Monday Night Football between the Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Chargers started off with a bang as the two teams got into it inside SoFi Stadium before kickoff even happened.
From there, it was a drama-filled and heated matchup between the two 2022 NFL Playoff teams. Dallas ended up coming out on top by the score of 20-17 as Stephon Gilmore picked off Justin Herbert with the game on the line late in the fourth quarter.
Dak Prescott rebounded from a three-interception performance in last week’s blowout loss to the San Francisco 49ers by putting up 312 total yards and two touchdowns. Tony Pollard, CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cooks also put up some big plays in the road win.
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Here, we provide you with the top highlights, plays and moments from the Dallas Cowboys big road win over the Los Angeles Chargers.
Monday Night Football highlights in Week 6
Stephon Gilmore sealed the win for the road team by picking off Justin Herbert late in the fourth quarter. Gilmore had safety help over the top as Micah Parsons and Dallas’ defensive front put a ton of pressure on the quarterback.
Cowboys rookie free agent kicker Brandon Aubrey nailed his 16th consecutive field goal to begin the Notre Dame product’s career. It was a 39-yarder just outside of the two-minute warning to give the ‘Boys a 20-17 lead in this tightly-contested affair.
This is turning out to be a classic in Southern California between two desperate teams. A Cowboys turnover on special teams led to Los Angeles getting the ball at the Chargers 20.
Going for it again on fourth-and-one from the Cowboys’ one-yard line, Chargers head coach Brandon Staley’s gambling mentality paid off. That included Justin Herbert finding tight end Gerald Everett for a touchdown to tie the game up at 17 about midway through the final stanza.
Immediately after Pollard’s catch-and-run, the Dallas Cowboys took a 17-10 lead via a touchdown pass from Prescott to veteran wide receiver Brandin Cooks.
These are the types of plays the ‘Boys have been missing from Prescott during what have been some major struggles on his part.
With the game tied at 10 early in the fourth quarter, the Cowboys came up with a potential game-changing play. That included a catch-and-run from Tony Pollard for 60 yards on third-and-11 from their own 24-yard line. It was all Pollard.
What an absolutely insane play from Pollard, breaking multiple tackles, as he took the ball inside the Chargers’ red zone. Sensational.
Los Angeles was able to keep Dallas pinned back inside its own 10-yard line after a turnover on downs. That created a short field for Herbert and Co.
Unfortunately, the Chargers drive stalled insice Dallas’ 10-yard line. It led to a chip-shot field goal and a 10-10 tie late in the third quarter.
Gambling Brandon Staley did not pay off once again for the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday night. With the Cowboys up 10-7 in the third quarter, Staley opted to go for it from Dallas’ seven-yard line on fourth-and-1. Justin Herbert pass to Josh Palmer fell incomplete, leading to a turnover on downs.
Staley has received a ton of criticism for his decisions on fourth downs since taking over as the Chargers’ head coach. They could have tied this one up with a chip-shot field goal. Instead, Los Angeles found itself down 10-7 midway through the third.
The “Tush Push” has become part of the NFL lexicon this season with teams attempting (and failing) to convert on short distances with the quarterback sneaking the ball.
Dallas fell victim to this with the score tied at seven in the second quarter against Los Angeles on Monday night.
Prescott failed going up the middle on fourth-and-one from the Chargers’ 13-yard line with just over two minutes remaining in the half. It led to a turnover on downs and a wasted scoring opportunity for Dallas.
With the game tied at seven in the second quarter, Herbert decided to become a magician by completing a pass to himself for a first down. It was a pretty awesome play.
After a hectic opening to the game, both sides got settled as the defenses picked up their performances.
Talk about a major answer for the Cowboys. Down 7-0 early in this one, Dallas drove down the field 75 yards on nine plays. The drive culminated in Dallas going for it on fourth-and-one from the Chargers’ 18-yard line. Dak Prescott took it up the middle with the QB sneak for 18 yards and a touchdown.
That was just a tremendous play call from Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy there. Los Angeles sold out on Tony Pollard getting the ball. Instead, Prescott kept it for his first rushing touchdown of the season. Great stuff.
The Chargers have come out like gangbusters at home against Dallas. After holding the Cowboys to a three-and-out to open the game, rookie Derius Davis provided the Chargers with great field position on a 26-yard punt return. Herbert and Co. did the rest with the quarterback connecting on a one-yard touchdown pass to Keenan Allen to give the home team a 7-0 lead.
The ‘Boys have now been outscored 49-10 in less than five quarters since the start of last week. That doesn’t seem too good.
Dallas’ first possession did not go too well. That included Chargers stud pass rusher Khalil Mack recording a sack of Prescott on third down.
Mack recorded six sacks in his last outing for the Chargers ahead of their Week 5 bye. The former NFL Defensive Player of the Year is playing elite football right now. That’s for sure.
Much like what we saw ahead of Sunday’s game between the Browns and 49ers, there was a pre-game spat between these two teams on the sideline. Things quickly broke up. But it sets the stage. That’s for sure.
Cowboys legend and Monday Night Football broadcaster Troy Aikman took some time to meet up with longtime owner Jerry Jones inside SoFi Stadium before the game.
Dallas Cowboys injury report and inactives
- QB Trey Lance (emergency third QB)
RB Deuce Vaughn
OT Asim Richards
DL Villiami Fehoko
CB Noah Igbinoghene
CB Eric Scott
S Juanyeh Thomas
Los Angeles Chargers injury report and inactive
- RB Elijah Dotson
- WR Simi Fehoko
- OL Zack Bailey
- DL Christopher Hinton
- S Alohi Gilman
- DB Deane Leonard
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