INGLEWOOD, Calif. - For two weeks, we've been waiting to see what Trey Lance would look like when the lights came on.
After Sunday's game with the Rams, it looks like we'll be waiting to see another game next weekend in Las Vegas. Because while he played the majority of this one at SoFi Stadium, Lance wasn't exactly impressive in his first game action with the Cowboys.
From a mistake-standpoint, he didn't make a lot. But from a plays standpoint, he didn't make a lot either.
The accuracy has been a problem from what we've seen in practices, and it definitely wasn't much better in the game. Completing 25 of 41 passes for 189 yards and no touchdowns or interceptions, Lance failed to get his team in the end zone. And that's despite the defense getting four interceptions, giving them plenty of great field-position opportunities.
Still, for one reason or another, and it was usually accuracy, Lance couldn't figure out a way to score a touchdown.
On the one hand, you've got a Cowboys quarterback who was just so-so and didn't make plays for either team. And on the other, the Rams' Stetson Bennett threw four interceptions – and all of them were pretty terrible throws – but he figured out how to score at the end and gets his team the win.
Needless to say, it doesn't appear as if Lance or Bennett will be playing much in the regular season moving forward.
But that was the point for Lance. He was supposed to get the chance to play this game to see what his future looks like.
I've said this multiple times already, but this game wasn't just about the Cowboys evaluating Lance but all 32 teams getting a look at him. And yes, that includes the 49ers, who probably wouldn't mind seeing what they gave up on. The entire league is curious about Lance, the No. 3 overall pick in 2021 who has only played in four regular-season games so far.
Well, the jury was going to be out regardless of what happened here at SoFi, but let's be honest, nothing really changed from what we've seen. I think we all wanted to see Lance make a few more plays, but even the throws he completed weren't really that great.
Too many times receivers and tight ends had to catch passes over their head and behind them. Balls were caught right off the turf and sometimes even the routine screen passes were not on target.
The big miss by Lance was on his first drive when he had the Cowboys down in the red zone, thanks mostly to his 19-yard run that put them in a position to score.
But on fourth-and-1 at the 3-yard line, the Cowboys opted not to run the ball for a first down. Instead, they let Lance loft a pass to the back corner for Jalen Cropper, who was open. But the pass sailed out of the end zone for an incomplete pass, and the Cowboys not only failed to score there but never got into the end zone the entire game.
Honestly, I really thought Lance would play better. For the last two weeks, I was predicting that he would make a few plays with his legs and move the offense more that way – with an occasional big pass here and there. And for the most part, he didn't do either one of those as much as I thought.
I think it would only be fair to point out that Lance hasn't played in a year. There was definite rust, but you thought it'd wear off as the game went on and he kept getting chances to make plays.
Personally, I think the Cowboys should let him play from the very start next week in Vegas. Do we really need to see another series or two from Cooper Rush? He's a solid No. 2 quarterback and has proven that he is ready to step in when needed.
I'd rather see Lance with a little more of the starting offensive line and at least better skill players around him.
If the Cowboys want to give Trey Lance every chance to prove himself, then he needs even more reps and maybe even a start under his belt.
We knew going into this preseason that Lance would have three good chances to show what he's got. Right now, there are two left, and I'm not sure we have a better opinion about him so far.
