(East Los Angeles, CA) [From The Editor’s Desk]: The sunny and very warm day of Sunday, August 11th, which came with a 90° temperature, was perfect late-summer NFL football weather here in our City of Angels. The time had finally arrived for Rams football to fully come alive and wrap its arms around the millions of its fans from every part of our city of L.A., our country, and around the world as well.
[Pre-Game Notes]: The Cowboys came into this game after scrimmaging against the Rams during their training camp timeframe, which took place in the city of Oxnard, Ventura County.
[Game Summary]
[1st QTR]: The Rams received the kick-off, but with no run-back, the fans had to wait for another chance to see the new rule completely go into effect. The Rams first series, quarterbacked by Stetson Bennett IV, produced some interesting play-calling. In the passing game, #88/WR/Jordan Whittington, was Bennett’s first target on two nice yard-gaining plays. Also, on a 4th-down play, Coach McVay decided to have Bennett go for it and was successful in keeping the first drive alive. Then with (8:27) left in the quarter, a field goal from 28 yards out was good by #16/Joshua Karty, making it Rams 3, Cowboys 0.
The Cowboys answered quickly with a long 43-yard completion to #83/WR/ Jalen Brooks down to the Rams 15-yard line. However, the drive stalled under good defense mechanics shown by the Rams’ defense. Cowboys Head Coach, Mike McCarthy then called on his placekicker, #17/Brandon Aubrey, to tie the game with a 30-yard field goal and he did, making it (3-3), at the (7:00) minute mark.
On the Rams’ second possession, they started on their own 24, went to a 3rd & 6, and then Bennett threw his first interception. Picking up credit for the Dallas theft was #14/Safety/Marquese Bell. The Dallas line of scrimmage would be the Rams’ 44-yard line after the return on the INT.
However, the Cowboys couldn’t sustain a scoring drive, although they managed to get close to the end zone on #19/QB Trey Lance’s keeper down to the Rams 10-yard line after his gain of 19. The Rams held their ground with their very stiffened defense as the period ended.
[2nd QTR]: Rams took over on downs with the line of scrimmage at their 14-yard line. Bennett then connected with WR/#19/Xavier Smith, on a pass for a 9-yard gain. Then, through a major penalty and some decent offense, they managed to score on another Karty field goal this time from 39 yards out for a (6-3) lead. The score came at the (9:17) minute marker.
[PHOTO GALLERY]: East L.A. Sports Scene Productions, Frankli Robles, Lead Photographer
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The Cowboys then began to connect on several passing plays, mixed in with their run game and drove down to the Rams’ 18-yard line where their drive stalled again. Once more Coach McCarthy asked Aubrey to give his team 3 more points to tie the game and he did so from the 36-yard line, making the score now read, (6-6), with (5:04) left in the half. There would be no additional scoring in the half and the teams went to their locker rooms even.
[HALF-TIME SCORE]: Rams 6 Cowboys 6
[HALF-TIME PROGRAMS]: See our video in this post to view the following activities: 1) The symbolic Olympic Games hand-off with the addition of Flag Football as a sport to our 2028 Olympic Games. The football was handed off as the Olympic Flag has arrived physically and in “Spirit” from the ’24 Paris Games to the youth representing our ’28 Los Angeles Games; 2) The NFL’s Play Flag Football Public Service Announcement (PSA); and 3) As part of the NFL Play Football Initiative, two simultaneous (12:00) minute “on-field” scrimmages of Girls High School Flag Football teams, and Boys Youth Tackle Football teams.
[3rd QTR]: There was lots of time in this scoreless period for Coaches McCarthy and McVay to give some very serious looks to their rookies, draft picks, and free agents, all looking to make that gigantic impression on them and their coaching staffs.
Bennett stayed at the helm for the full game. Still, Coach McVay rotated his eager and hungry corps of cornerbacks, linebackers, down linemen, running backs, receivers, and special teams players as often as possible. Dallas Coach, Mike McCarthy, played his QB, Lance, for the same amount of time that Bennett was given.
[4th QTR]: But the Cowboys did manage to add (3) more points on Aubrey’s third successful attempt of the game for the (9-6) lead with (6:08) left to play. The kick covered a distance of 38 yards. Coach McVay gave his starting QB/Bennett IV, the reins to work the whole game and it paid off in nice dividends for both in making his coach’s decision. The Cowboys added one more field goal from Aubrey that traveled 52 yards for their 12th point, making the score Dallas (12), and Rams (6).
However, as the crowd began to slowly diminish in the stands, they would regret leaving when a high drama would take place for the Rams. After the Cowboys failed to convert another score thanks to their 4th interception of a Bennett pass, they turned the ball back over to the Rams as the clock was approaching the (2:00) minute mark left in the game.
Then, after the Rams final drive stalled very near the Cowboys’ goal line at the 6 yard-line, Bennett made the most of this “nitty-gritty” moment. On the Rams 4th and 6, with only (00:11) seconds left, he rolled out of the pocket, ran to his left under no pressure, studied his receivers who were in the end zone, and somehow found his tight end, #82 Miller Forristall, with a side-arm pass for the game-tying touchdown at (12-12). The game clock showed all of (00:04) seconds left to play. They then lined up for the game-winning extra point and Karty stepped right up and drove it through the uprights for the 13th point. The incredible ending would close out the first pre-season game-day inside of SoFi Stadium with a dramatic come-from-behind pre-season victory.
[FINAL SCORE]: Rams 13 Cowboys 12 [ATTENDANCE]: 73,000+ (Tickets Distributed)
[OF SIGNIFICANCE]: This was a very good opportunity for both Coaches and Teams to mix it up on the opening day of the 2024 NFL pre-season matchups.
