New coach, big expectations and the same old Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys changed the paint but it’s still the same engined beneath the hood.

It was supposed to be the dawning of a new era for the Dallas Cowboys with a new head coach, a fresh crop of rookies and expectations of being competitive. Fans were excited to see their boys make the trip Los Angeles to play in the brand new SoFi Stadium against the Rams.

As history would indicate, the hype machine blew a fuse as Dallas once again came up short in primetime with a 20-17 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, starting them at 0-1 on the season.

Quarterback Dak Prescott finished the night 25-of-39 for 266 yards and a touchdown but was sacked three times, one by two-time Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald. Running back Ezekiel Elliot ran for 96 yards and a touchdown while also catching a touchdown. Rookie wide receiver CeeDee Lamb flashed promise with five catches for 59 yards while Amari Cooper had 10 catches for 81 yards.

Jared Goff finished the night 20-of-31 for 275 yards and an interception, while also being sacked by Aldon Smith, who made his first appearance in the NFL since 2015. Running back Malcolm Brown scored both touchdowns while rushing for 79 yards on 18 carries. Robert Woods led all Rams receivers with 105 yards on six catches.

The Rams had new uniforms and a new arena to boast, one that would rival AT&T Stadium for both its worth and it’s eye appeal. True to form, like their city, the Rams hid their true identity until it was time for revelation. A hard-nosed city with working-class and physicality masqueraded under the glitz and the glamour of their city.

Noted for their explosive passing game, the Rams took control of the line of scrimmage early on in the game, scoring on their first offensive series. From then on, the Cowboys outscored the Rams 14-6 heading into the half with a one-point lead.

In the second half, Brown’s second touchdown effectively put the Rams ahead for good while the Cowboys managed just a field goal from former Rams kicker Greg Zuerlein. However, at the end of the game, the Cowboys had a first down on a catch by Michael Gallup that was overturned on an offensive pass-interference call that was drawn by cornerback Jalen Ramsey.

Dallas is now 0-1 and will take on the 0-1 Atlanta Falcons next week in their own home turf. But for now, the Boys in blue are feeling blue after a call that essentially knocked them out of any chance of winning the game.