The Dallas Cowboys fell to the Los Angeles Rams in Week 1 of the preseason 13-12 on a touchdown pass from Stetson Bennett with four seconds to play.
Losing is always frustrating but that’s not what’s important in the preseason. What matters is getting players the reps they need as teams figure out their 53-man roster. For Dallas, that included getting Trey Lance plenty of opportunities to prove he can get the job done.
MORE: Jerry Jones clumsily explains ‘urgency’ comments in attempted walk back
Lance showed flashes but it was hard to classify him as either a winner or loser in this one. That’s not the case for the following players who either made a case for their spot on the team, or put themselves in a hole.
Advertisement
Dallas Cowboys safety Markquese Bell / Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Markquese Bell is back at his natural position and he looks as comfortable as ever.
He nearly came up with an interception in the end zone on the first drive of the game but didn’t drop the ball when he got another chance. On the second defensive drive, Bell reached up and grabbed a pass from Stetson Bennett, getting it back for his offense.
Bell was all over the field, recording nine tackles in addition to the interception.
Dallas Cowboys cornerback Eric Scott / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
It was already going to be tough for Eric Scott, Jr. to make the roster before Andrew Booth was added in a trade with Minnesota. He might have gotten past Nahshon Wright but won’t surpass Booth, especially after he struggled against the Rams.
Advertisement
Scott was unable to prevent Jordan Whittington from catching a pass over the middle of the field, which turned into a 30-yard reception on the opening drive. On the Rams’ third possession, he was beaten by Xavier Smith on a third-and-six. To make matters worse, Scott was flagged for a late hit, giving Los Angeles an additional 15 yards.
His issues continued as he was constantly picked on, including when Whittington beat him on a fourth-and-three with just over a minute to go in the first half. Scott redeemed himself with an interception but that doesn’t erase the big plays he surrendered.
The Cowboys fell behind 3-0 early but were able to tie the game when Brandon Aubrey knocked in a kick from 30 yards out. Their drive lasted seven plays but it was the one from Jalen Brooks that put them in scoring range.
Brooks got free downfield and hauled in a 43-yard pass from Cooper Rush. He had to slow down to catch the ball which could have been a touchdown if Rush had a few more yards on the throw.
Rush. Brooks. 43 yards!@DallasCowboys moving down the field.
Brooks has had an excellent training camp as he battles Jalen Tolbert for the WR3 position. This reception was a reminder of why he’s generated so much excitement.
Dallas Cowboys / Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Dallas lost Sam Williams to a knee injury during camp which is unfortunate, but it did open the door for Viliami Fehoko, Jr. The second-year defensive end now had a shot at moving up the depth chart after not seeing the field as a rookie.
He was out there for most of the game against the Rams and wasn’t able to impress. Fehoko lined up on the edge but didn’t show any burst whatsoever. He played slow and was out of position throughout the night. There’s still time for him to earn playing time but he has to show improvement in a hurry.
Dallas Cowboys tackle Tyler Guyton / Chris Jones-USA TODAY Sports
First-round pick Tyler Guyton had a lot of eyes on him in this game. The Cowboys added him as their future left tackle and he’s going to have some big shoes to fill with Tyron Smith leaving in the offseason.
Advertisement
He turned heads throughout camp and did the same against L.A. Guyton proved to have the athleticism to deal with speed rushers and wasn’t lacking in power either.
The coaching staff might not be ready to name him the starter just yet but it’s hard to see any scenario where he’s not protecting Dak Prescott’s blindside in Week 1 against Cleveland.
Dallas Cowboys running back Malik Davis / Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Malik Davis was the first running back off the bench after Rico Dowdle got the start. In his third season with the Cowboys, Davis is on the chopping block. He could still fight his way onto the roster but that won’t be easy after he struggled in Week 1 of the preseason.
Davis had 20 yards on two receptions but finished with a mere 18 yards on eight rushing attempts. That’s just 2.25 yards per attempt. The Cowboys were expecting more after dominating on the ground in the scrimmage against the Rams, making this even more disappointing.
Advertisement
— Enjoy free coverage of the Cowboys from Dallas Cowboys on SI —
Start Your Engines: 7 players to watch in Sunday’s preseason opener
Make Or Break: 3 key matchups to watch in Cowboys vs. Rams preseason opener
Where It Started: Looking back at Dak Prescott’s phenomenal preseason debut in 2016
Fix It: Cowboys offense has one major concern to correct before Week 1
Camp Battles: 6 surprising notes from Cowboys first unofficial depth chart
The Dallas Stars have one win in their last seven games and are looking to right the ship in the second game of a West Coast road trip.
Dallas fell in overtime to San Jose on Saturday and now look to bounce back against the Los Angeles Kings.
Here’s everything to know about the matchup.
Dallas Stars vs. Los Angeles Kings
Sports Roundup
Advertisement
Get the latest D-FW sports news, analysis and opinion delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, Kevin Sherrington’s A La Carte.
By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
When: Monday, 9 p.m.
Where: Crypto.com Arena in LA
TV/streaming: Victory+
Advertisement
Radio: Sportsradio 96.7/1310 The Ticket
Bottom line
The Kings host the Stars after LA beat the Edmonton Oilers 4-3 in a shootout.
Los Angeles has a 19-15-10 record overall and a 7-9-5 record on its home ice. The Kings have given up 120 goals while scoring 116 for a -4 scoring differential.
Dallas has a 26-10-9 record overall and a 14-4-6 record on the road. The Stars rank second in the league with 154 total goals (averaging 3.4 per game).
The teams meet Monday for the third time this season. The Stars won the previous meeting 4-1.
Advertisement
Top performers
Jason Robertson has 26 goals and 28 assists for the Stars. Wyatt Johnston has scored five goals with four assists over the past 10 games.
Alex Laferriere has scored 12 goals with 10 assists for the Kings. Andrei Kuzmenko has four goals and four assists over the last 10 games.
Last 10 games
Stars: 3-3-4, averaging 3.7 goals, 6.1 assists, 3.9 penalties and 8.1 penalty minutes while giving up 3.5 goals per game.
Kings: 4-5-1, averaging 2.9 goals, five assists, 4.1 penalties and 8.7 penalty minutes while giving up 3.3 goals per game.
Twitter: @dmn_stars
Advertisement
Stars drop another in overtime after Sharks rally from two-goal deficit in third period
Dallas allowed goals on four of six Sharks power plays, including the game-winner in OT.
Stars-Sharks preview: Can Dallas build momentum against Macklin Celebrini, San Jose?
The Stars will look to string some wins together after snapping a long losing streak last time out.
Find more Stars coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.
Every offseason it seems like I see a linebacker’s name pop up that the Cowboys need to get to help the defense. This year it may be Quincy Williams. Could he be the guy the middle of the defense is missing? I’ve seen some reactions, and when you dig into the type of player he is the coverage numbers may make you second guess. And honestly, I get it because it doesn’t look pretty. When you actually dig into how Quincy Williams plays, and how he is used, the conversation changes fast. So let’s talk it through like fans, not scouts trying to sound smart.
The First Thing You Need to Know: This Dude Lives in the Box
Quincy Williams is not a coverage linebacker, and he never has been. He will not be floating around in space trying to run with slot receivers or carry tight ends down the seams. When you look at the snap data, it’s not even debatable. He spent hundreds of snaps in the box, very few on the edge, only a handful in the slot, and almost none on the outside.
That tells you exactly how defenses should play him. He is there to attack downhill. If you judge this man based on coverage stats alone, you’re grading a fish on how well it climbs trees. How Quincy Williams Actually Plays
Advertisement
What I like about Quincy Williams is simple: when he sees it, he goes. There’s no dancing, no waiting for someone else to make the play. He triggers fast and shows up with bad intentions. Is he perfect? Absolutely not, but were any of the Cowboys linebackers last season even above average.
He will miss a tackle here and there because of his aggressive play style, but I’ll take that every day over a linebacker who catches blocks and gets pancaked. What I found even more impressive was he lines up all over the box. He can play weak side, strong side, and take inside looks, but he rarely just sat in the middle calling things out. He’s a flow-and-hunt guy, so the Cowboys would need to let him scrape, chase, and hit. That is where his game makes sense.
Not Much of a Pass Rusher
This may be another area where people will get twisted. Yes, you will see him walked up near the line sometimes, but he’s not an edge rusher. He is not winning with moves or stacking sacks. Those snaps are about pressure and confusion to make the offense account for him, mess with protection calls, and let the defense work around it. He’s a blitzer, not a technician, and if used incorrectly, it looks ugly.
A man has died after a dog attacked him inside a home in North Texas on Thursday afternoon, officials say.
Dallas police officers responded to a call in the 4100 block of Esmalda Drive at about 3 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 7. Investigators determined the man was attacked by a dog inside a residence in the 4100 block of Pringle Drive.
The victim was taken to a local hospital, where he died from his injuries, police said.
According to a press release, the Dallas Police Department is treating the case as a homicide.
