Dallas Cowboys vs Los Angeles Rams Match Player Stats (Aug 11, 2024)
Four interceptions. Six field goals. One touchdown with four seconds left.
The Cowboys-Rams preseason matchup delivered unexpected drama at SoFi Stadium, with LA snatching a 13-12 victory that defied conventional football wisdom.
Table of Contents
Last-Second Heroics Cap Wild Finish
The Rams pulled off what few NFL teams ever manage: winning a game after losing the turnover battle 4-0.
Quarterback Stetson Bennett, who spent most of the August 11th contest throwing to guys in the wrong colored jerseys, flipped the script when it mattered most. His 6-yard touchdown strike to tight end Miller Forristall with four ticks left capped a gutsy 13-play, 70-yard drive.
“Probably the weirdest game that I’ve been a part of,” Bennett admitted afterward, according to the CBS Sports game recap.
The Cowboys defense feasted all afternoon but the offense couldn’t seal the deal, settling for four Brandon Aubrey field goals. The red zone figures paint a clear picture: Dallas went 0-for-3, while LA converted their lone opportunity when it counted most.
The Dallas Cowboys vs Los Angeles Rams match player stats reveal how one team dominated everywhere except the scoreboard.
Key Statistical Breakdown
| Stat | Cowboys | Rams | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Yards | 309 | 316 | Rams (+7) |
| Pass Yards | 232 | 224 | Cowboys (+8) |
| Rush Yards | 93 | 101 | Rams (+8) |
| Turnovers | 0 | 4 | Cowboys (+4) |
| 3rd Down | 6/16 (38%) | 4/14 (29%) | Cowboys |
| 4th Down | 2/5 (40%) | 4/4 (100%) | Rams |
| Red Zone TDs | 0/3 | 1/3 | Rams |
| Possession | 31:03 | 28:57 | Cowboys |
Source: FOX Sports Box Score
Lance Gets Extended Look at QB
The Cowboys brass gave Trey Lance an unusually heavy workload in his preseason debut with the team.
Lance tossed 41 passes, reportedly the most attempts in any game of his pro career, completing 25 for 188 yards. No picks, but no touchdowns either. His six carries for 44 yards showcased the rushing ability that once made him the third overall pick.
Cooper Rush made a brief cameo, connecting with Jalen Brooks for a pretty 43-yard strike in limited action.
The extended audition for Lance went beyond simple box score stats. Dallas coaches wanted to evaluate his command of the offense, decision-making, and processing speed under live fire.
While he kept the ball safe, the offense stalling short of paydirt will feature prominently in film room sessions.
Quarterback Comparison
| Quarterback | Comp/Att | Yards | TD | INT | Rating | Rush |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trey Lance | 25/41 | 188 | 0 | 0 | 72.0 | 6-44 |
| Cooper Rush | 2/3 | 44 | 0 | 0 | 109.7 | 0-0 |
| Stetson Bennett | 24/38 | 224 | 1 | 4 | 48.5 | 1-5 |
Cowboys Secondary Ballhawks Shine
Most NFL preseason games feature a handful of defensive standouts. This one spotlighted an entire secondary unit’s impressive turnover margin.
Bennett threw picks to four different Cowboys defenders, turning the game into a defensive statistics clinic.
Markquese Bell grabbed an interception while adding six tackles. Rookie Brock Mogensen snagged another pick and returned it 23 yards to set up a field goal. Julius Wood and Eric Scott Jr. also joined the takeaway party, with Scott adding a 24-yard return.
“Those young guys in the secondary really showed up,” defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer noted in the team’s official postgame breakdown.
The front seven brought heat too. Jason Johnson and Jabril Cox each tallied sacks, while Al-Quadin Muhammad and Denzel Daxon shared another.
For players fighting for NFL roster battles, these performances could prove career-altering as cut-down day approaches.
Aubrey’s Leg Keeps Dallas Ahead
If preseason games awarded MVP trophies, Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey might have taken home the hardware.
The former soccer player drilled field goals from 30, 36, 38, and a booming 52 yards, accounting for all 12 Dallas points. His only miss came on an ambitious 65-yard attempt that had the distance but sailed wide.
Aubrey’s perfect day from inside 55 yards continued his trajectory as one of the NFL’s most reliable specialists, picking up where he left off after his breakout 2023 season.
But when your kicker provides your entire offensive output, something’s off. The inability to punch it in from the red zone proved costly for a Cowboys team that led most of the afternoon.
Bennett’s Jekyll and Hyde Performance
For three quarters plus, Bennett looked like a quarterback who might not make the roster cut.
Four interceptions. Errant throws. Poor decisions. The kinds of mistakes that typically doom NFL backup hopefuls.
Then something clicked with 4:35 left.
Trailing by six, Bennett suddenly morphed into Joe Montana. He completed 8 of 9 passes for 61 yards during the final drive, including several clutch throws on fourth down. The game-winner to Forristall came on fourth-and-goal with the clock nearly drained.
This remarkable turnaround carries extra weight considering Bennett sat out the previous season to address mental health concerns. The resilience required to shake off four picks and deliver under pressure speaks volumes about his mental fortitude.
Rams Role Players Make Their Case
While Bennett’s comeback grabbed headlines, several other Rams bubble players boosted their stock.
Jordan Whittington emerged as Bennett’s go-to target, hauling in six passes for 74 yards. His route-running and yards-after-catch ability caught Coach McVay’s eye.
Boston Scott (listed as Ronnie Rivers in some box scores) handled the ground attack with 15 carries for 68 yards. His consistent running kept the offense balanced during Bennett’s earlier struggles.
The offensive line deserves credit too. Facing a defense that kept getting the ball back, they allowed just two sacks while creating enough running lanes for 101 rushing yards.
Fourth Down Execution Decides the Day
When the final buzzer sounded, the difference boiled down to situational football execution.
The Rams converted all four of their fourth-down attempts, including the game-winning touchdown. The Cowboys went just 2-for-5 in the same situations.
That seven-point swing precisely matches the final margin.
“We had our chances,” Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy said afterward. “But football comes down to situational execution, and they made one more play than we did.”
In a game where Dallas created four takeaways and still lost, this fourth-down discrepancy proved decisive.
What the Tape Shows Both Coaches
Preseason results have no bearing on regular season standings, but they matter immensely for roster construction and player development.
For Dallas, the defensive depth looks playoff-ready. Creating four turnovers with backup personnel suggests quality talent evaluation. Aubrey remains automatic from distance. The concern? Red zone efficiency needs serious work before games count.
For Los Angeles, Bennett’s wild performance swing shows both concerning flaws and impressive mental toughness. Whittington made a compelling case for regular season targets. The perfect fourth-down conversion rate suggests solid coaching throughout the depth chart.
As NFL roster battles intensify leading into cut days, quarterback performance metrics and defensive statistics from this game will factor heavily into dozens of personnel decisions that shape both teams’ seasons.
Cowboys-Rams Preseason FAQ
Who caught the game-winning touchdown?
Tight end Miller Forristall caught a 6-yard touchdown pass from Stetson Bennett with four seconds remaining. The score came on fourth down, capping a 13-play, 70-yard drive that consumed 4:31 of game clock.
How did Trey Lance look in his first extended action with Dallas?
Lance completed 25 of 41 passes for 188 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions (72.0 passer rating). He added 44 rushing yards on six carries. While he kept the offense moving between the 20s, the unit couldn’t find the end zone during his playing time.
Which Cowboys defenders intercepted Bennett?
Four different Cowboys recorded interceptions: Markquese Bell, Brock Mogensen, Julius Wood, and Eric Scott Jr. Mogensen and Scott had substantial returns (23 and 24 yards respectively) that led to field goals.
Why was this result so unusual statistically?
Teams with a +4 turnover advantage win roughly 85% of NFL games. The Cowboys going 0-for-3 in red zone touchdown opportunities while the Rams converted their final chance created the rare outcome. The perfect 4-for-4 fourth down execution by LA sealed the deal.
What roster battles got clearer after this game?
For Dallas, several secondary depth players boosted their chances with interceptions. For the Rams, Bennett showed troubling inconsistency but clutch ability when it counted, while receiver Jordan Whittington (6 catches, 74 yards) strengthened his case for a roster spot.
How did special teams play factor into the outcome?
Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey was nearly perfect, hitting field goals from 30, 36, 38, and 52 yards to score all 12 Dallas points. His only miss came from 65 yards. Rams rookie kicker Joshua Karty converted both of his field goal attempts (28 and 39 yards) plus the game-winning extra point.
Preseason Takeaways
This August exhibition game delivered far more intrigue than typical preseason football. From Bennett’s four-interception redemption arc to Lance’s extended audition, both coaching staffs got their money’s worth in player evaluation opportunities.
For players on the roster bubble, these seemingly meaningless NFL preseason contests represent their Super Bowl. For coaches, they offer irreplaceable live-action data to make roster decisions. For fans, they provide an early glimpse of depth and development.
What began as a defensive slugfest ended with clutch performance at SoFi Stadium, sending both teams back to the film room with plenty to analyze before the regular season kicks off.
