Week 1 of NFL Preseason action has finally arrived and the first handful of games are in the books. On Saturday, the fun continues with eight games on the gridiron throughout the day.
At 7 p.m. EST, two NFC powers square off when the Los Angeles Rams host the Dallas Cowboys at SoFi Stadium. This matchup pits Sean McVay’s genius football mind against Brian Schottenheimer as the latter gets his first in-game experience as an NFL head coach.
Here’s a prediction and pick for Saturday’s Rams vs. Cowboys showdown.
Rams vs. Cowboys prediction, preview
Los Angeles won the NFC West last season with a 10-7 record to essentially nobody’s surprise. McVay remains one of the best coaches in the entire league and tends to maximize his talent as an offensive guru. The depth chart looks a tad different this time around as former Super Bowl MVP Cooper Kupp departed over the offseason, but the team replaced him with another aging star in Davante Adams. The starters don’t play much in preseason, but it’s also worth noting Matthew Stafford won’t play as he’s listed week-to-week with an aggravated disc.
As for the Cowboys, the NFL’s most media-happy franchise went just 7-10 last season and dealt with a season-ending injury to Dak Prescott. Former head coach Mike McCarthy parted ways with the franchise, which replaced him with offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer after a limited search for outside candidates. He has much to prove in his first season at the helm of his own team, so it should be interesting to follow how the coaching veteran adapts to his new role.
The Cowboys did add plenty of talent with a splashy trade for George Pickens and some high-upside selections in the 2025 NFL Draft, so this may provide a glimpse a what some of those players can do. Unfortunately, Jaydon Blue is dealing with a bone bruise and may not suit up for this first NFL Preseason contest, and the same goes Los Angeles’ top selection Terrance Ferguson as he deals with a groin issue.
Rams vs. Cowboys pick, best bet
The Cowboys enter as 1.5-point favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook with -350 odds to win on the Moneyline. The Rams hold +114 odds to win outright with the game total set at 33.5 points, the second-lowest projection of Saturday’s NFL Preseason slate.
Preseason football often becomes a sloppy affair after the starters exit the game, which typically comes pretty early in the contest. These exhibition contests are more about knocking off the rust and giving players on the fringes of the depth chart an opportunity to earn a roster spot.
While the first-stringers do play, we’ll see Jimmy Garoppolo go toe-to-toe with Joe Milton. However, with plenty of veterans like Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, Adams and the still-young Puka Nacua all likely on the sidelines, this may end up an ugly contest. Most of the NFL Preseason games thus far saw at least 40 points scored, so this line still feels a little bit low. The over looks like a worthwhile pick as long as the line stays at 33.5.
