Cowboys’ Prescott shows for one game he has backup plan handled

So much for the Dallas Cowboys’ backup quarterback controversy.

Get well, Kellen Moore.

Nick Foles, enjoy your Kansas City barbecue.

Josh McCown, stay in Cleveland.

Michael Vick ... never mind.

It appears that rookie fourth-round pick Dak Prescott has this thing handled.

More games must be played as well as many more practices, but the Cowboys couldn’t have asked for a better start in what was Prescott’s first outing as an NFL quarterback, despite a 28-24 loss Saturday night against the Los Angeles Rams in the preseason opener for both teams.

The Rams’ return to Los Angeles for the first time after 21 years, the glitz and glamour of Hollywood and the 89,140 at the Coliseum showed that this stage is not too big for the former Mississippi State star and maybe not the job as starter Tony Romo’s primary backup, either.

Romo hasn’t played in a preseason opener since 2012.

But Prescott was ready, completing 10 of 12 passes for 139 yards and two touchdowns. He had a quarterback rating of 154.5 to lead the Cowboys to a 24-7 halftime lead.

The Rams rallied to win on a 9-yard pass from Sean Mannion to rookie running back Aaron Green from TCU.

“I thought Dak did a good job,” coach Jason Garrett said. “He had poise and composure. He ran the offense well. I thought he managed the game well and executed plays. He made some little plays and also made some big plays.”

Prescott’s only incompletions were two dropped passes by tight end Geoff Swaim.

Prescott’s start was delayed by receiver Lucky Whitehead’s electrifying 101-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to open the game.

When the Cowboys got the ball back on offense, Prescott went to work and didn’t look back.

The offense began ominously with a drop from Swaim.

But Prescott followed with six consecutive completions, highlighted by an 18-yard sideline throw to receiver Dez Bryant and a 10-yard touchdown pass to Bryant.

“I surprisingly wasn’t nervous,” Prescott said. “I didn’t know if that was bad or not, me not being nervous, but when you have great players around you, and you get to go out there with the ones, it makes the game a little easier.”

The touchdown was vintage Bryant, who showed that last year’s fractured foot, which cost him seven games, is in the past.

He leaped high over cornerback Coty Sensabaugh to make the catch and then reached the ball across the end zone.

“It’s like practice,” Bryant said. “That’s exactly what we were doing in practice. Dak was delivering the ball to everyone. With him playing behind a great leader like Romo, he is going to learn a lot. He is doing outstanding.”

That was Bryant’s last play of the game, but Prescott was far from done.

He was 2 for 2 on his next drive, a 22-yard pass to Brice Butler followed by a perfect 32-yard strike to Terrance Williams for the touchdown.

Prescott’s next drive was stalled when running back Darius Jackson came up short on third-and-1.

But the Cowboys’ defense quickly got the ball back to Prescott by intercepting No. 1 overall pick Jared Goff.

Former North Texas linebacker Derek Akunne hit Goff on a blitz, forcing the ball to pop up in the air. Linebacker Mark Nzeocho picked it off and returned it to the Rams’ 38-yard line.

This time Prescott faced adversity for the first time. He overcame another drop by Swaim with a first-down pass to Devin Street.

However, the Cowboys were backed up by penalties.

Again an unfazed Prescott hit Street for 8 yards and then followed with a 14-yard scramble to set up a 44-yard field goal.

Prescott didn’t openly lobby for the backup job but he knows what was at stake and believes he made a statement.

“It’s an opportunity to prove to my coaches and my teammates and everyone in the organization the player and person that I am,” Prescott said.

He showed poise and made good decisions.

“I think the best thing about Dak is that he is extremely calm,” Bryant said. “It’s like he’s been here before. He’s not playing like a rookie. He is going to be very good; he’s special.”

The Cowboys let the game slip away in the second half when Jameill Showers took over at quarterback.

Showers, who played college at Texas A&M and UT El Paso, completed 8 of 16 passes for 99 yards. He had his moments, including a 47-yard pass to receiver Vince Mayle when he escaped pressure and made a nice throw.

But he was undone by his supporting cast. He did not have the same protection as Prescott and he was failed by two drops by rookie receiver Andy Jones.

The biggest one came on the final drive when Showers was trying to lead the Cowboys back to victory. A perfect third-and-1 toss to Jones for the first down was dropped. The game ended on a final incompletion on fourth down.

The exuberant throng at the Coliseum celebrated the Rams’ win in the first NFL game back in Los Angeles in more than two decades.

The Cowboys weren’t happy with the loss, but they felt good in knowing they may have gained a backup quarterback.

This story was originally published August 13, 2016 at 11:20 PM with the headline "Cowboys’ Prescott shows for one game he has backup plan handled."