'Resilient' Cowboys beat Chargers 20-17: Instant Thoughts
In the middle of a defensive slugfest, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott reached into the bag of magic tricks. Tony Pollard helped play the part of the magician's assistant. On 3rd-and-11, Prescott evaded pressure from the Los Angeles Chargers by essentially pulling off a half-spin. Instead of rolling out to his left, he planted his […]
In the middle of a defensive slugfest, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott reached into the bag of magic tricks. Tony Pollard helped play the part of the magician's assistant.
On 3rd-and-11, Prescott evaded pressure from the Los Angeles Chargers by essentially pulling off a half-spin. Instead of rolling out to his left, he planted his leg and broke to his right. He then threw the football across his body to find a wide-open Pollard over the middle of the field.
Pollard caught it and broke free hitting the spin move for a big gain. In total, it was a 60-yard explosive play for the Cowboys. Tied 10-10 and at the Chargers' 16-yard line, the offense managed to overcome some adversity to position themselves on second and goal.
From there, Prescott masterfully bought some time for Brandin Cooks to get open on the shallow route and dropped it right in the bucket. The Cowboys went up on the scoreboard 17-10. Not good enough.
Following a special teams debacle, Justin Herbert and the Chargers fired back with a four-play touchdown drive to tie it up, calling the offense's number once more. The Cowboys delivered with a 14-play drive that took 4:52 off the play clock. They settled for three but left little time on the clock for Moore's unit.
A timely Micah Parsons sack on second down and a Stephon Gilmore interception sealed the deal.
Dak Prescott finds the perfect word to describe the win
"Resilient," Prescott told ESPN's Lisa Salter on the TV broadcast when asked for a word to describe the win. "We knew this was a really good team (…) guys played their asses off, offense, defense, they came up with a huge play right there."
"Resilient" might not be exactly what the Cowboys are looking for as they try to bounce back to top NFC contender status but it's a good upgrade from "humbling," which Prescott used after the loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
Dallas needed this one heading into the bye.
Other Cowboys Notes
- How about Markquese Bell? The second-year S/LB played like a seasoned veteran in the box filling in for Leighton Vander Esch. He totaled seven tackles, many of which came in big-time moments. The kid is legit.
- Just when Cowboys Nation was thinking McCarthy's play-calling would lead to another beatdown, his offense put together a nine-play drive good for 75 yards and an 18-yard rushing touchdown by Dak Prescott to make it 7-7. The Cowboys need to use Prescott's legs much more often.
- Someone give Bryan Anger a cookie. The punter nailed the Chargers inside their 2-yard line near the end of the first quarter. Despite nine plays and over five minutes of possession from L.A., the Cowboys' defense managed to force a punt.
- Michael Gallup might be an issue. He dropped a would 've-been touchdown that was an absolute dime from Dak Prescott. The Cowboys later went for it on fourth down with a tush push but failed to move the chains. Gallup finished with just two catches in seven targets.
Cowboys: Why did the Chargers get the ball back on odd Jalen Tolbert play?
Tough, tough break.
