Sean Mannion leads Rams to victory over the Cowboys, 28-24, in preseason opener

The Rams returned to Los Angeles.

And that was the biggest highlight of their preseason game Saturday against the Dallas Cowboys.

Top overall pick Jared Goff only played in two series, and running back Todd Gurley, last season’s offensive rookie of the year, didn’t play at all in a come-from-behind 28-24 victory over the Dallas Cowboys.

Goff completed four of nine passes for 38 yards with an interception. Two of his passes slid through the hands of rookie receivers.

Case Keenum started and played three series before he was taken out of the game. Keenum was six of seven for 58 yards.

Sean Mannion, a second-year pro, threw three touchdowns to lead the comeback. He completed 18 of 25 passes with one interception.

Cowboys rookie quarterback Dak Prescott, a fourth-round pick from Mississippi State, completed 10 of 12 passes for 139 yards and two touchdowns in the first half.

The Rams play host to the Kansas City Chiefs at the Coliseum next Saturday.

Sean Mannion led a 74-yard, 11-play scoring drive that was capped with a nine-yard pass to Aaron Green for a touchdown.

The Rams take the lead for the first time, 28-24.

For most of the drive, it was Nelson Spruce who made a case to make the roster.

Spruce, who holds receptions record at Colorado, caught four passes in the series.

Has has caught six passes for 51 yards and a touchdown since he was inserted in the second half.

A large portion of fans have left the game, but those remaining have caught a second wind of energy after that drive.

Sean Mannion led a 12-play, 80-yard scoring drive that was capped with a seven-yard pass to Nelson Spruce for a touchdown.

Spruce is among several undrafted rookie receivers who are competing to make the roster. He also caught a 16-yard pass during the drive.

Mannion was on the verge of going three and out before Arjen Colquhoun was called for holding, a five-yard penalty, on a pass that looked like it would fall anyway. The penalty gave the Rams a first down.

After the penalty Mannion found a rhythm and completed seven passes.

Rookie receiver Duke Williams caught a four-yard pass.

Mannion is 11 of 16 for 94 yards and two touchdowns, with an interception.

This looks like preseason football.

Quarterback Sean Mannion was intercepted on the first play of the fourth quarter by Deji Olatoye.

Mannion struggled to move the ball down field in the series, which was prolonged after the Cowboys were called for pass interference and then had 12 players on the field on fourth down.

Jared Goff, who we expected to see play half of the game, only played in two series. It will be interesting, if he doesn’t return, to hear why he was kept on the sideline.

The Rams appear to have some work to do. Good thing for them, it’s only the first game of the preseason.

Quarterback Jameill Showers escaped the grasp of what should have been a sack, scrambled and managed to complete a 47-yard pass down the sideline to Vince Mayle.

The drive later stalled on fourth and one - but it that was that type of play that cannot happen if the Rams want to finish the season with a record above .500.

In true preseason fashion, the Rams and Cowboys have started going deep into their rosters.

Jameill Showers was inserted at quarterback for the Cowboys after an impressive first-half performance by Dak Prescott.

Showers was forced into a three-and-out after a couple of incomplete passes.

Mannion took the field for a second series at quarterback and, after leading a touchdown drive in the previous series, stalled before reaching a first down.

Quarterback Sean Mannion started the second half and led a six-play, 75-yard scoring drive that was capped by a 14-yard pass to Chase Reynolds.

The Rams trail, 24-14.

Mannion was two-for-two for 22 yards.

Tyler Higbee caught an eight-yard pass.

Running back Malcolm Brown rushed for 50 yards in three carries.

It will be interesting to see if Jared Goff, who played for two series in the first half, returns. Goff was expected to play the equivalent of a half.

Jared Goff didn’t get much help from fellow rookies on the Rams’ final drive of the half.

Michael Thomas watched a pass slip through his hands and, later in the drive, Pharoh Cooper couldn’t hang on to a pass through the middle as he was hit by safety J.J. Wilcox.

However Tyler Higbee, a fourth-round pick, caught three passes for 35 yards. Higbee, from Western Kentucky, has made a good impression through the first two weeks of training camp.

The Rams punted for a third time.

Goff is four of nine for 38 yards, with an interception.

You get a penalty and you get a penalty - everybody gets a penalty!

It’s the preseason. Three penalties were called against the Cowboys in four plays.

Regardless, rookie quarterback Dak Prescott has looked good in his debut. He has completed 10 of 12 passes for 139 yards and two touchdowns.

Rams defensive end Ethan Westbrooks, a third-year pro from West Texas A&M, recorded a sack

The Cowboys kicked a 34-yard field goal to take a 24-7 lead.

Jared Goff made his debut in the fourth series.

Goff, on third down in the shotgun formation, was hit by Derek Akunne and the pass was intercepted by Mark Nzeocha.

He also threw an incomplete pass intended for Pharoh Cooper.

The Rams defense, which is expected to be among the best in the league, forced the Cowboys to a three and out.

And now, here comes Jared Goff onto the field.

Let’s see what the No. 1 pick in the draft can do.

The Rams offense sputtered on its third drive.

Benny Cunningham rushed for two yards and rookie Tyler Higbee caught a six-yard pass, the reception of his career, before Tavon Austin dropped a third-down pass.

Rookie Michael Thomas, a sixth-round pick from Southern Mississippi, is working to make the roster, returned the kick off 27 yards.

If the Rams’ rookie quarterback Jared Goff looks as good as Cowboys rookie Dak Prescott, they’ll be in good shape.

Prescott was a fourth-round draft pick from Mississippi State.

Prescott led a six-play, 75-yard scoring drive and completed a 32-yard pass to Terrance Williams for a touchdown.

He is eight-of-nine for 122 yards and two touchdowns.

Benny Cunningham did most of the work for the Rams as they drove 75 yards in eight plays to score their first touchdown in Los Angeles.

Cunningham broke a couple of tackles on a 14-yard carry for a touchdown.

He has rushed for 25 yards in three carries and made one reception for 20 yards.

Case Keenum has completed five of five passes for 52 yards.

It’s a preseason game, but this isn’t how the Rams wanted their return to Los Angeles to start.

Dak Prescott, a fourth-round pick from Mississippi State, started at quarterback for the Cowboys and made it look easy, driving them 80 yards in 11 plays for a score. Dez Bryant caught a 10-yard pass for a touchdown to put Dallas up, 14-0.

Prescott was 5 for 6 for 58 yards.

DezBryant caught two passes for 28 yards and Cole Beasley caught two for 23 yards.

Rams linebacker Alec Ogletree shifted to inside linebacker this season and made two tackles on the drive.

Rookie Pharoh Cooper, a fourth-round draft pick, returned the kickoff 48 yards to start the Rams’ first possession, but they were unable to make a first down.

Case Keenum started at quarterback.

After being forced to punt, a replay review determined that Johnny Hekker’s kick, which looked to be down on the 1-yard line, was a touchback. A Rams player touched the ball when his foot was on the goal line.

Oops.

Can the Rams hit restart?

The Cowboys Bucky Whitehead returns the opening kick off 101 yards for a touchdown.

7-0 Cowboys.

Not quite the “Welcome Back” the Rams were hoping for.

Former Rams running back Eric Dickerson was on the sideline during warm ups. Dickerson, whose No. 29 has been retired by the team, posed for photos and signed autographs.

Rams running back Todd Gurley, the 2015 offensive rookie of the year, and defensive end Robert Quinn, who had back surgery last season, will not play against the Cowboys.

The Rams and Cowboys kickoff in an exhibition game in 80 minutes and if the people sitting in the furthest corners of the Coliseum are any indication, there very well could be 90,000 fans in attendance.

In the parking lots it’s a mixture of Rams, Cowboys and even Raiders jerseys.

Fans have crowded around the tunnel to get their first glimpses of the team. Special teams players are on the field warming up.

It’s a comfortable 82 degrees.

Football is almost back.