JARED GOFF saw only limited duty in the Rams’ 13-10 win over the Cowboys (Rams photo).

Pre-season games are about as good a predictor of the regular campaign as a first date is for marriage. There may be some useful indications, or maybe not.

The Los Angeles Rams opened the 2017 football slog on Saturday with a 13-10 win over the Dallas Cowboys before 62,88 fans, but since it was a game played mostly by backups, you’re going to need some tea leaves and a ouija board to discern the significance.

Jared Goff, the Rams’ franchise quarterback – it’s hoped – saw only limited duty, completing three of four passes for 34 yards. “It’s a good one to learn from, and I was happy with the win for us,” Goff said.

More impressive, frankly, was Sean Mannion, who went 18-of-25 for 134 yards.

It was a game plagued by fumbles by both teams. The Rams took a first quarter 7-0 when Cooper Kupp recovered a fumble in the end zone. The Cowboys closed to within four on a 32-yard field goal by Dan Bailey, but the Rams countered with a three-pointer of their own by Greg Zuerlein to make it 10-3, LA.

The Cowboys tied it late in the third quarter when Cooper Rush found Rico Gathers for a 25-yard scored and a 10-10 tie. The winning score came on a 36-yard field goal by Travis Coons at 6:11 of the fourth, capping a seven-play, 30-yard drive engineered by Mannion.
Next Saturday, the Rams will travel up north to play the Oakland-Las Vegas Raiders.