INGLEWOOD, Calif. – For 57 minutes on Sunday afternoon, Stetson Bennett looked like a quarterback who hadn’t seen the field in nearly a year.
In the final 3 minutes, however, Bennett led the Los Angeles Rams on a game-winning drive that may have brought back memories of him leading the University of Georgia to two consecutive national titles.
Bennett recovered from a four-interception afternoon and threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Miller Forristall with 4 seconds left as the Rams rallied for a 13-12 victory over the Dallas Cowboys in their preseason opener. for both teams.
“That was probably the weirdest game I’ve been a part of,” said Bennett, who was 24 of 38 for 224 yards. “But I told myself today that we are going to move on. My goal was not to make mental mistakes. It was basically executing the attack correctly.
“There were some lapses, obviously, but in the end it was get the ball in the end zone or lose, and I think everyone fought to do that.”
Bennett was drafted by the Rams in the fourth round last year. He was not with the team during the regular season as he dealt with his mental health.
Bennett was 8 of 9 for 61 yards – including his sidearm throw to Forristall on fourth-and-goal from the Dallas 6-yard line — on the winning 13-play, 70-yard drive. Forristall had all three catches for 31 yards on the final possession.
Los Angeles’ day appeared to be over when Bennett made his fifth pick on the last play before the two-minute warning, but was denied when Dallas was called for holding.
“Obviously, I want to be able to minimize turnovers, but it really didn’t surprise me,” Rams coach Sean McVay said. “We were talking on the headset as coaches. It’s like, you know what? He’s the type of guy who’s probably going to lead us on a game-winning touchdown, and Stetson did a great job.”
McVay highlighted the performance of wide receiver Jordan Whittington, who had six receptions for 74 yards, and rookie Joshua Karty made two field goals for the Rams.
Trey Lance passed for 188 yards in his first game for the Cowboys, who received four field goals from Brandon Aubrey.
Lance was the third overall pick by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2021 draft and played in eight games, including four starts, during his first two seasons. He was traded to the Cowboys last season on August 26 for a fourth-round pick, but was inactive for every game.
“I think I learned a lot from it. I played with a lot of different guys. It was good to feel the energy in the huddle,” said Lance, who joined early in the second series and completed 25 of 41 passes. “I left some plays there for sure from the first to fourth quarter. Anytime we get four extra possessions and don’t score a touchdown, that’s not a good feeling.”
Aubrey gave the Cowboys a 9-6 lead with 6:08 left in the game. After Brock Mogensen picked off a Bennett pass and returned it to the Rams’ 23-yard line on the ensuing drive, Aubrey kicked a 52-yard pass to extend the lead to six points, 12-6, with 2:52 to play. .
The Rams took the opening kickoff and went 61 yards in 12 plays before Karty split the uprights from 28 yards out. Whittington had the key play with a 34-yard reception. On second-and-11 from the Rams 41, Whittington caught at the 35, evaded a tackle attempt by Dallas cornerback Eric Scott and got to the 11-yard line before being tackled by Damone Clark.
Cooper Rush led the Cowboys to a field goal on their only drive. His 43-yard completion down the left sideline to Jalen Brooks put Dallas in the red zone at the Rams’ 15-yard line. The drive stalled at the LA 12 before Aubrey kicked his first field goal from 30 yards to tie it at 3-all.
The teams again traded field goals during the second quarter. Karty’s 39-yard punt with 9:13 left ended the Rams’ 14-play, 76-yard possession. Dallas responded with a 12-play, 52-yard drive that resulted in Aubrey’s 36-yard field goal with 4:51 left in the first half.
“In some ways it felt like we had played our first game, but in other ways I am very pleased with the conclusions and the care taken with football. There’s a lot to do,” Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy said.
INJURIES
Cowboys: OG Chuma Edoga suffered a foot injury during the first quarter and was sidelined for the remainder of the game.
Rams: DT Larrell Murchison suffered an arm injury in the second half and did not return.
NEXT
Cowboys: At Las Vegas on Saturday.
Rams: At Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday.
___
This story originally appeared on ABCNews.go.com read the full story
