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Instant Analysis: Cowboys back on track with sloppy win over Chargers

angeltorres
·4 min read
16

A pre-game scuffle turned into a penalty-filled yet hard-fought victory on Monday Night Football for the Dallas Cowboys. The Los Angeles Chargers interrupted their warmups and the Cowboys stood their ground, letting their opponent know they weren’t going to be pushed around. The Cowboys took advantage of the opportunity to make up ground in the NFC East and did so by grinding out a gritty, 20-17 victory over Los Angeles.

The Chargers couldn’t have had a better start to the game by forcing a three-and-out and marching down the field to take an early 7-0 lead. The Cowboys responded quickly, however, beginning a cat-and-mouse contest that wasn’t decided until a final defensive stand sent the traveling road fans into a frenzy.

 

The game was over when . . .

. . . pass rusher Micah Parsons notched his first sack of the game after the two-minute warning. After being double and triple-teamed most of the game, defensive coordinator Dan Quinn saved the best for last, working Parsons from the inside for a vicious take down of Chargers QB Justin Herbert.

On the very next play, more pressure led Herbert to a hurried throw and CB Stephon Gilmore reached down to pluck the ball and secure the victory.

Game Ball 1: CeeDee Lamb

Wideout CeeDee Lamb was essentially the only option offensively for the Cowboys through the first three quarters. Lamb ended up with seven receptions for 117 yards averaging 16.7 yards per catch.

Over the last week, Lamb had voiced his concern over the direction of the offense amid frustration at him not being utilized much in the Week 5 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. That wasn’t the case on Monday as he was the focal point of the passing game, catching all of his targets.

Game Ball 2: Dak Prescott

Quarterback Dak Prescott earns a game ball for not only making big plays when his team needed them most, but also for using his legs more than he has all season.

Prescott not only led the game-winning drive but led the team in rushing by picking up 42 yards on five carries when the game was still in question (two kneeldowns). In the passing game, he finished 21 of 30 for 272 yards and one touchdown and zero interceptions for a 109.3 passer rating.

Game Ball 3: Marquese Bell

Safety-turned-linebacker Marquese Bell made multiple plays throughout the night including a one-on-one, goal line tackle to stop Chargers running back Austin Eckler.

Although he did not lead the team in tackles, his seven stops were impactful throughout the game. The Cowboys are woefully short at the linebacker spot after Leighton Vander Esch was put on IR earlier in the day. The 2022 UDFA from Florida A&M even batted down a pass.

Key Stat: 4

Quick Hits

  • Prescott ran for his first touchdown of the season, the 27th of his career. It was his first rushing score since the wild-card win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the first regular-season rushing score since Week 8 last season. Prescott has run for at least one score every season since he was drafted.

  • The two teams combined for 20 accepted penalties (the true count was much more) for 164 yards.

  • Prescott’s 272 passing yards is the third-best performance of the season allowed by the Chargers.

  • With his fourth-quarter sack, Micah Parsons now sits at five for the season.

  • Prescott reached his season high in rushing before the end of the first quarter. He finished with a team-high 40 rushing yards.

  • Lamb’s seven receptions broke a three-game streak of four receptions in each contest. His 117 receiving yards was the second time he broke 100 receiving yards this season.

  • Brandin Cooks caught his first touchdown of the season and thus his first with the Cowboys.

Story originally appeared on Cowboys Wire