The Dallas Cowboys defense started of the game in inglorious fashion, allowing the Chargers to convert a short field on their opening drive to take an early 7-0 lead. After their performance a week prior up the Pacific coast in San Francisco, it felt like the unraveling of Dan Quinn’s defense was underway.
But that wasn’t to be the case. The club shut down Los Angeles for the rest of the game, and when the contest was on the line, the defense came through in the biggest of ways. Micah Parsons burst through the Chargers’ protection to sack Justin Herbert and on the next play, more pressure led to a tremendous interception for cornerback Stephon Gilmore. The Cowboys performed their famed Landry Shift in the victory formation and escaped from L.A. with a 20-17 win.
The Cowboys are now 10-1 over the last three seasons following a loss.
The victory improved the club to 4-2 heading into their bye week. The Cowboys overcame several shots to their own feet and miscues and miscalculations by the coaching staff in clock management at the tail end of both halves.
Quarterback Dak Prescott used his legs again for the first time in what felt like forever, scoring a regular-season rushing touchdown for the first time since Week 8 in 2022. With his arm, he was perfect when targeting CeeDee Lamb (seven receptions for 117 yards) and Brandin Cooks (four catches for 36 yards, one touchdown) and finished the game with a 109.3 rating.
The Cowboys converted two of their four red-zone opportunities into scores, but the biggest story was how Quinn was able to corral his former counterpart and limit Kellen Moore’s offense.
The Chargers only two touchdown drives began in Dallas territory, with the first starting at the 42 after a huge punt return and the last starting at the 20 after a Dallas muffed punt. In between it was tough sledding all day for Justin Herbert and company, as the Cowboys’ defense was constantly in the backfield.
The win allowed Dallas to gain a game on San Francisco and Philadelphia, who both lost their first game of the season on Sunday to drop to 5-1.
Following their bye, Dallas will stay at home and host Matt Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams in Week 8.