12 The Los Angeles Rams defeated the Dallas Cowboys 13–12 in the final seconds of the fourth quarter at SoFi Stadium to begin their preseason.
Quarterback Stevenson Bennett IV found Miller Forristall in the end zone with four seconds remaining to tie the game, and the Rams took the lead thanks to an extra point.
In an attempt to acquire quarterback Trevor Lance and at least be a capable backup to Dak Prescott, the Cowboys sent a fourth-round pick to the San Francisco 49ers.
Even though Lance seemed more at ease throughout the game, he didn’t do enough to jeopardize Cooper Rush’s job on Sunday.
Rams win their first preseason game!
Stetson Bennett made the start at QB and wasn’t too bad except he had 4 interceptions. Josh Karty was a solid kicker today.
S. Bennett: 24/38, 224 yds, 4 INT, 1 TD
J. Karty: 2/2, 28-yd FG, 39-yd FG
J. Whittington: 6 receptions, 74
B. Scott:… pic.twitter.com/oKGnLkwhsQ— LA Sports News (@sports_news_la) August 12, 2024
Lance’s passes displayed excellent zip and arm strength, but he frequently threw the ball erratically and a tick too late.He completed 25 of 41 passes for 188 yards.
On the plus side, Lance demonstrated that he could produce points with his legs by gaining 44 yards on six carries.
The committed graders at PFF were hard at work, evaluating each player on each play in real time. Following a comprehensive evaluation, the grades and data will be made accessible tomorrow at 12 p.m. EST.
To give you a preview, we’ve collected some high-level information including snap counts from the game in the interim. In addition, our knowledgeable graders have selected the game’s star player, emphasizing outstanding play on the field.
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Though it’s too soon to draw comparisons between him and Puka Nacua, Jordan Whittington seems to be another late-round wide receiver gem that the Rams have discovered.
The Texas native had an outstanding first half, grabbing six passes from nine targets for 74 yards and four first downs for the Rams offense.
Whittington had to make an impression on Sean McVay and the Rams coaching staff with his ability to make contested catches (he was two for two on contested catches) and generate good gains after the catch (36 yards after the catch and one forced missed tackle).
Throughout Rams camp, Whittington has received high marks, and his play on Sunday clearly demonstrated why.
BOX SCORE
| Cowboys | Rams | |
| Total points | 12 | 13 |
| Total offensive plays | 70 | 68 |
| Average EPA per play | -0.163 | -0.164 |
| Total net yards | 314 | 346 |
| Avg yards per play | 4.5 | 5.1 |
| Total first downs | 19 | 20 |
| Rushing first downs | 5 | 4 |
| Passing first downs | 13 | 13 |
| Penalty first downs | 1 | 3 |
| Third-down efficiency | 38% | 29% |
| Fourth-down efficiency | 20% | 63% |
| Possessions | 9 | 9 |
| Avg plays per drive | 8 | 7.7 |
| Avg yards per drive | 31.4 | 34.6 |
| Avg points per drive | 1.2 | 1.3 |
| Red-zone posessions | 4 | 3 |
| Red-zone plays | 12 | 10 |
| Red-zone TDs | 0 | 1 |
| Red-zone FGs | 3 | 1 |
| Red-zone scoring efficiency | 75% | 67% |
