Parsons, Defense Halts Chargers
Nothing came easy for the Dallas Cowboys on Monday night. The Cowboys (4-2) got a late field goal from Brandon Aubrey and a last-minute sack from Micah Parsons to push them to a 20-17 win over the Los Angeles Chargers (2-3) at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif.
DEFENSE COMES TO PLAY
After getting embarrassed in San Francisco last Sunday, the Cowboys defense wasn’t going to let it happen two weeks in a row. They held an explosive Chargers offense to more than 10 points under their average, while allowing just 272 total yards.
Their defensive front seven dominated the game, led by Demarcus Lawrence, Micah Parsons and Osa Odighizuwa. They were game wreckers for 60 minutes.
Justin Herbert had just 227 yards passing and finished with a quarterback rating of 84.0.
But it was the run defense that set the tone, as they held the Chargers to just 53 yards on 23 rushes. Austin Ekeler carried the ball 14 times for just 27 yards, and a measly 1.9 yards a rush average. His long was just six yards.
But it still came down to the defense making a play late to push this victory across the finish line.
After taking a three-point lead late in the game, Parsons sealed the win with a sack on second and two from the LA 33 and just 1:55 to play in the game.
The Cowboys got their only turnover of the game on the next play, a Stephon Gilmore interception, that sealed the win.
It is the first time the Chargers had been held to less than 24 points and under 300 yards in a game.
PRESCOTT GOOD UNDER PRESSURE
Dak Prescott wasn’t great, but he didn’t need to be.
He made plays while running for his life, and in the end led the Cowboys to a 20-17 win over the Chargers.
Prescott completed 21 of 30 passes for 272 yards and one touchdown. He completed passes to just five players and finished with a 109.3 quarterback rating. But, most importantly, he didn’t throw an interception.
Even though he was on the move most of the game because of the shaky play of the offensive line in front of him, Prescott was still accurate enough to lead the Cowboys to victory.
Prescott even looked like the pre-ankle injury version of himself, when he took off on an 18-yard run for the Cowboys first touchdown of the game. It was the perfect read on fourth and one when he pulled the ball from Tony Pollard on the read option and took it untouched around the right side for the score. It was his first touchdown run since their win over Chicago in Week 8 of last season.
Prescott finished with 40 yards rushing on seven carries. It is the sixth best rushing game of his career, and only the second time he has rushed for more than 40 yards since the ankle injury in Week 5 of the 2020 season.
PENALTY-PALOOZA
The Cowboys escape southern California with the 3-point victory and have plenty to get cleaned up before taking on the Rams in Week 8.
None more important than the penalties.
The Cowboys were penalized 11 times for 85 yards, including seven by the defense. The offense was assessed three penalties, while the special teams even got in on the flag fest with one of their own.
Safety Jayron Kearse and left guard Tyler Smith had rough games; both being penalized twice. Kearse was flagged for unnecessary roughness early in the game and then for pass interference late in the game that led to the Chargers final touchdown of the game. Smith was flagged for holding and a false start.
Five of the 11 flags on Dallas were pre-snap penalties, including a too many men call on the defense and an illegal formation called on the punt team.
The Chargers were flagged nine times for 79 yards.
THIRD DOWN EFFECIENCY
The Dallas offense overcame another tough night on third downs.
The Cowboys were just good on five of their 13 third down tries in the game.
Two of those success came in the crucial final drive that ended in the game-winning 39-yard field goal from Brandon Aubrey. During the drive, the Cowboys were first successful on a third and six from the Dallas 49 when Dak Prescott hit CeeDee Lamb for 18 yards to move the sticks.
Then on third and nine from the Chargers 39, Prescott hit Brandin Cooks for 11 yards and the first down. It was their last first down of the night.
The Cowboys first successful third down of the game came on their second drive, a seven-yard run by Tony Pollard on third and three from the Chargers 34. The Cowboys would pay it off four plays later on an 18-yard touchdown run from Prescott.
Not a good day on third down, but they made them when absolutely had to.
O-LINE STRUGGLES
Dak Prescott spent most of Monday night running for his life.
For the second straight week the Cowboys offensive line struggled in both phases.
Besides the 18-yard touchdown run by Dak Prescott in the first quarter, the running game never got on track.
Running backs Tony Pollard and Rico Dowdle only had 42 yards on 18 carries combined, good enough for just a 2.33 yards per carry average, because the holes never materialized from the offensive line.
The pass blocking wasn’t much better. The Cowboys gave up five sacks, and Prescott had most of his success on the move.
Tyler Smith was flagged twice and struggled with his assignments, center Tyler Biadasz was whipped in pass protection and Terence Steele was called for a holding that wasn’t accepted. Add to that the play of a hobbled Zack Martin, who got bull rushed into Prescott’s lap more than once.