Rams Win in First NFL Game in Coliseum Since 1994

LOS ANGELES, CA — Third-string quarterback Sean Mannion threw three touchdown passes in the second half, including two in the fourth quarter, helping the Los Angeles Rams overcome a 17-point deficit for a 28-24 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday night in the first NFL game in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum since 1994.

Mannion threw a nine-yard touchdown pass to free agent rookie running back Aaron Green with one minute, 54 seconds to play for what proved to be the winning touchdown. The Rams drove 74 yards in 11 plays on the drive, with Mannion completing seven of nine passes for 53 yards.

The Cowboys drove from their own 16-yard line to the 50, when they turned the ball over on downs when Jameill Showers threw incomplete passes on third down and fourth down.

There were 89,140 tickets distributed, the most for a preseason game in the United States, according to the NFL. The league does not announce the actual attendance figure. The stadium appeared slightly over half-full at the scheduled 5 p.m. start, with more fans arriving by midway through the first quarter.

"It was a great evening," Rams coach Jeff Fisher said. "To come here and see the fans' support, not only from our fans, but the Cowboys' fans made it a great competition."

The preseason opener for both teams got off to an inauspicious start for the Rams as Dallas' Lucky Whitehead returned Greg Zuerlein's opening kickoff 101 yards for a touchdown.

The Cowboys offense scored touchdowns on both of their first two possessions as rookie quarterback Dak Prescott threw 10- and 32-yard touchdown passes to Dez Bryant and Terrance Williams.

However, the Rams defense kept Dallas out of the end zone for the rest of the game, with the Cowboys' only other points coming on Dan Bailey's 44-yard field goal 3:47 before halftime.

Rams starting quarterback Case Keenum played the first three series, guiding the team on a 75-yard, eight-play touchdown drive on their second possession, with Benny Cunningham running the final 14 yards for the score.

Quarterback Jared Goff, the first player chosen in the NFL draft, entered the game 9:45 before halftime. His first pass was incomplete and second was intercepted.

Goff played one more series, completing four of seven passes for 38 yards, moving the Rams from their own 13-yard line to Dallas' 37, where he was sacked for a nine-yard loss on third down, forcing a punt.

Goff's left, non-throwing shoulder "was a little sore" from a hit he took on the first series he was in, Fisher said.

"At halftime we talked to him, he was getting a little stiff, so we decided to go with Sean," Fisher said. "He'll be fine."

Goff probably would have played two or three more series if he were healthy, Fisher said.

Mannion, who played one game for the Rams last season when they were based in St. Louis after being selected in the third round of the 2015 draft, guided the team to a touchdown on his first series, a six-play, 75-yard drive to start the third quarter which culminated with a 14-yard scoring pass to running back Chase Reynolds.

The Rams next two drives ended with a punt and interception.

Mannion completed his final seven passes on an 12-play, 80-yard drive, concluding with a seven-yard touchdown pass to Nelson Spruce, cutting Dallas' lead to 24-21 with 7:07 to play.

Spruce, a rookie free agent from Colorado who played at Westlake High School, caught eight passes for 51 yards, both game highs.

Mannion completed 18 of 25 passes for 147 yards and three touchdowns with one interception. Keenum completed six of seven passes for 58 yards. Goff was four for nine for 38 yards with one interception.

Prescott, chosen by the Cowboys fourth round of the draft from Mississippi State, completed 10 of 12 passes for 139 yards and two touchdowns, all in the first half.

Showers completed eight of 16 passes for 99 yards in the second half. Showers spent most of last year on Dallas' practice squad, was promoted to the active roster for the final two games, but did not play.

Both coaches decided not to play their team's biggest names -- Rams running back Todd Gurley and Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo.

"There's always good things that happen in your first preseason game and there's always so many things that you have to learn from," Fisher said. "We've got our work cut out. We're not close to being regular-season ready. Our defense against the run, we've got to get that fixed."

The last time NFL teams played at the Coliseum was on Dec. 24, 1994, when the Los Angeles Raiders lost to the Kansas City Chiefs, 19-9, before a crowd announced at 67,642. The Raiders returned to Oakland in 1995 after playing in Los Angeles for 13 seasons.

Saturday's game marked the first time the Rams were the home team at the Coliseum since Dec. 16, 1979, when they lost to the New Orleans Saints, 29-14, before a crowd announced at 53,879.

The Rams then defeated the Cowboys and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in road playoff games to reach Super Bowl XIV, which they lost to Pittsburgh in their only Super Bowl appearance during their initial time in Southern California.

The Rams played their home games at what is now Angel Stadium from 1980- 94 before moving to St. Louis.

— City News Service, photo courtesy of the Los Angeles Rams