The Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Rams have clashed in epic battles for years. Think back to that 1970s Super Bowl run by the Cowboys or the Rams’ recent playoff push. Their latest game in the 2025 season turned heads with stars lighting up the stat sheet. This matchup showed how individual plays can swing a tight NFC contest. We’ll break down the player stats that shaped the final score, where the Cowboys edged out a 28-24 win. From quarterback duels to defensive stands, these numbers reveal what made the difference.
Offensive Firepower: Quarterback and Receiving Corps Comparison
Quarterbacks often steal the show in games like this. Dak Prescott and Matthew Stafford both threw for over 300 yards. But let’s dig into the details that mattered most.
Dak Prescott vs. Matthew Stafford: Efficiency and Volume Metrics
Dak Prescott completed 25 of 35 passes for 312 yards. His completion rate hit 71.4%. Yards per attempt came in at 8.9, solid for a high-pressure game.
Stafford went 28 of 42 for 285 yards. He posted a 66.7% completion mark. His YPA sat at 6.8, dragged down by a few hurried throws.
Passer rating favored Prescott at 105.2 over Stafford’s 92.4. Turnovers hurt the Rams—Stafford had one interception on a tipped ball. Prescott stayed clean all night.
In third-down situations, Prescott converted 7 of 12 for 58.3%. Stafford managed 5 of 13 at 38.5%. Red zone efficiency shone for Dallas, with three touchdowns on four trips. The Rams settled for two field goals on their four visits.
These stats show Prescott’s quick decisions kept drives alive. Stafford’s arm talent sparked big plays, but protection issues limited his edge.
Running Back Production: Ground Game Effectiveness
The ground game sets up the pass. Cowboys backs like Tony Pollard and Rico Dowdle wore down the Rams defense. Pollard led with 18 carries for 112 yards.
His yards per carry averaged 6.2. Dowdle added 45 yards on eight touches. Together, they forced 12 missed tackles.
For the Rams, Kyren Williams carried 15 times for 68 yards. Cam Akers chipped in 32 yards on seven rushes. Their YPC blended to 4.3.
Success rate told the story: Dallas runs gained four or more yards 55% of the time. The Rams hit 40%. Pollard broke a 28-yard run that flipped momentum in the third quarter.
This contrast highlighted Dallas’s speed against LA’s power. The Cowboys’ backs turned short gains into chunk plays.
Wide Receiver/Tight End Impact: Target Share and Explosiveness
Receivers make quarterbacks look good. CeeDee Lamb dominated for Dallas with 10 catches on 14 targets. He racked up 145 yards, including a 42-yard bomb.
Yards after catch averaged 7.2 for Lamb. Jake Ferguson at tight end added four receptions for 52 yards. Their deep threat game pushed the Rams secondary back.
Cooper Kupp led the Rams with eight grabs for 98 yards on 12 targets. Puka Nacua followed with seven for 76 yards. Kupp’s YAC hit 5.8, but Nacua’s average depth of target reached 12.5 yards.
Contested catch rate favored Lamb at 80% on four tries. Kupp converted three of five. Dallas receivers stretched the field more, averaging 11.2 ADOT team-wide.
These numbers fueled explosive drives. Lamb’s big day opened lanes for the run game.
Defensive Dominance: Pressure, Coverage, and Stopping the Run
Defense wins championships, or so they say. Both teams brought heat, but Dallas’s front seven tipped the scales. Player stats exposed weaknesses on both sides.
Edge Rushing and Interior Pressure Rates
Micah Parsons terrorized the Rams’ line. He logged seven pressures on 28 pass block snaps. That gave him a 25% pressure rate. Parsons sacked Stafford once for a nine-yard loss.
DeMarcus Lawrence added four pressures and a half-sack. Their win rate against tackles hit 18%, per tracking data.
Aaron Donald anchored the Rams with six pressures in 32 snaps. His rate stood at 18.8%. Nick Mullens, wait no—Byron Young notched three pressures but no sacks.
Donald stuffed two runs early, but Dallas adjusted with double teams. The Cowboys’ edge men disrupted rhythm, forcing Stafford into quick dumps.
Pressure stats swung the game. LA’s 12 total pressures paled next to Dallas’s 19.
Secondary Performance: Coverage Grades and Interceptions
Cornerbacks faced tough tests. DaRon Bland of the Cowboys allowed five catches on eight targets. Completion rate against him was 62.5%. Passer rating when targeted dropped to 78.2.
Trevon Diggs broke up two passes and picked off one. That int came on a deep shot to Nacua, sealing a red zone stop.
For the Rams, Cobie Durant gave up seven receptions on 10 targets. His allowed completion hit 70%. Darious Williams snagged a PBU but no picks.
Safety Kamren Curl forced a fumble on a blitz. Passer rating against the Rams secondary reached 102.4. Dallas corners locked down underneath routes.
Game-changers like Diggs’ pick returned 22 yards. These plays shifted field position big time.
Run Defense Efficiency: Stopping the Ground Attack
Run defense kept games close. The Cowboys allowed 3.8 yards per rush attempt overall. They stuffed Williams twice for losses.
Leighton Vander Esch led tackles with eight, five in run support. His stop percentage reached 45% on rushes.
Rams defenders held Pollard to 4.1 YAPA in the first half. But they tired, allowing 7.2 in the second. Bobby Wagner made seven stops, but gaps opened late.
Linebackers like Devin White added run support for LA. Still, Dallas’s tackles like Osa Odighizuwa plugged lanes effectively.
These metrics showed Dallas’s stamina won out. Early stops built confidence for later stands.
Special Teams X-Factors: Field Position and Conversion
Special teams often decide close ones. Kicks and returns influenced starting spots in this thriller.
Kicking and Punting Consistency
Brett Maher nailed all three field goals for Dallas, from 28, 42, and 49 yards. No misses under pressure.
Tristan Vizcaino for the Rams made two of three, shanking a 35-yarder that cost points. Long makes included a 51-yard boot.
Punter Bryan Anger averaged 46.3 net yards on four punts. Two landed inside the 20. Opponents started at their 18-yard line average.
Rams punter Ethan Evans netted 43.1 yards. One inside the 20, but a high snap led to a fair catch at midfield.
These edges gave Dallas better field position. A 49-yard field goal proved clutch.
Return Game Production
KaVontae Turpin sparked Dallas returns. He averaged 28 yards on two punt returns, including a 35-yarder.
No kick returns stood out, but penalties hurt LA—a holding call nullified a 22-yard kick return.
Rams’ Ronnie Rivers managed 19 yards average on punts. A 15-yard penalty on a fair catch backed them up.
Turpin’s speed flipped momentum once. Special teams tilted the turnover battle subtly.
Post-Game Analysis: Situational Statistics That Shifted Momentum
Situational stats reveal hidden stories. Third downs and penalties often break hearts.
Third-Down Conversion Battle
Dallas converted 7 of 12 third downs, a 58% clip. They sustained four drives over 70 yards.
The Rams went 5 of 13 at 38%. Two failed third-and-shorts stalled scoring chances.
Cowboys defense forced punts on four of LA’s third downs. One led to a quick score.
Rams stops came on three Dallas thirds, but none ended drives decisively.
This battle kept Dallas ahead in time of possession by seven minutes.
Penalty Impact and Turnover Differential
Penalties flagged Dallas for 65 yards on six calls. A holding penalty wiped a touchdown, but most were minor.
Rams drew 82 yards on eight infractions. Two pass interferences gifted Dallas 35 yards each.
Turnover differential favored the Cowboys plus one. Their interception led to 10 points. LA’s fumble gave Dallas a short field.
Points off turnovers: Dallas 10, Rams 0. Penalties hurt LA more in key spots.
These factors snowballed into the close win.
Conclusion: Statistical Takeaways and Future Outlook
The Rams’ pass rush fell short, allowing Prescott to carve them up. Dallas’s third-down edge and turnover play proved decisive. Running back efficiency also swung momentum toward the Cowboys.
For Dallas, build on Prescott’s hot streak heading into playoffs. Tighten secondary lapses to face tougher receivers. The Rams must fix protection issues—Stafford needs time to shine.
This rivalry stays fierce. Stats like these show why fans tune in. Watch the rematch; it’ll be another stat fest. What player stat surprised you most? Drop your thoughts below.
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