Cowboys Hold Off Rams in Defensive Battle, Win 14-9

LOS ANGELES, CA — The Dallas Cowboys survived a defensive slugfest against the Los Angeles Rams, holding on for a 14-9 victory at SoFi Stadium in Week 3. Strong early performances by quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver Danny Dansby set the tone for Dallas, while their defense stood firm to secure the win despite a late Rams push.

Game Recap

The Cowboys came out firing in the first quarter, capitalizing on two drives led by quarterback Dak Prescott. Prescott connected twice with wide receiver Danny Dansby for touchdowns—first on a 21-yard strike and later on a 9-yard score—to put the Cowboys up 14-0. It was all the offense Dallas needed for the day.

The Rams’ struggles on offense lasted until the second quarter when kicker Joshua Karty nailed a 45-yard field goal just before halftime to make it 14-3.

In the fourth quarter, Los Angeles finally found the end zone, as quarterback Matthew Stafford hit wide receiver Puka Nacua for a 7-yard touchdown. However, the two-point conversion failed, keeping the Cowboys ahead.

The Rams’ final push stalled, and the Cowboys managed to close out the game for their second victory of the season.

Key Stats

Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott finished 19 of 31 for 173 yards and two touchdowns, both of which went to rookie wide receiver Danny Dansby, who caught 4 passes for 47 yards. Running back Aaron Jones led the rushing attack with 78 yards on 21 carries, adding 43 receiving yards on 7 catches. Tight end Jake Ferguson contributed with 53 receiving yards on 4 receptions.

For the Rams, quarterback Matthew Stafford completed 13 of 23 passes for 101 yards and one touchdown. Wide receiver Puka Nacua was the lone bright spot, hauling in 3 catches for 21 yards and a touchdown. Running back Kyren Williams rushed for 69 yards on 15 carries but couldn’t find the end zone.

Defensively, the Rams notched two sacks, with Byron Young and Bobby Brown III each recording one. The Cowboys defense held firm despite losing defensive tackle Jordan Phillips to injury, with linebacker Damone Clark leading the team with 3 tackles.

Injury Report

The Rams emerged from the game unscathed, but the Cowboys announced that defensive tackle Jordan Phillips will miss four weeks with an abdominal tear.

Up Next

The Cowboys continue their road stretch as they travel to face the Minnesota Vikings next week. Meanwhile, the Rams will head to Arizona for a matchup against the Cardinals.