Where to Watch Cowboys vs. Rams Week 1 Preseason Game: Start Time, Channel, and More

As Week 1 of the NFL preseason comes to a close, the final game is between the Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium. Starting quarterbacks Dak Prescott and Matthew Stafford aren’t playing, but there are still plenty of intriguing storylines to follow.

Here’s everything you need to know about the preseason matchup between the Cowboys and Rams, including how to watch, how to listen, the start time, and more.

Dallas Cowboys at Los Angeles Rams Game Preview

• Start time: Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, 4:30 p.m. ET
• Channel: NFL Network
• Live stream options: NFL App, NFL+, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV
• Radio stations: Cowboys Radio Network, 710 AM ESPN
• Starting QBs: Trey Lance, Stetson Bennett
• Betting lines:
  • Spread: DAL -4.5
  • Total: 35
  • Moneyline: DAL -218, LAR +180

The Cowboys have had a very intriguing offseason of doing … just about nothing to change the roster.

Dallas has seemingly made no headway on extensions for QB Dak Prescott, WR CeeDee Lamb, or LB Micah Parsons. With three franchise cornerstones waiting to be paid, the price is only getting higher as time passes. While Dallas did minimize some losses, it couldn’t save everyone, as RB Tony Pollard and LT Tyron Smith left in free agency.

While the Cowboys would reunite with RB Ezekiel Elliott, he and Rico Dowdle are not enough to replace the touches left by Pollard’s void. Additionally, with Lamb’s holdout reaching new heights, if the first-team All-Pro WR doesn’t get a deal or end his holdout, the roster depth chart behind him looks a bit lackluster.

Lamb has led the Cowboys in receiving since 2021 and had more than double the amount of receiving yards than the next WR in 2022 and 2023.

While Prescott and Lamb won’t see much preseason action, getting those issues settled means a lot for the future. Fans will likely get their first glimpse of former 49ers 2021 third-overall pick Trey Lance in a Cowboys uniform as the quarterback gets set to make his Dallas debut.

Their host, the Rams, are ready to pick up where they left off last season in 2024, primed for another postseason run. Matthew Stafford and Cooper Kupp’s comebacks, combined with the breakout of rookie sensation Puka Nacua, pushed the Rams to a 10-7 record, clinching an NFC Wild Card spot.

The loss of DT Aaron Donald hurts, but the Rams drafted edge rusher Jared Verse and DT Brandon Fiske from Florida State to double-dip early on the defensive line. While it will be extremely difficult to replace one of the greatest defensive tackles of all time, filling the rotation back up with new players is of the utmost importance.

Los Angeles also needed to address a weaker secondary, and this was done by bringing in CBs Darious Williams and Tre’Davious White. While White is coming off an Achilles injury, the Rams hope he will return to his elite performance in Buffalo. At the same time, both add a veteran presence for third-year corners Derion Kendrick and Cobie Durant. Safety Kamren Curl also joins the Rams after spending four seasons with the Commanders to round out the secondary overhaul.

There are quite a few new faces on the Rams’ defense, so seeing how quickly they gel together will be intriguing as the preseason rolls along into the beginning of the regular season.

With no Matthew Stafford in the preseason and Jimmy Garoppolo suspended/in the veteran group, expect to see a lot of Stetson Bennett and Dresser Winn in the preseason.

Cowboys vs. Rams Betting Preview

The Dallas Cowboys being four-point favorites confuses me. We are not going to see much of Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, Brandin Cooks, Ezekiel Elliott, and Jake Ferguson if anything. In fact, there are large chunks of this roster we may not see. Now, the Rams are hardly about to throw out their top players, either, but it feels like they have more questions to answer. Usually, a line this high suggests that the sportsbooks see a major motivational factor or trend in play. I personally do not see anything compelling, so would look for the Rams to cover the four points. There is not enough here for me to proclaim any great best bet, but the line just feels off based on what I can work out storyline-wise.

For more betting analysis, make sure to check out PFN’s Week 1 preseason picks and predictions.

Fantasy Players to Watch

Cowboys RB Rico Dowdle

Right now, the biggest point of uncertainty in this offense is the running back position. With Tony Pollard gone, the Cowboys brought back Ezekiel Elliott, who will share touches with Rico Dowdle. Elliott probably won’t play in the preseason, but I suspect Dowdle will. How Dowdle looks could go a long way in determining how big of a role he has and whether he’s someone fantasy managers should be interested in drafting.

Rams RB Blake Corum

Since Sean McVay took over as head coach for the Rams, no starter has played a single snap in the preseason. We are not going to see Matthew Stafford, Kyren Williams, Puka Nacua, or Cooper Kupp. We may not even see Demarcus Robinson. One guy we should see is rookie RB Blake Corum. While Corum is not a threat to Williams’ RB1 status, it is still worth seeing how Corum performs. As the primary handcuff to Williams, knowing that Corum is capable of stepping in for an injured Williams and handling a heavy workload is key for our confidence in drafting the rookie.

For more fantasy analysis, make sure to check out PFN’s fantasy players to watch during the NFL preseason.