Photo by John McGillen/Dallas Cowboys/NFL
The first game of the season did not disappoint, and neither did the Rams defense.
Running backs Cam Akers and Malcolm Brown combined for 118 yards, two touchdowns, quarterback Jared Goff threw for 275 yards, and Aaron Donald frustrated the Cowboys offense as the Rams squeaked by, 20-17 on Sunday night at SoFi Stadium.
The Rams opened the third quarter with its winning possession on its 15-yard line. Akers toted the ball twice before receiver Robert Woods, who gave the Cowboys secondary fits, came up with a pair of big plays. A ten-yard catch at the Rams 30 and a 30-yard reception at the Dallas 26. Four plays later, running back, Malcolm Brown scored a two-yard touchdown, expanding the score 20-14 following Samuel Sloman’s extra point kick.
The Rams looked impressive most of the night, piling 422 yards, using its two-headed rushing attack of Akers and Brown, which ran up the middle of the Cowboys defense to success. The pair combined for 118 yards on 32 carries and two touchdowns. Brown, 5’11”, 222 pounds provided most of the damage, bruising the core of the Cowboys defense.
The Cowboys’ (0-1) final desperation drive stalled after three incomplete passes and a sack by Rams linebacker, Jaylon Smith.
Three series later, Cowboy’s defensive back, Chidobe Awuzie picked off Goff at the Rams 39 with 3:43 left in the third quarter. Dallas converted it into a 33-yard field goal after Amari Cooper dropped a third-down pass a yard a shy of the first down.
On a tough evening for the Cowboys, Elliott rushed for 96 yards on 22 carries a score. Prescott finished 25 of 39 for 266 yards and a touchdown, and Amari Cooper caught 10 passes for 81 yards.
It’s defense recorded three sacks and made several big stops. Aaron Donald and company harassed the Cowboys offense, including defensive tackle Michael Brockers, inside linebacker Micah Kiser, and outside linebacker Leonard Floyd. It’s secondary played well in the second half.
The Rams executed its game plan. Recognizing one of the top pass rushes in the NFL, Goff, who’s thriving afternoon starting with getting rid of the ball quick, passed for 275 yards on 20-of-31 attempts with an interception and a sack.
Soon after, Dallas forced a three and out. Although it led to another failed opportunity. Schultz dropped a pass at the 9-yard line and with the Cowboys facing fourth and three, cornerback Jordan Fuller tackled Lamb a yard short of the line to achieve.
The Rams began the game with the ball and drove 75-yards. Woods used a pair of Goff’s passes to maximize gains. The first covered 20 yards to midfield and a 31-yard reception to the Cowboys 15. Brown finished the drive with a two-yard scoring run out to give the Rams its first touchdown of the season, 7-0 following Samuel Sloman’s extra point kick, 7-0.
The first two times Elliott touched the ball he accumulated 20 yards which produced a Cowboys first down at Los Angela’s 45-yard line. Yet on second and ten, Donald sacked Prescott at the Dallas 48 and an incomplete pass forced the Cowboys punted.
The Rams offense continued to advance the ball down field. Goff conducted the offense into the Cowboys territory at the 11 where Slowman’s 29-yard Field goal attempt ricochetted off the left upright with 2 seconds left in the first quarter.
Later, Prescott threw a quick pass to receiver Aaron Parker, which resulted in a 24-yard pickup. Parker staved off several arm tacklers on the gain.
Two penalties delayed the drive. Still, Elliott took a screen pass from Prescott and rambled 19 yards to the end zone. Zuerlein’s bonus kick concluded the 8-play, 80-yard drive, tying the game at seven with 12:24 left in the second quarter.
Rams moved the ball at will, receiving production from its offense every time it entered the field of play. Brown ripped off 11 yards to the 36, following Woods 14-yard gain at the 50-yard line. Two plays later, tight end Tyler Higbee turned a quick pass into a 21-yard gain at the Dallas 29. However, Goff’s intentional ground infraction coupled with Brown’s dropped a screen pass which had a opening to the end zone with blockers out in front. The Rams settled for three points off the foot of Sloman’s 35-yard field goal with 8:42 left in the second quarter. That gave Los Angeles a 10-7 lead.
The Cowboys blew an opportunity to tie the game at ten when Zuerlein missed a 53-yard field goal with 5:12 left in the second quarter.
That set the stage for the Ram’s next score. Which benefitted from Goff’s 31-yard strike to receiver Van Jefferson at the Cowboys 21, leading to Sloman’s 31-yard field goal, to extend Los Angeles lead, 13-7 with 1:56 left.
Yet, the Cowboys had time to respond. 73-yards later, Elliot punched the ball in from a yard out to tie the game and Zuerlein’s kick put Dallas in front, 14-13 with 17 seconds left in the first half.
Injured Cowboys included Vander Esch (Collarbone), Jarwin (Knee)