The Week 6 Monday Night Football showdown at SoFi Stadium between the Dallas Cowboys and the Los Angeles Chargers was expected to be an offensive spectacle, with Kellen Moore, the current Chargers offensive coordinator and former Cowboys offensive coordinator, facing off against Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy, who reclaimed play-calling duties. However, the game turned out to be chaotic, featuring nine punts, 20 penalties (11 on the Cowboys and nine on the Chargers), and turnovers on downs for both teams. In the end, the Cowboys managed to secure a 20-17 victory.
Quarterback Dak Prescott played a crucial role in the win, amassing 272 passing yards and one passing touchdown on 21 of 30 passing attempts. He also contributed 40 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown on seven carries. The game’s decisive moment came when the Cowboys needed to orchestrate a clock-draining drive, responding to a one-yard touchdown pass from the Chargers’ Justin Herbert to Gerald Everett on a fourth-and-goal situation.
The Cowboys took possession with 7:11 left in the game and embarked on a 14-play drive covering 54 yards, ultimately setting up a go-ahead 39-yard field goal by rookie kicker Brandon Aubrey, his second successful field goal of the night. The Cowboys’ defense rose to the occasion on the Chargers’ final drive, with Micah Parsons notching a crucial sack, and Stephon Gilmore, the 2019 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, sealing the victory with an interception. Herbert finished the game with 227 passing yards, two touchdowns, and the interception.
The Cowboys, who had struggled when playing from behind earlier in the season, altered their strategy to receive the ball first. However, they faced a three-and-out on their opening drive, with Khalil Mack sacking Prescott on third down.
Despite this, the Cowboys fell behind after the Chargers’ opening drive. Austin Ekeler’s 28-yard reception set up Justin Herbert’s one-yard touchdown pass to Keenan Allen, giving the Chargers a 7-0 lead.
CeeDee Lamb’s open criticism of the offensive identity after a poor showing in Week 5 seemed to make an impact, as he was actively involved in the game. Michael Gallup was targeted for a potential touchdown, but Prescott overthrew him. Prescott made amends shortly after by running for a touchdown on a read-option play, tying the game at seven.
This game was marked by its unpredictability and the performance of key players, culminating in a hard-fought victory for the Dallas Cowboys.
Just before halftime, the Cowboys found themselves facing another critical fourth-and-one situation in the red zone, positioned at the Chargers’ 13-yard line. In a departure from the read-option with motion that was called in the first quarter, head coach Mike McCarthy and the Cowboys opted for a more conservative play call. They ran the “Tush Push” quarterback sneak, a play made famous by the Philadelphia Eagles. In this play, the quarterback lines up under center with nearly everyone tightly packed on the line of scrimmage, except for a fullback and running back. The objective is to push the quarterback forward to gain the necessary yardage.
However, the Chargers’ defense stood strong and thwarted the play, resulting in a turnover on downs. Prescott struggled to make any significant progress and seemed stuck, akin to being mired in the mud. Prior to Week 6, the Eagles had been quite successful with the “Tush Push,” converting on 13 of 16 attempts for first downs or touchdowns. The rest of the NFL had a 26-of-34 success rate. In this instance, the Cowboys’ performance was more in line with the rest of the league. Monday Night Football
Nevertheless, Prescott orchestrated a swift 52-yard drive down the field in six plays, culminating in a 32-yard field goal by Brandon Aubrey to conclude the first half. This allowed the Cowboys to add to their lead despite the earlier missed opportunity.