The Dallas Cowboys have returned to California for their second consecutive primetime game of the season. Monday Night Football showcases the Dallas Cowboys visiting SoFi Stadium to take on the Los Angeles Chargers.
Coming off a challenging loss to the San Francisco 49ers, the Cowboys are aiming to rebound against Justin Herbert and the Chargers in what has been a tightly contested game.
First Quarter Scoring
The Cowboys received the opening kickoff but struggled, going three and out. The Chargers returned the punt 25 yards to the Cowboys’ 42-yard line.
A few short plays later, Justin Herbert connected with a wide-open Keenan Allen in the right flat for a touchdown on a 3rd-and-goal from the one-yard line. Allen’s motion across the formation left cornerback Jourdan Lewis unable to recover before the pass reached Allen’s hands.
On the very next drive, Dak Prescott led a nine-play, 75-yard drive that culminated in his first rushing touchdown of the season. Facing a 4th-and-1 from the Chargers’ 18-yard line, head coach Mike McCarthy displayed his aggressiveness by choosing to go for it. The call was a read option, and the Chargers’ defense swarmed Tony Pollard, but Prescott kept the ball and ran untouched into the end zone.
Second Quarter Scoring
The Cowboys began their final drive of the half from their own 29-yard line. Seven plays later, Brandon Aubrey kicked a 32-yard field goal, giving the Cowboys a 10-7 halftime lead.
Lowlights
This section is dedicated to the areas the Dallas Cowboys need to improve in the second half.
Penalties
The Cowboys’ penalty issues persist tonight at SoFi Stadium. Dallas came into the game averaging nearly six penalties per game, matching that total in the first half alone. The Cowboys have accumulated six penalties for 45 yards, which is a cause for concern. If the Cowboys can’t maintain discipline, penalties may be their downfall in this game.
Third Downs
The Cowboys’ defense is performing well on 3rd down, except for the costly penalties. The Los Angeles Chargers have only converted two of five third-down attempts in the first half. However, it’s the Cowboys’ offense that is struggling in this area. Dak Prescott and the Cowboys have converted just two of seven third-down attempts, and they also failed on a crucial 4th down attempt in Chargers’ territory. The team that dominates the third-down battle in the second half will likely emerge as the victor.