Dallas Cowboys fall to Los Angeles Rams 13-12 in preseason opener despite 4 defensive interceptions

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The Dallas Cowboys lost their preseason opener against the Los Angeles Rams which is an amazing feat given that the defense recorded four interceptions.

Cooper Rush started the game at quarterback, but for the most part this was the Trey Lance show. Again as noted the Cowboys defense provided the offense four extra opportunities by way of interceptions off of Stetson Bennett, but not a single touchdown was to be found as they instead settled for four Brandon Aubrey field goals.

The Cowboys took a 12-6 lead into the final minutes of the game before Bennett found redemption and threw what would be the game-winning touchdown. It was an interesting thing to see Lance in action as well as the new kickoff which the Cowboys did their best to manipulate for a heroic last-ditch effort. But nothing worked and they return to Oxnard with an 0-1 record in the preseason.

Below you will find our running update throughout the game re-organized so that it can be read in chronological order.

First Quarter

The Los Angeles Rams began things with a solid drive led by quarterback Stetson Bennett. Marshawn Kneeland stood out on the Dallas side and while the Cowboys did force a fourth down the Rams went for it and Bennett was able to scramble for a first down.

Dallas buckled near the goal line and the Rams ultimately had to settle for a field goal.

The Cowboys took over and it did not take long for Jalen Brooks to make an impact. His first reception of the game went for 43 yards.

Like the Rams the Cowboys settled for a field goal and Brandon Aubrey did what Brandon Aubrey does.

The ball quickly returned to the good guys though as Markquese Bell picked off Stetson Bennett!

The second drive was notable for the Cowboys in that Trey Lance took over at quarterback and Tyler Guyton took over at left tackle.

Lance got to work and took the Cowboys down to near the goal line. On 4th and 1 he threw just over the arms of Jalen Cropper for a turnover on downs. It was a productive drive for him, though. They just couldn’t cash in.

Second Quarter

The quarter began with an update that tackle Chuma Edoga had a foot injury (it was specified to be a toe issue) for Dallas and would not return. That is hardly a spot where Dallas can afford to lose anybody. Also of note as the period began cornerback Eric Scott Jr. was called for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

The Rams took over from where Trey Lance and the Cowboys couldn’t convert for a drive that began at their own 3-yard line. While they themselves failed to find the endzone they did walk away with points by way of another field goal. Allowing your opponent to score after starting on their own 3-yard line is not ideal.

Notably Cooper Beebe took over at center as the Cowboys marched back out. Trey Lance sprinkled things along and hit a variety of receivers from Jalen Cropper to David Durden. John Stephens Jr. even had a catch. Unfortunately Ryan Flournoy and Malik Davis could not keep the party going and field goal festivities continued and Brandon Aubrey squared the game once more.

Like with their first drive the Rams faced a fourth down and went for it yet again. They picked it up by way of rookie Jordan Whittington who was everywhere across the first half of the game.

Los Angeles seemed to be picking on Eric Scott Jr. and he was looking like the clear poor performer on the team in the first half. Until he had an interception!

Sometimes that is just the way things go.

Third Quarter

Dallas received the ball to start the second half and got moving a little bit. To this point in the game Ryan Flournoy had failed to really pop and after a drop he hauled in a nice catch while in traffic.

Unfortunately he moved early before a snap shortly after and set Dallas up with a second and long that they could not recover from. Mike McCarthy went for it on 4th and 6 and this time was a lot less close for Trey Lance than the fourth down attempt earlier in the game.

The Rams wound up punting which was certainly a rare thing for this game. Dallas took over and saw Trey Lance make an amazing play where he broke a tackle and scrambled for a first down but ultimately the Cowboys settled for a field goal attempt… from 65 yards out.

To no one’s surprise it was no good. The distance to gain on the down in question was 9 yards and you have to wonder if more could have been gained from going for it as opposed to a hail mary of a field goal attempt, but that was Mike McCarthy’s call.

It didn’t matter though as shortly after the Cowboys recorded their third interception of Stetson Bennett. This one belonged to Julius Wood.

Hard to be mad about 3 interceptions in a game.

Fourth Quarter

Things began with Dallas holding the ball after the Julius Wood interception and like they did for most of the game to that point… they found themselves facing a fourth down.

Given the exhibition nature of it all Mike McCarthy went for it again and Trey Lance could not find anything before ultimately taking a sack. Hardly the most impressive moment.

The Rams wound up punting the ball back to the Cowboys and Trey Lance dialed in a little bit. Soon enough the Cowboys found themselves in field goal range once again and this time Brandon Aubrey was true. It helped that it wasn’t from 65 yards out.

LA took over down by three and looking to pull off something special. It was at this moment that Stetson Bennett threw his fourth interception of the game. Seriously.

Brock Mogensen’s run back set the Cowboys up with incredibly promising field position, but Trey Lance took a sack on first down and a screen pass that got blown up on third down moved Dallas back significantly. Overall the loss was 11 yards which set Brandon Aubrey up for a 52-yard attempt, but he is Brandon Aubrey so all worked out.

But the Rams rallied as they were trailing by only six points. Bennett looked to throw his fifth interception of the game, but it was called back thanks to a hold in the Dallas secondary.

As fate would have it this day belonged to the Los Angeles Rams. After struggling near the goal line the Rams scored the game’s first touchdown in the final 10 seconds of the contest. Stetson Bennett got his moment.

That was the game.

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Notable Recent News

On Friday the Cowboys traded cornerback Nahshon Wright to the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for Andrew Booth. It marked the second year in a row that they made a cornerback for cornerback swap with another team.

You can read more about Andrew Booth and what he offers the team right here.

Injury Updates

Obviously there are no inactives in the preseason, but there was a pseudo sort of list that emerged just before kickoff.

Latest on CeeDee Lamb

The last significant thing to happen with CeeDee Lamb, his holdout and where things stand with the Dallas Cowboys occurred at practice this past week when a Jerry Jones quote about a lack of urgency on the issue caused CeeDee to tweet “lol” in response.

NFL Network Ian Rapoport discussed the matter on Sunday morning as well and noted it is just a matter of the Cowboys reaching CeeDee’s price point.

“It’s really just a matter of the Dallas Cowboys getting to where CeeDee Lamb needs it to be, getting the kind of substantial deal that one of the best receivers in the NFL get. It’s just a matter of when the Dallas Cowboys decide to do it.”

Jerry Jones offered an apologize of sorts on Sunday.

Up Next For The Cowboys

  • Monday, August 12th: Off Day
  • Tuesday, August 13th: Practice at 2pm ET (Oxnard)
  • Wednesday, August 14th: Off Day
  • Thursday, August 15th: Practice at 2pm ET (Oxnard)
  • Friday, August 16th: Off Day
  • Saturday, August 17th: Preseason Game #2 at Las Vegas Raiders (10pm ET kickoff)


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