Cowboys vs. Rams With ten games in a row going into Week 8, the Cowboys held the longest current home winning streak in the NFL. They defeated the Rams 43-20 to successfully extend their winning run. In their first three home games of the season, the Cowboys have already outscored their opponents 111-33. Dallas has won 11 straight home games, which is the longest winning streak since they did the same from 1991 to 1992—the latter year being the first of their three Super Bowl championship years in the 1990s.
Cowboys vs. Rams
On the game’s first drive, Dallas opened the score. Thanks to wide receiver CeeDee Lamb’s 17-yard conversion and Brandin Cooks’ 19-yard conversion, the Cowboys are able to overcome two early sacks. Dak Prescott, the quarterback, finished the drive with an 18-yard touchdown throw to tight end Jake Ferguson after completing a flawless, high-arching pass.
With a 22-yard catch-and-run in his eighth NFL game, Rams fifth-round rookie Puka Nacua—whose 58 receptions led the NFL through the first seven weeks of 2023—captured his 59th career reception. After eight games, that is the highest amount in NFL history for a player.
After rookie kicker Brandon Aubrey made his first of two field goals from 58 yards, which was the longest kick of his brief career, Dallas increased its lead to 10-3. He is tied for the most field goals made in a row to begin a career with 18 straight.
Cowboys
DaRon Bland, a Cowboys cornerback covering for the injured Trevon Diggs outside, returned a 30-yard interception of Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford’s pass meant for Cooper Kupp for a touchdown, earning him his third pick-six of the season, the most in the NFL. Dallas now leads 17–3. Stafford’s progress was accelerated by the Cowboys’ intense blitz up the middle on the play, which had him throw the ball to Kupp earlier than he had planned. With three pick-sixes, Bland is tied for the most by any team in NFL history through seven games played. On 13 of 22 passes, Stafford finished with 162 passing yards, one passing touchdown, and one interception.
After less than a minute, Sam Williams, a defensive lineman for Dallas, stopped a punt attempt by the Rams in the back of the end zone, leading to a safety and a 19-3 advantage. When the punt was pushed out of bounds at the Rams 13, KaVontae Turpin returned it 63 yards, the second-longest return of his career. After two plays, Lamb scored his first of two receiving touchdowns as he found the end zone from ten yards out. His second came as Prescott was working the scramble drill with 2:27 remaining in the first half, and it was a 22-yard score after he was exposed. Lamb concluded with two receiving touchdowns and a career-high 158 receiving yards on a career-high 12 catches.
After failing to score a touchdown in his first four games as a Cowboy, Prescott concluded his afternoon with a 25-yard touchdown pass to Brandin Cooks in the third quarter. Cooks has now recorded consecutive games with a receiving touchdown. With 10:34 remaining in the game, Dallas, leading 43-17, intercepted him on 25 of his 31 passes for 304 yards and four receiving scores.
Why the Rams lost
They were just not able to hang with the Cowboys. As easy as that. The Rams head coach Sean McVay’s 24-point halftime deficit (33-9) was the biggest of his career, while the 23-point loss was the second-largest loss of his career. They were helpless against CeeDee Lamb on defense, while Matthew Stafford struggled to establish a rhythm in the offensive game. The 64 receiving yards that wide receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua have combined for just seven catches is a far cry from what the Rams need to win every week.
Turning point
Bland’s pick-six, was thirty yards. Only late in the first quarter, the Cowboys led 10-3 and had to settle for a 58-yard field goal. At that time, it was still anybody’s game. The momentum was firmly in the home Cowboys’ favor after Bland picked off Stafford and ran it back to increase the Dallas lead to 17-3. AT&T Stadium was rocking. Dallas lead 26-3 five minutes later on a blocked punt for a safety and Lamb’s first score of the game. The game is over.
Play of the game
Prescott’s 18-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jake Ferguson on the first play of the game. Dak skillfully lofted the ball to Ferguson above the defense’s outstretched arms, where only Ferguson could catch it. Throughout his eight-year career, Prescott had some of his best throws.
The slow-motion clip offers a more vantage point to enjoy Prescott’s stunning football pass.