As Week 1 of the NFL preseason comes to a close, the final game is between the Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium. Starting quarterbacks Dak Prescott and Matthew Stafford aren’t playing, but there are still plenty of intriguing storylines to follow.
Here’s everything you need to know about the preseason matchup between the Cowboys and Rams, including how to watch, how to listen, the start time, and more.
Dallas Cowboys at Los Angeles Rams
- Start time: Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, 4:30 p.m. ET
- Channel: NFL Network
- Live stream options: NFL App, NFL+, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV
- Radio stations: Cowboys Radio Network, 710 AM ESPN
- Starting QBs: Trey Lance, Stetson Bennett
- Betting lines:
- Spread: DAL -4.5
- Total: 35
- Moneyline: DAL -218, LAR +180
The Cowboys have had a very intriguing offseason of doing … just about nothing to change the roster.
Dallas has seemingly made no headway on extensions for QB Dak Prescott, WR CeeDee Lamb, or LB Micah Parsons. With three franchise cornerstones waiting to be paid, the price is only getting higher as time passes. While Dallas did minimize some losses, it couldn’t save everyone, as RB Tony Pollard and LT Tyron Smith left in free agency.
While the Cowboys would reunite with RB Ezekiel Elliott, he and Rico Dowdle are not enough to replace the touches left by Pollard’s void. Additionally, with Lamb’s holdout reaching new heights, if the first-team All-Pro WR doesn’t get a deal or end his holdout, the roster depth chart behind him looks a bit lackluster.
Lamb has led the Cowboys in receiving since 2021 and had more than double the amount of receiving yards than the next WR in 2022 and 2023.
While Prescott and Lamb won’t see much preseason action, getting those issues settled means a lot for the future. Fans will likely get their first glimpse of former 49ers 2021 third-overall pick Trey Lance in a Cowboys uniform as the quarterback gets set to make his Dallas debut.
Their host, the Rams, are ready to pick up where they left off last season in 2024, primed for another postseason run. Matthew Stafford and Cooper Kupp’s comebacks, combined with the breakout of rookie sensation Puka Nacua, pushed the Rams to a 10-7 record, clinching an NFC Wild Card spot.
The loss of DT Aaron Donald hurts, but the Rams drafted edge rusher Jared Verse and DT Brandon Fiske from Florida State to double-dip early on the defensive line. While it will be extremely difficult to replace one of the greatest defensive tackles of all time, filling the rotation back up with new players is of the utmost importance.
Los Angeles also needed to address a weaker secondary, and this was done by bringing in CBs Darious Williams and Tre’Davious White. While White is coming off an Achilles injury, the Rams hope he will return to his elite performance in Buffalo. At the same time, both add a veteran presence for third-year corners Derion Kendrick and Cobie Durant. Safety Kamren Curl also joins the Rams after spending four seasons with the Commanders to round out the secondary overhaul.
There are quite a few new faces on the Rams’ defense, so seeing how quickly they gel together will be intriguing as the preseason rolls along into the beginning of the regular season.
With no Matthew Stafford in the preseason and Jimmy Garoppolo suspended/in the veteran group, expect to see a lot of Stetson Bennett and Dresser Winn in the preseason.