Tag: Chargers vs. Cowboys preview

5 matchups to watch in Chargers-Cowboys preseason tilt

The Chargers meet the Cowboys in Week 2 of the preseason on Saturday, and there are plenty of matchups to keep an eye on.

After two days of joint practices, the Chargers and Cowboys are scheduled to face off this Saturday in the second preseason game of the year.

Dallas has yet to indicate whether or not they plan to play their starters at all this week. For this, I assume that most of their starters will be sitting out.

With that in mind, here are a few matchups to watch in the game:

Chargers CB Michael Davis vs. Cowboys WR Jalen Tolbert

Davis has looked like a completely different player in the last week after splitting reps with Asante Samuel Jr. last weekend. While CeeDee Lamb is almost certainly not going to play, and Michael Gallup is continuing to rehab from his ACL tear, a matchup with the rookie Tolbert is still an important one to watch as the de facto WR1 vs. CB1 battle. Tolbert looked like a rookie in Dallas’ first game, but Michael Gehlken of the Dallas News reported that he looked “back on track” against the Chargers in practice. Limiting Tolbert’s impact could further strengthen Davis’ case that he should retain his starting role from last season.

Chargers WRs Michael Bandy/Joe Reed vs. Cowboys CBs Kelvin Joseph/Nahshon Wright

Bandy and Reed looked like much-improved players last week, and I think they’ll get in the game early enough to match up with Joseph and Wright, both of whom will probably start on Saturday as Trevon Diggs and Anthony Brown rest. Both corners are still on the rise as second-year players who saw action as rookies and should be roster locks, although there have been rumors that Joseph’s spot on the team is not secured. If Bandy and/or Reed can show the same flashes they did last week against these NFL-level corners, it could be the difference in the battle for the final spot.

Chargers C Will Clapp vs. Cowboys DT Neville Gallimore

Initially, I had this down as rookie Zion Johnson vs. Gallimore, but I’m unsure if Johnson will play or if his preseason will look like Rashawn Slater’s did last season. Gallimore has yet to break out since being drafted in the third round in 2020, as a preseason elbow injury knocked him out for most of last season. However, the third-year player has received rave reviews in Cowboys camp this season, suggesting that a full-time starting role may be in the cards. Clapp, meanwhile, struggled last week against the Rams. A strong performance against the likes of Gallimore could get him back in the team’s good graces.

Chargers EDGE Chris Rumph II vs. Cowboys OT Terence Steele

Rumph had the team’s best performance against the Rams, with a dominant day, including a sack of QB Bryce Perkins. With Dallas likely to start Steele, their presumptive starter at right tackle, the second-year pass rusher will have his first chance to line up against starter-level talent. Another solid showing and Rumph cements himself as a dangerous rotational pass rusher that teams will have to account for when Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack come off the field.

Chargers TEs Tre’ McKitty/Hunter Kampmoyer vs. Cowboys S Markquese Bell

Bell, an undrafted free agent, has been one of the standouts in Cowboys camp this season, leading many to believe he has an inside track to a roster spot. Versatility is a huge part of his game – Dallas reportedly views him as another version of Jayron Kearse as a player capable of playing in the box or matching up with slot receivers and tight ends. It’s an excellent opportunity for McKitty to show growth in the receiving game, where he’s been essentially a nonfactor thus far. It’s also a big chance for Kampmoyer to stand out and prove the Chargers need to keep four tight ends on the 53-man roster again.

Prediction for Chargers vs. Cowboys, Week 2

Chargers Wire offers its weekly game prediction.

The Los Angeles Chargers are set to face off against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, Sept. 18 at 1:25 p.m. PT.

The Chargers are coming off a Week 1 win after outlasting Washington Football Team’s dominant defense with a stellar performance from quarterback Justin Herbert, who finished 31-of-47 passing for 337 yards and a game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter.

The Cowboys opened up the season against the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After going back and forth in an offensive duel, QB Tom Brady engineered yet another game-winning drive in the final minutes to seal the deal.

Dallas enters this game with key contributors along the defensive line, Demarcus Lawrence and Randy Gregory, out. It’s a huge blow considering generating pressure is vital to slowing Herbert and company, especially with a revamped offensive line that dominated last weekend.

Speaking of high-powered offenses, the Cowboys have their own with Dak Prescott, who threw for 403 yards (second-most in Week 1) and three touchdowns against a really good Buccaneers defense.

While the majority of their top skill players are intact, with the exception of wide receiver the Michael Gallup, the team will be without starting right tackle La’el Collins. This is a recipe for a monstrous game for Joey Bosa, who can make a huge impact on this contest.

Ultimately, the defense will force two turnovers and after throwing four touchdown passes, Herbert leads L.A. to victory in front of fans for the first time in a regular season game at SoFi Stadium, 31-21.

Chargers elevate DL Joe Gaziano to 53-man roster

With Justin Jones doubtful, Joe Gaziano got the call up.

With defensive lineman Justin Jones dealing with a calf injury, the Chargers promoted Joe Gaziano to the 53-man roster ahead of the Week 2 matchup against the Cowboys.

On the final injury report, Jones was listed as doubtful.

Gaziano, an undrafted free agent out of Northwestern, appeared in two games last season. After his rookie season, he was a standout during training camp and preseason action.

After playing as an edge defender in 2020, the move inside highlighted his strengths. Winning with heavy hands, strength and high effort, Gaziano applied interior pressure and made plays in the run game on multiple occasions.

If Jones is out, Christian Covington and Eric Banks will likely see an uptick in snaps, while Linval Joseph and Jerry Tillery receive a bulk of the workload, as their presences will be critical to slowing Cowboys running backs Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard.

Keys to a Chargers’ victory over Cowboys in Week 2

Highlighting what the Chargers must do in order to improve to 2-0.

The Chargers are set to face off against the Cowboys on Sunday afternoon.

There are a few things that Los Angeles will need to do in order to a secure a victory in Week 2.

Offensively, L.A. has to keep the ball in the hands of quarterback Justin Herbert. Herbert flourished in the season opener behind a newly revamped offensive line that only allowed six pressures to a talented Washington defensive front. He must carry that momentum against a Cowboys defense that gave up 379 passing yards and four touchdowns against the Buccaneers and will be without two starting defensive linemen. In particular, Herbert needs to look to exploit certain cornerbacks Anthony Brown and Jourdan Lewis, who were the primary culprits in Week 1.

Defensively, L.A. must put pressure on QB Dak Prescott early and often to prevent wide receivers Amari Cooper and CeeDee Lamb from being factors, and most importantly, to win the turnover battle. Edge defender Joey Bosa should benefit from facing backup tackle Terrence Steele, who’s playing in place of La’el Collins. Running back Ezekiel Elliott had a quiet performance in Week 1, but Dallas could look to feed him the rock more against a Chargers defense that gave up 126 rushing yards. Reading run keys well and not losing gap integrity on a consistent basis is critical to determining their success.

In addition, the Bolts must eliminate mental mistakes, like dropped passes and penalties, that almost cost them their matchup against Washington.

5 Cowboys players the Chargers must game plan for in Week 2

Highlighting a few players on the Dallas Cowboys that could make it difficult for the Los Angeles Chargers.

The Chargers are set to host the Cowboys in the first regular season game at SoFi Stadium with fans in attendance.

There are a few notable players that Los Angeles will really have to make sure they’re game planned for in order to have success this Sunday.

Here are five players on Dallas that the Bolts should hone in on.

QB Dak Prescott

The Chargers benefited from average quarterback play in the season opener against Washington, especially when Ryan Fitzpatrick was knocked out of the game in the second quarter and the team had to turn to Taylor Heinicke.

While Los Angeles only allowed 133 passing yards, they will now turn their attention to Prescott, who threw for 403 yards (second-most in Week 1) and three touchdowns against a really good Buccaneers defense.

This was the first game back for the two-time Pro Bowler since he suffered a season-ending ankle injury last season. Showing the ability to make all throws in the book and win with his legs if needed, the pressure will need to be turned on and the coverage needs to be tight to slow Prescott.

WR Amari Cooper & Ceedee Lamb

The Cowboys boasted one of the best wide receiver trios in the league, but it is now only a duo after Michael Gallup suffered an ankle injury that’ll keep him sidelined for 3-5 weeks.

Nonetheless, Cooper and Lamb are not to be taken lightly. In the season opener, Cooper caught 13 passes for 139 yards and one touchdown, while Lamb reeled in seven of his career-high 15 targets for 104 yards and a score.

Between Cooper’s crisp route-running skills and Lamb’s play speed and separation quickness, it won’t be easy tasks for cornerbacks Michael Davis, Asante Samuel Jr. and Chris Harris Jr.

CB Trevon Diggs

Even though the Cowboys allowed 379 passing yards to Tampa Bay in the season opener, Diggs was not one to blame.

Tasked with covering three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Mike Evans, Diggs only allowed one completion (10 yards) and had an interception for a passer rating of 0.0.

It remains to be seen who Diggs will shadow between Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. The wiser choice would be to line up across from the crafty route-runner, who had nine catches for 100 yards in Week 1.

If quarterback Justin Herbert is able to still flourish despite the matchup, it could be a field day out there, especially with the Cowboys already down two of their starting edge defenders.

LB Micah Parsons

It only took one game for Parsons, the rookie out of Penn State, to establish himself as the top playmaker in the middle of the defense. Playing 51 of 65 defensive snaps against the Buccaneers, Parsons posted seven tackles, a pass deflection and a quarterback hit.

Lining up as an off-ball linebacker and situational pass rusher, Parsons made an impact in all phases, but especially when it came to covering running backs and tight ends, which is why Austin Ekeler and Jared Cook could face some challenges.