Rams Coach McVay said plenty about QB Stetson Bennett, and you may not like it

(1) - The decision to take out TE Nicola Kalinic for TE Miller Forristall

While fans can be a bit reactionary, keep in mind that the game and the players on the football field are all competing for a spot on the team. But the level of talent and the ability of those players to make plays are all over the place. The Rams are starting TE Colby Parkinson, who did not play in the team's first preseason game. So who did?

• TE Davis Allen - 23 offensive snaps - 47.2 overall grade (PFF)
• TE Hunter Long - 16 offensive snaps - no grade
• TE Nicola Kalinic - 8 offensive snaps - no grade
• TE Miller Foristall - 24 offensive snaps - 71.1 overall grade (PFF)

Okay, so why is subbing in Miller Forristall for Nicola Kalinic worth discussing? As it turned out, only two tight ends were active in the passing game. TE Davis Allen was targeted once, and had no receptions. But TE Miller Forristall was targeted three times, caught all three passes for 20 yards, and hauled in the only touchdown pass in the game.

Without Forristall on the football field, there may not have been a clutch touchdown catch to tie up the score, and set up kicker Joshua Karty for the game-winning extra point.

(2) - A Rams resilient defense that only allowed 12 points in the game

The Dallas Cowboys scored four times, all field goals. And those scoring drives began at the Dallas Cowboys:

1. 30-yard line, following a kickoff for a touchback
2. 30-yard line, following another kickoff for a touchback.
3. 20-yard line, following a punt into the end zone.
4. At the LA Rams 23-yard line, following an interception.

Despite giving the football away via an interception four times, the Rams defense only allowed three points to be scored from those turnovers, And that lone field goal was almost unpreventable, as the Cowboys offense took over already in field goal range. So, how did the Rams stop the Cowboys from scoring after giving away the football?

• First interception - The defense held after allowing the Cowboys to get 1st-and-10 at the Rams' 12-yard line, and 4th-and-1 at the Rams' 3-yard line. The defense held, and the offense took over on downs
• Second interception- The defense held after the Cowboys took over on their own 36-yard line with 25 seconds remaining. The team allowed the Cowboys to convert a 4th-and-6 on the Cowboys 40-yard line, but time ran out and the first half ended.
• Third interception - The defense held after the Cowboys took over on their own 35-yard line. After advancing the football to the Rams' 36-yard line on 4th and 5, Cowboys QB Trey Lance was sacked for an 11-yard loss by Rams OLB Zach VanValkenburg, forcing another turnover on downs.
• Fourth interception - After taking over on the LA Rams' 23-yard line, the defense pushed the Cowboys back to the 34-yard line with a quarterback sack, an incompletion, a penalty, and a tackle for a loss on a completed pass. The Cowboys were able to convert a 34-yard field goal on 4th-and-21.

In the end, the defense showed up in a huge way to negate the interceptions. Only one of four of those turnovers translated to Dallas Cowboy points, and only three points at that. It seemed in this game that the Rams defense, much like their quarterback, played their best when their backs were up against the wall.