NFL Week 8 Game Recap: Dallas Cowboys 43, Los Angeles Rams 20

The Dallas Cowboys immediately punched this Los Angeles Rams team in the mouth, going up 17-3 in the first quarter. It was a massive mismatch on both sides of the trenches, but the Rams were able to battle their way back to a 33-17 deficit before quarterback Matthew Stafford left the game with an injury and was replaced by Brett Rypien.

Dallas put the game away by the end of the third quarter, with backup quarterback Cooper Rush closing it out.

Offensive spotlight: Darrell Henderson was once again the Rams' primary running back alongside Royce Freeman, with Henderson hauling in three receptions for 54 yards to go along with 31 rushing yards on 12 carries. The Cowboys' defensive line lived in the backfield all day long, shutting down the passing and rushing attacks no matter who was on the field for the Rams.

Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb had the dominant outing we’ve been waiting for, with 12 receptions for 158 yards and two touchdowns through effectively three quarters of action before Dallas turned to its backups.

Defensive spotlight: Rams superstar interior defender Aaron Donald was seemingly playing by himself, notching two sacks in a game where the Cowboys averaged 6.1 yards per play without even trying to move the football in the fourth quarter. Safety Jordan Fuller added an interception on Dak Prescott early in the game, but the Rams were unable to ever make this a game.

Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland continued his remarkable 2023 season, snagging another interception and taking it to the house for a touchdown. Bland is up to four interceptions on the year and has stepped up in the absence of star cornerback Trevon Diggs. Dallas held the Rams' rushing attack to 3.8 yards per carry and limited Cooper Kupp to just four receptions for 21 yards.

Rookie spotlight: Rams rookie wide receiver Puka Nacua was largely held in check on his way to three receptions for 43 yards.

Cowboys rookie tight end Luke Schoonmaker recorded a 13-yard reception as he works his way back from injury. If Schoonmaker can continue to develop as a blocker and pass-catcher, Dallas could have a nice one-two punch of young tight ends alongside second-year tight end Jake Ferguson, who added four receptions for 47 yards and a touchdown.

Box Score

Passing

Rushing

Receiving