Rams beat Cowboys, 28-24, in preseason opener
Sam Farmer, Gary Klein and Lindsey Thiry break down the Rams’ 28-24 victory over the Dallas Cowboys in a preseason opener at the Coliseum.
The scene was more like an NFL playoff game, not an exhibition.
The Rams’ return to Southern California, after a two-decade absence, drew a near-capacity crowd to the Coliseum for an exhibition matchup against the Dallas Cowboys and a chance to see quarterback Jared Goff, the No. 1 pick in the draft.
“The gates are open,” the public-address announcer boomed as fans began streaming in two hours before kickoff. “Welcome back to football in Los Angeles.”
On the sideline during warmups, as Randy Newman’s “I Love L.A.” filled the stadium, Hall of Fame running back Eric Dickerson still could hardly believe it.
“When they kick the ball off and I watch it going through the air, I’ll say, ‘OK, it’s official,’ ” he said. “But not until then.”
Half an hour later, the Rams kicked off and the ball traveled into the hands of Lucky Whitehead, who caught the ball a yard deep in the end zone and ran through would-be tacklers on his way to a 101-yard return.
Rams fans took to the Coliseum parking lot early Saturday to celebrate the team’s return.
It was inauspicious start, but the Rams overcame a 17-point halftime deficit for a 28-24 victory.
Coach Jeff Fisher said it was a happy locker room.
“It was like we had just clinched the playoffs as far as they were concerned,” he said.
Fisher said this week that Goff would probably play about a half in his pro debut.
Instead, after getting hit while throwing a pass that was intercepted, Goff played only two second-quarter series and gave way to Sean Mannion, who passed for three second-half touchdowns.
That gave Rams fans something to cheer about on a night when star running back Todd Gurley was held out for precautionary purposes and the run defense and secondary looked as if they have work to do.
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The exhibition also offered Fisher and the Rams’ brain trust its first chance to evaluate Goff in a game situation and begin deciding whether he is capable of starting the Sept. 12 opener against the San Francisco 49ers on “Monday Night Football.”
It was a very small sample size.
Starter Case Keenum played three series and led the Rams to a touchdown.
“The Coliseum is cool,” said Keenum, who was six of seven for 58 yards. “I told the guys on the sideline, ‘It seems like this city is ready for football.’ ”
Goff, wearing jersey No. 16, entered the game with 9 minutes 45 seconds left in the first half. He handed off to running back Malcolm Brown on the first play and the Cowboys broke up a short pass to rookie receiver Pharoh Cooper on the second.
On third and nine at the Dallas 32, linebacker Derek Akunne burst into the backfield and hit Goff as he attempted to pass. The ball traveled past the line of scrimmage and into the hands of linebacker Mark Nzeocha.
The Cowboys converted the turnover into a field goal for a 24-7 lead.
Goff looked better on his final series, connecting three times with rookie tight end Tyler Higbee, his training camp roommate. And his long throw over the middle to Cooper would have put the Rams inside the 10-yard line. But Cooper dropped the ball, and Goff was sacked on the next play, ending his night.
Fisher said Goff had “a great camp” and that he was “ascending.” But the coach said Goff did not play in the second half because he was sore from the hit he absorbed on the play his pass was intercepted.
“It just didn’t make sense, particularly with what he’s been able to do so far,” Fisher said.
Goff said he was fine and had played through worse physical setbacks. He said he was trying to get his bearings on the first drive and that it was “it was like regular football again” on the second.
“I think I can build off a lot of things I did on that drive,” he said.
Goff completed four of nine passes for 38 yards. He can look forward to next week’s exhibition against the Kansas City Chiefs with at least some pro experience on his resume.
“You see the NFL in the middle of the field, the NFL on everyone’s jersey,” he said. “You’re like, ‘I’m here.’ ”
Mannion, a second-year pro from Oregon State, completed 18 of 27 passes for 147 yards and three touchdowns, including one to running back Aaron Green to give the Rams the lead with just under two minutes left. Mannion had one pass intercepted.
Receiver Nelson Spruce and running back Chase Reynolds also caught touchdown passes from Mannion.
Benny Cunningham scored on a 14-yard touchdown run for the Rams.
Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo did not play, giving rookie Dak Prescott an opportunity to show his skills.
The former standout at Mississippi State completed 10 of 12 passes for 139 yards, including touchdown passes to Dez Bryant and Terrance Williams.
Follow Gary Klein on Twitter @LATimesklein
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