It’s not the way you begin, however the way you end.
At the least, that’s what Stetson Bennett can be telling himself this Monday morning.
The second-year quarterback for the Los Angeles Rams had what you would possibly name an “attention-grabbing” recreation Sunday in his 2024 NFL preseason debut in opposition to the Dallas Cowboys. Bennett threw 4 interceptions in opposition to Dallas on Sunday — actually 5, as we’ll see in a second — however managed to guide the Rams on the game-winning drive, capping that possession off with a powerful sidearm throw whereas rolling to his left for a landing.
First, we are able to take a look at the 4 interceptions, with every one seemingly worse than the one earlier than. Bennett’s first interception got here on a third and 6 play late within the first quarter. With the Cowboys dropping into Cowl 4, Bennett tries to hit the in-breaking route in entrance of the safeties. The throwing lane is there for him and the ball is launched on time, however the throw is just excessive, resulting in the turnover:
he second interception is greater than the rest a heads-up play by Dallas cornerback Eric Scott Jr. With the Rams dealing with a 2nd and 10 on the Cowboys’ 19-yard line, Bennett tries to attach with rookie WR
Sam Wiglusz on the deep sit route over the center. Scott is aligned to the boundary facet of the sphere — on the backside of the display screen — and with the Cowboys in Cowl 1 he’s answerable for extensive receiver Jordan Whittington, who’s working a shallow route.
However when Whittington sits down his route, permitting the beneath gap defender to choose him up, Scott peels off Whittington and reads Bennett’s eyes. When the throw goes to Wiglusz, Scott is there for the interception:
On the third interception Bennett will get tripped up, so to talk. He initially opens to the left facet of the formation, trying to hit JJ Laap on a vertical route. However the rookie WR slips and crashes to the turf, so Bennett then works his eyes to the center of the sphere the place Wiglusz is working the within dig route on a “double dig” idea. With Dallas in Cowl 4, that dig route is in entrance of each safeties, however ideally, the throw will get to the dig route as shortly as doable.
Nevertheless, the time it takes for Bennett to return off Laap’s vertical route, and work to the center of the sphere, offers rookie security Julius Wooden time to learn the idea and break on the route. He beats Wiglusz to the soccer, for the Cowboys’ third interception of Bennett:
On the fourth interception, Bennett tries to attach with Wiglusz once more on an over route, however merely misses the beneath defender and throws it proper to linebacker Brock Mogensen:
Nevertheless, the Rams had been nonetheless locked in a one-score recreation with the Cowboys once they acquired the soccer again with slightly below three minutes to go. A Dallas area aim had given the Cowboys a 12-6 lead, however Bennett had an opportunity at redemption.
He virtually gave that away.
With the Rams dealing with a do-or-die fourth down early on that drive, Bennett tried to hit Drake Stoops on a dig path to the left facet of the sphere. After climbing the pocket the second-year passer rips in a throw to Stoops that’s excessive and barely behind the receiver. The ball will get deflected into the air and intercepted, seemingly ending the competition:
However, there’s a flag. A defensive holding penalty on Dallas cornerback Josh Butler — who was within the slot protecting the vertical route in the course of the sphere — offers the Rams new life.
Los Angeles then managed to drive right down to the Cowboys’ 6-yard line, the place they confronted a fourth-and-goal state of affairs with simply 4 seconds left.
Lastly for Bennett, some redemption:
The preliminary safety is nice, however so too is the protection, and Bennett is working out of choices. With the left fringe of the pocket beginning to soften Bennett spins away from strain, rolling to his left. He retains his eyes downfield, and spots tight finish Miller Forristall. Forristall had initially run a nook path to the again of the top zone, however as Bennett began to roll the tight finish labored away from protection, discovering some area between defenders.
It was sufficient for Bennett, who rips in a sidearm throw to win the sport.
The second-year passer completed the day having accomplished 24-of-38 passes for 224 yards and the landing, together with the 4 interceptions. That added as much as an NFL Passer Score of 48.5.
In addition to an ideal instance of the way it’s not the way you begin, however the way you end.
