start of preseason, as there was no chance of him participating in the preseason regardless.
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Tom Brady will be making broadcasting debut
Today's Rams vs Cowboys game also marks Tom Brady's broadcasting debut.
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Stafford threw a TD to himself
During the Cowboys and Rams joint practice on Thursday, Rams QB Matthew Stafford threw a touchdown to himself.
"Well, I was scrambling and then I was trying to throw one low to keep it down and it kind of got batted up," Stafford said. "And I'm like, of course, here we go and it was sitting on some dude's helmet and I was like 'alright, I'll take it and try to sneak in.' And I guess it worked."
"I was asking the DBs, 'Man, how bad did that look?'" Stafford laughed. "And they were just laughing at me. I'd have laughed at me too."
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Guyton is the Guy to watch on the Cowboys
Offensive tackle Tyler Guyton was the Cowboys' first-round pick in this year's draft. For some reason, on the unofficial depth chart, Guyton was listed behind Chuma Edoga.
However, it's likely that's simply because he's yet to prove he deserves the starting spot - something he could start doing today against the Rams.
In theory, Guyton should beat out Edoga for the starting role. Edoga has been in the league for five years and has just 19 starts. Guyton has been slowed down by an illness in the last week, though.
According to DallasCowboys.com's Nick Harris, Guyton will not start today, but will play in the middle of the game at left tackle.
Stetson Bennett showing "tremendous growth"
As we will be seeing Bennett under center today, there has been some positive news on that front. Although he left much to be desired last season, Bennett has apparently shown some improvement, with McVay saying he's seen "tremendous growth" from the quarterback this offseason.
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Jimmy Garoppolo will not play
The Rams backup quarterback to Matthew Stafford is Jimmy Garoppolo. Typically, head coach Sean McVay would sit both his starter and backup QBs in the preseason, but with Garoppolo being suspended the first two regular season games, that begged the question - will he play in the preseason to get some practice in?
The answer is no. Well, not unless he personally requests it. It doesn't look like he's done that as of now, so that leaves the job for backups Stetson Bennett and Dresser Winn, with Bennett likely to see the majority.
Although the preseason doesn't count towards anything, one team is favored to win. That team won their last preseason meeting in 2019 and all but one of four regular season meetings since then.
Trey Lance to make debut vs Rams
Trey Lance is battling against Cooper Rush for the backup quarterback position behind Dak Prescott.
Today, he'll make his preseason debut with the Cowboys.
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The preseason has just begun and already injuries have plagued the NFL, and the Cowboys and Rams are no exception.
Here's the injury report heading into their preseason opener.
Rookies and veterans fighting for the 53-man roster
Both the Cowboys and the Rams typically rest their key starters during preseason games so it's unlikely we'll see any of the stars today and much more likely we'll see the roster battles heat up.
With that in mind, some Cowboys players to watch include OT Tyler Guyton, DT Mazi Smith, and QB Trey Lance.
For the Rams, players to watch include QB Stetson Bennett, DB Kamren Kinchens, and TE Davis Allen.
Welcome!
Good afternoon, everyone and welcome to our LIVE text coverage of the preseason opener between the Los Angeles Rams and Dallas Cowboys!
The game kicks off at 4:30 p.m. ET from SoFi Stadium and it's Jen here to bring you all the latest updates, scores, highlights, and commentary.