The Dallas Cowboys defense wreaked havoc on the Los Angeles Chargers throughout the entire game, ultimately becoming the deciding factor in their 20-17 victory on Monday night. After a drive led by Dak Prescott and the Cowboys offense ended with a field goal from rookie kicker Brandon Aubrey to take a 20-17 lead, the Chargers had just over two minutes to score at least three points and force overtime.
However, the Cowboys defense had other plans. Star defensive end Micah Parsons sacked Justin Herbert on second down, securing the team’s first sack of the night. Then, on third-and-10, Herbert was pressured and threw an interception to Stephon Gilmore, sealing the victory for the Cowboys.
Following a loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the previous week, the Cowboys improved to 4-2 with this win. Meanwhile, the Chargers dropped to 2-3 on the year after failing to mount another game-winning drive.
The game started as a potential shootout, with Chargers offensive coordinator Kellen Moore devising a perfect opening drive to put pressure on his former colleagues in Dallas. The Chargers went five plays for 42 yards, forcing a three-and-out on Dallas, and Keenan Allen scored a 1-yard touchdown to give them a 7-0 lead.
The Cowboys quickly responded with a touchdown drive of their own. On fourth-and-one, Prescott decided to keep the ball on a read option play, catching the Chargers off guard. He rushed for 18 yards into the end zone, resembling his time at Mississippi State under Dan Mullen’s offense, according to ESPN color analyst Troy Aikman.
Following the early scores, both offenses struggled, with penalties playing a significant role in stalling drives. The game became rather dull, with a total of six punts and a turnover on downs by the Cowboys.
However, the final drive of the first half turned out to be crucial. An unnecessary roughness penalty on Derwin James gave the Cowboys favorable field position, and Aubrey kicked a field goal to give them a 10-7 lead heading into halftime.
In the end, the Cowboys’ offensive performance was enough to secure the road win. Prescott finished with 21-of-30 completions for 272 yards, one touchdown, and no interceptions. He also rushed for 40 yards and a touchdown. Although Tony Pollard struggled in the running game, he made up for it with six catches for 80 yards, including a 60-yard catch-and-run.
CeeDee Lamb was the Cowboys’ leading receiver, catching all seven of his targets for 117 yards. Brandin Cooks, who had been struggling to make an impact this season, scored his first touchdown with the Cowboys and provided a spark of emotion after giving his team a 17-10 lead in the fourth quarter.
For the Chargers, Herbert had an off-game, missing several opportunities to connect with Allen, who finished with 85 yards on seven catches. Herbert ended the game 22-of-37 for 227 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception.
As the Cowboys head into their bye week with a satisfying start to the season, the Chargers will face their AFC West rival, the Kansas City Chiefs, at Arrowhead Stadium in a game known for its offensive fireworks.
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