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It turned out to be a hand-to-hand fight in Week 2, with wild and insane events for both teams, with the Dallas Cowboys escaping SoFi Stadium with a narrow 20-17 victory over the Los Chargers. Angeles. Both teams were battling injuries in key positions, so as things unfolded at SoFi Stadium it was essential to keep an eye on how both teams were adjusting.
This one had it all, from questionable training decisions to controversial referee appeals and non-appeals, and even an issue with scorecard time towards the end of the game – by head coach Mike McCarthy – which led to a clockwork – management blunder that nearly cost the Cowboys the game. All of this set the stage for what could be an electric arrival in Los Angeles, and that’s exactly what we got. In the end, it was a 56-yard kick from Greg Zuerlein, a player who left at least four points on the field in the Week 1 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, that sealed the ‘deal for the Cowboys and served as the last gut. punch for a talented Chargers team who just couldn’t get out of their own way.
Football is going to play football.
Why the Cowboys won
Squeak.
And no, I’m not talking about the kind you eat for breakfast, I’m talking about the kind that allowed the Cowboys to digest their many mistakes without having acid reflux. This is a team that finished with eight penalties for a total of 76 yards and while the Chargers had more, it was the timelessness of when Dallas saw flags that almost buried their hopes. at SoFi Stadium, but they continually came out of the grave, time and again, to the point where Michael Jackson probably would have asked them to be in the “Thriller” video.
Dak Prescott didn’t throw for 400 yards, but he didn’t have to, as the Cowboys took what the Chargers gave them and it led to an explosive day in the rushing offense – led by Tony Pollard with 109 yards on 13 carries and in addition fed by 71 yards on 16 carries from Ezekiel Elliott, the two having delivered the only two touchdowns of the afternoon for the Cowboys. So again, Cowboys don’t need balance. What they need are wins, and a weekly adaptation will help them increase their chances of stacking them.
Last but not least, credit a Cowboys defense that is often maligned, but has intercepted Justin Herbert twice and allowed only one touchdown through the pass, while keeping a cover on Austin Ekeler and the game. of the Chargers. They weren’t perfect, but when Dallas needed them most, they cracked down and sent Herbert to pack.
Why the Chargers lost
This is going to sound familiar to Chargers fans: Herbert couldn’t do it alone.
Much like his stellar rookie season, Herbert had the Chargers able to walk away from the Cowboys, but they just couldn’t. It’s true that the young quarterback has to blame some of that at his feet – after throwing the aforementioned two interceptions – because some of his youthful mistakes simply made Los Angeles’ problems worse. But one day that saw him team up with spreader Keenan Allen (108 receiving yards) for 338 passing yards on 31 completed passes in 41 attempts, you must be wondering how the game would have been if the defense had got more than a takeout.
Before the game, it was all anyone could do to avoid talking about what All-Pro rusher Joey Bosa would do for backup tackle Terence Steele, but Bosa finished with just three combined tackles and no sacks. . In fact, the Chargers’ pass rush struggled with a less than full Cowboys offensive line all afternoon, only sacking Prescott once in four quarters and failing to stop a dose. constant Pollard, Elliott and CeeDee Lamb – the latter faltering in 81 yards on the two catches with nine targets.
The Chargers secondary struggled in large part because Prescott stayed on his feet for most of the game and had to grab Prescott combined with the loss of defensive tackle Justin Jones to create a softer defensive midfielder for the Cowboys. Herbert deserves some of the blame, absolutely, but let’s not pretend the Chargers couldn’t have asked for more from their top defensive playmakers.
Turning
It felt more like a movie with a hundred twists and turns than a real football game, so picking one was difficult. I mean, there’s the 18-yard sack from Micah Parsons, the kicker’s penalty that joined other Cowboys mistakes by almost giving the Chargers the win, and so on. directed by Damontae Kazee – who reduced the Chargers’ final score by four points with that interception in the red zone.
The Cowboys won by three, so do the math.
Game play
There can only be one, and while there are some worthy highlights for the game of the game, it was a kick from Zuerlein – who had to mentally overcome his puffs. in Week 1 which helped cost the Cowboys a win. In week 2, the villain became the hero.
Parsons is the real deal
The Cowboys needed their rookie first-round pick to take on more tasks rushing the passer in the absence of All-Pro defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence. All he did was deliver a bag of keys that gave the Cowboys a shot at winning the game, and they did.
“A lot if it was natural. Some people had a long day there.” – Parsons
And after
The Cowboys will prepare for a homestand that begins by welcoming the Philadelphia Eagles in an NFC East clash that will help shape the division, while the Chargers try to bounce back against the Kansas City Chiefs in an AFC West clash that they can’t. not allow yourself to lose.
Be sure to check out the live blog below for anything you might have missed from one of the best games you’ll see this season.
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