"Stetson Bennett's Last-Second TD Lifts Rams Over Cowboys: Bennett connects with Miller Forristall for a game-tying touchdown with just four seconds remaining. The Rams seal the victory by converting the PAT, edging out the Cowboys 13-12."
Inglewood, Calif. — For the first 57 minutes on Sunday, Stetson Bennett showed signs of rust, looking like a quarterback who hadn't played in nearly a year. But in the final three minutes, he turned it around, leading the Los Angeles Rams on a dramatic game-winning drive reminiscent of his days guiding the University of Georgia to back-to-back national titles.
Despite throwing four interceptions earlier in the game, Bennett managed to rally the Rams, connecting with Miller Forristall for a 6-yard touchdown pass with just four seconds left on the clock. This late-game heroics secured a 13-12 victory over the Dallas Cowboys in the preseason opener for both teams.
“That was probably the weirdest game that I’ve been a part of,” Bennett said, reflecting on his performance, where he completed 24 of 38 passes for 224 yards. “But I told myself today we’re gonna roll with the punches. My goal was to not make any mental errors and to run the offense correctly. There were some lapses, obviously, but in the end, it was about getting the ball into the end zone, and everyone fought hard to make it happen.”
Bennett, who was drafted by the Rams in the fourth round last year, had been away from the team during the regular season to focus on his mental health. He showed resilience on the final drive, completing 8 of 9 passes for 61 yards, including the crucial sidearm throw to Forristall on fourth-and-goal from the Dallas 6-yard line. Forristall was a key contributor on the drive, catching all three of his receptions for 31 yards.
The Rams' chances seemed to dim when Bennett appeared to throw his fifth interception just before the two-minute warning, but a holding penalty on Dallas negated the turnover.
“Obviously, we want to minimize the turnovers, but it didn’t surprise me that he bounced back,” said Rams coach Sean McVay. “We were talking on the headset, and it’s like, you know what? He’s the type of guy that’s probably going to lead us on a game-winning drive, and Stetson did just that.”
McVay also praised wide receiver Jordan Whittington, who had six receptions for 74 yards, and rookie kicker Joshua Karty, who added a pair of field goals for the Rams.
On the Cowboys' side, Trey Lance made his debut, passing for 188 yards. The Cowboys relied on four field goals from Brandon Aubrey for their scoring, as they struggled to find the end zone despite several opportunities.
Lance, who was acquired from the San Francisco 49ers last season, reflected on his performance, saying, “I think I learned a ton from it. I played with a bunch of different guys. It was good to feel the energy in the huddle. I left some plays out there, for sure. Anytime we get the ball four extra possessions and don’t score a touchdown, that’s not a good feeling.”
Aubrey gave the Cowboys a 9-6 lead with just over six minutes remaining. After an interception return put the Cowboys in scoring position, Aubrey extended the lead to 12-6 with a 52-yard field goal with 2:52 left. However, Bennett and the Rams responded with the game-winning drive.
The Rams had started strong, taking the opening kickoff 61 yards in 12 plays before Karty’s 28-yard field goal. Whittington’s 34-yard reception was the key play on the drive, breaking free from a defender to set up the field goal.
The Cowboys quickly answered, as Cooper Rush led a scoring drive capped by a 30-yard field goal from Aubrey. The teams traded field goals in the second quarter, keeping the score tight throughout the game.
Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy acknowledged the mixed results, saying, “In some ways, we looked like we played our first game, but in other ways, I’m really pleased with the takeaways and how we took care of the football. There’s a lot to build on.”
**Injuries:**
- **Cowboys:** OG Chuma Edoga suffered a foot injury in the first quarter and did not return.
- **Rams:** DT Larrell Murchison left the game in the second half with an arm injury and did not return.