The Rams played their season opener against the Dallas Cowboys at SoFi Stadium on Sunday.
Observations from a game the Rams won in dramatic fashion 13-12:
Quarterback Stetson Bennett prevails in the end
Four interceptions, several of them the direct result of his bad decisions.
Stetson Bennett didn’t let the mistakes bother him.
On the fourth attempt, with 11 seconds left, he was forced out of the pocket, ran left, then rotated his hips to throw a pass across his body that found tight end Miller Forristall, who scored a six-yard touchdown that tied the score and set up Josh Karty’s game-winning conversion kick.
Bennett didn’t stop running after the pass. He continued running down the Rams’ sideline before turning and locking eyes with McVay and his teammates.
“You’re kind of floating,” Bennett said of the immediate aftermath of his big game. “It was pretty cool.”
Yes, it was just a warm-up game.
Read more: It’s time for Rams QB Stetson Bennett to prove it in the preseason opener against Dallas
But it was a triumphant finish for Bennett, who played for the first time since struggling in the final preseason game of 2023.
He completed 24 of 38 passes for 224 yards. Had he not been penalized for defensive holding earlier in the game, he might have had five interceptions.
But when he had to make the most important play of the game, he was there.
“I thought I played well – and then I just made a lot of bad decisions, if that’s possible, right?” he said. “But I think at the end of the day I’m proud that we fought back and were resilient at the end.”
Bennett was at his best when offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur asked him to roll out passes or run for a first down on a bootleg play.
The Rams drafted Bennett, who led Georgia to two national titles, in the fourth round in 2023 as a backup and possible successor to Matthew Stafford. But Bennett was sidelined last season and was away from the team after being placed on the non-football injured/ill list before the season opener. He returned for offseason workouts, admitted he had overcome mental health issues and returned to a quarterback room that now features Stafford, new backup Jimmy Garoppolo and Dresser Winn.
Bennett said last week he was “excited to play football again” and was looking forward to the opportunity against the Cowboys.
He wasted no time in showing it.
Bennett led a 61-yard touchdown drive that ended with a Joshua Karty field goal to make it 3-0. Bennett completed four of five passes, including two to rookie receiver Jordan Whittngton for 43 yards.
But on the second play of his second series, Bennett’s pass over the middle was intercepted by safety Marquese Bell.
He recovered and led a 76-yard drive that Karty finished with a 39-yard field goal for a 6-3 lead.
Although the number of interceptions increased – “occupational hazards,” as coach Sean McVay called the first two – Bennett got the ball back with 2 minutes and 49 seconds left.
He led a 13-play, 64-yard drive that he completed with flying colors.
“It’s all about, ‘Hey, how do you stay together? How do you react in the midst of all this?'” McVay said. “And how do you know to just do the next best thing. And that’s exactly what he did in that phase.”
Whittington quickly understands
Whittington, a sixth-round draft pick out of Texas, showed he can contribute to a receiver corps that includes stars Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua and veterans Demarcus Robinson and Tutu Atwell.
Whittington caught six passes for 74 yards. He was especially effective on lateral routes and scored on his fourth attempt.
During the first ride Whittington caught a 13-yard pass on a crossing pattern. He also caught another pass over the middle, broke a tackle and ran 30 yards to set up a field goal.
“I was just super grateful,” Whittington said of his thoughts before his first game as a pro. “I dreamed of being here, so to see my name on the back of an NFL jersey was a lot.”
“I remember praying before the game and thinking, ‘God, if this life only exists in my dreams, don’t wake me up.'”
Starters and top rookies sit
McVay pointed to established star players, other regulars and expected key players. The same was true of Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy.
The Rams’ draft picks on the bench included edge rusher Jared Verse and defensive tackle Braden Fiske, the Rams’ first- and second-round picks, respectively. They were joined by running back Blake Corum (third-round pick).
Rookie safety Kamren Kinchens (third round) started and made one tackle. Defensive lineman Tyler Davis (sixth round) made two tackles. Whittington and center Beaux Limmer (sixth round) also started.
Kyren Williams is the starting running back, Corum is the likely backup and Ronnie Rivers is a reliable third option.
But the Rams learned last year with Royce Freeman that a veteran on the roster can contribute after injuries.
Read more: Rams do better in joint training with Cowboys, but offensive line is sacked again
Boston Scott has the chance to replace Freeman as a veteran.
Scott ran for 68 yards on 15 attempts.
Defensive rotation players get work
With regulars like Kobie Turner and Bobby Brown out, veteran Larrell Murchison and second-year pro Desjuan Johnson led a front that largely neutralized backup quarterbacks Cooper Rush and Trey Lance.
Safety Jason Taylor II had the most tackles on his team with six. Linebacker Jacob Hummel called defensive signals and made three tackles.
Karty brings special teams into the race
The Rams drafted Karty in the sixth round, trusting that the former Stanford star could help them overcome last season’s kicking problems.
Karty did not disappoint.
He kicked a 28-yard field goal in the first quarter to give the Rams a 3-0 lead. His 39-yard field goal in the second quarter gave them a 6-3 lead.
And his conversion kick four seconds before the end decided the game.
“After the touchdown, it was very loud,” Karty said. “I’ve never seen anything like that in my career … a lot,” he said of the buildup to the kick. “But it was the same as always — just trying to rally the guys and get them ready for the extra point instead of celebrating the touchdown. We made sure we didn’t run out of time on the game clock, and then, yeah, you know, the same as always.”
Xavier Smith played for the first time under the NFL’s new kickoff rules and made two returns for 47 yards.
Ethan Evans averaged 46.5 yards on two punts.
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This story originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times.
