Sport Recap: Cowboys fall to Rams, 31-21 – Dallas Cowboys

Editor of Dallas Cowboys Star Journal / Dallas Cowboys Sport Program
INGLEWOOD, Calif. – The Brian Schottenheimer period is right here as the brand new head coach guided the Dallas Cowboys in stay recreation motion for the primary time. However with the staff’s starters largely resting comfortably alongside him, his debut did not have the popular final result, Dallas falling to the Los Angeles Rams, 31-21.
Additionally making a debut on this one was Joe Milton, who was a bit hit-and-miss in his effort. The quarterback confirmed flashes of his immense expertise, notably his huge arm, however there have been simply as many misfires as his accuracy proved to be a problem at occasions. Taking part in almost the entire recreation, he accomplished 58.6 % of his passes for 143 yards with a landing and an interception to complete with a 68.6 passer ranking.
The bottom recreation had higher success, although, because the staff averaged 5.5 yards per carry. Newly signed Malik Davis racked up 63 yards on seven makes an attempt late within the recreation whereas rookie Phil Mafah totaled 36 yards on 10 tries. Mafah would have really had extra if not for some inopportune penalties negating his positive factors.
Defensively, the Cowboys obtained off to a shaky begin however managed to quiet down within the second and third frames, permitting solely three factors over these half-hour of recreation play. After all, the unit gave up 28 factors mixed within the first and fourth quarters as Rams quarterback Stetson Bennett threw for 188 yards with a pair of touchdowns and an interception for a 100.7 ranking.
Stopping the run, an issue for Dallas for the final couple seasons, did not precisely look any higher on this exhibition tilt. Los Angeles stormed for 181 speeding yards on 38 carries, a median of 4.8 yards per carry.
First Quarter
There wasn’t a lot for Cowboys followers to cheer about within the opening body because the Rams dominated each the time of possession, 13:26 to 1:34, and whole yards, 160 to 1. These lopsided numbers got here due to LA drives of 11 performs after which 13, which each resulted in Blake Corum landing runs up the center to present the house facet an early 14-0 lead.
In the meantime, Dallas struggled, going three-and-out on their two sequence within the quarter.
Second Quarter
The Cowboys’ time of possession and whole yards flipped within the second quarter with the staff working the clock, 12:06 to 2:54, and outgaining LA, 96 to minus-4. Sadly, they weren’t capable of get into the tip zone. Brandon Aubrey supplied the staff’s first factors with a 35-yard subject purpose that wrapped up an 11-play 55-yard drive. This got here regardless of Dallas committing 5 penalties throughout the drive, together with unlawful formation flags on proper sort out Asim Richards on back-to-back performs.
And after the Dallas protection compelled the Rams’ first three-and-out, Milton and firm then got here proper again and started one other trek deep into enemy territory, burning off the ultimate 5:52 of the half. The quarterback had completions of 10, 16 and 20 yards and picked up the primary down on a fourth-and-1 at LA’s 16.
However the offense may get no nearer than the 7-yard line, once more turning to Aubrey, whose 25-yarder because the clock hit zeroes narrowed the hole to 14-6 going into the break.
Third Quarter
The second half obtained underway with a buying and selling of interceptions between the 2 groups. Milton threw deep into double-coverage, hoping to attach with wideout Ryan Flournoy. As a substitute, Rams cornerback Cam Lampkin got here down with the ball ultimately zone.
To not fear, 4 performs into LA’s ensuing sequence, Cowboys cornerback Israel Mukuamu returned the favor, knocking down his personal choose.
Nonetheless, that early pleasure did not final lengthy as the one factors within the quarter got here through a Rams’ 37-yard subject purpose, which upped their benefit to 17-6 heading into the ultimate quarter-hour.
Fourth Quarter
Los Angeles was on the transfer when the clocked ticked over into the fourth quarter and shortly sufficient the Rams discovered themselves again ultimately zone. Bennett dumped a go off to operating again Cody Shrader, who scampered throughout the purpose line for the 9-yard completion and rating.
Whereas the result was principally determined, there have been nonetheless priceless minutes to be performed for these combating for a spot on the Dallas roster. Most notably undrafted rookie free brokers Traeshon Holden, a large receiver out of Oregon, and former Auburn tight finish Rivaldo Fairweather.
Seeing his first motion of the sport, Holden hauled in a 35-yard go down the best sideline, Milton’s longest throw of the evening, earlier than Fairweather capped off the nine-play, 73-yard drive with a landing catch within the back-right nook of the tip zone. Milton then discovered one other undrafted rookie, Texas Tech wideout Josh Kelly, for the two-point conversion, the rating now 24-14.
However the defensive gamers now within the recreation for the Cowboys did not have fairly the identical success. After LA returned the kickoff 38 yards to its personal 41-yard line, Bennett wanted solely 5 performs to search out Brennan Presley within the nook of the tip zone for the landing.
Third-string quarterback Will Grier wound up seeing some motion within the fourth quarter when Milton left the sport after being sandwiched by a pair of Rams defenders. He appeared able to rejoin the motion, however with slightly greater than three minutes remaining, his evening was carried out.
Grier managed to not solely maintain the offense shifting, he took care of the scoring himself. On third-and-7 on the Rams’ 8, the quarterback rolled to his proper, however unable to search out an open goal, he then sprinted throughout the purpose line to wrap up the sport’s scoring, 31-21.
Dallas mostró altibajos en su primer partido de pretemporada bajo el mando de Schottenheimer. A continuación, resumen completo del partido contra los Rams.
La pretemporada 2024 arrancó con los Cowboys frente a los Rams, y as soon as jugadores brillaron en un partido que dejó varias lecciones para Dallas.
The 2024 preseason obtained underway with the Cowboys taking up the LA Rams, and eleven gamers jumped off of the movie in a recreation Dallas should be taught from.
Be careful for these guys Saturday when the Cowboys tackle the Rams at SoFi Stadium within the preseason opener. 
©2025 Dallas Cowboys. All rights reserved. Don’t duplicate in any type with out permission of the Dallas Cowboys.

source