In what was anticipated to be a closely contested game, the Dallas Cowboys led the Los Angeles Chargers 10-7 at halftime during Monday night’s matchup.
The game began with a flurry of activity, as both teams quickly found the end zone. The Chargers scored first, marching 42 yards in just five plays on their opening possession. The Cowboys promptly responded with a 75-yard, nine-play drive, culminating in a 18-yard touchdown run by quarterback Dak Prescott.
Following those early scores, the game settled into a more methodical pace. The subsequent five drives, three for the Chargers and two for the Cowboys, all ended in punts. The Cowboys later mounted a promising drive that reached the red zone but opted for a field goal attempt on fourth-and-one, failing to convert.
However, as the first half was coming to a close, the Cowboys broke the scoring drought with a 32-yard field goal by Brandon Aubrey. Yet, the decision to settle for the field goal in the closing seconds of the half was marred by questions about clock management.
With two timeouts and eight seconds remaining, Coach Mike McCarthy chose to let the clock tick down to three seconds rather than attempting another shot at a touchdown. This decision raised eyebrows among fans and analysts.
In terms of offensive performance, the Cowboys have been noticeably stronger. They’ve amassed 207 total yards and 13 first downs compared to the Chargers’ 132 yards and nine first downs. Dak Prescott has been efficient, completing 15 of 20 passes for 161 yards, with CeeDee Lamb being his preferred target, securing five receptions for 84 yards in the first half.
The Cowboys have also exhibited a balanced running game, tallying 60 yards on 14 carries. Notably, Prescott contributed 33 of those rushing yards and scored Dallas’ sole touchdown of the half.
On the other side, Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert completed 11 of 18 passes for 113 yards and connected with Keenan Allen for a one-yard touchdown.
As they begin the second half on defense, the Cowboys will aim to maintain their lead and improve their clock management strategy.