Rams to face Cowboys in exhibition opener

After move from St. Louis, the team will play its first game at the Coliseum on Aug. 13.

They have not played a home game in Los Angeles since 1979.

They played their last home game in Southern California in 1994.

After more than two decades in St. Louis, the Los Angeles Rams will open the exhibition season at the Coliseum on ESPN, playing the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday, Aug. 13, at 5 p.m., the NFL announced Thursday.

“We are excited to open the preseason on a national stage here in Los Angeles,” Coach Jeff Fisher said in a statement. “This is a historic year and we can’t wait to get in front of the fans for the first time at the Coliseum.”

The matchup against the Cowboys is a natural on many levels.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was instrumental in facilitating the Rams’ move back to Los Angeles. The Rams will conduct off-season workouts in Oxnard — where the Cowboys hold training camp — before moving to UC Irvine. Last year, the Rams and Cowboys held several joint practices in Oxnard.

The exact dates for the Rams’ other exhibition games have not been determined. The Rams will play host to the Kansas City Chiefs the week of Aug. 18-22.

The last two exhibitions are on the road against the Denver Broncos (Aug. 25-28) and Minnesota Vikings (Sept. 1 or 2).

The Green Bay Packers and the Indianapolis Colts will play in the Aug. 7 Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio, to open the exhibition season.

The regular-season schedule is expected to be announced this month. The season will kick off Thursday, Sept. 8.