Chargers-Cowboys Final Score: Chargers Defeat the Cowboys 28-6

1st Quarter

The Los Angeles Chargers lost the coin toss and the Dallas Cowboys received to start the game. Alfred Morris picked up five yards on 1st down, but Melvin Ingram blew up the play in the backfield on 2nd down to force a long 3rd down. Dak Prescott checked down to Jason Witten who was stopped short of the line to gain.

Hunter Henry picked up 17 yards on the Chargers’ first play from scrimmage. On 2nd down, the Chargers ran right and Melvin Gordon was stopped for a loss. On 2nd down, they ran left and got back to even. On 3rd & 10, Travis Benjamin got loose behind the defense and Rivers connected with him for a big gain. A false start penalty on Russell Okung backed the Chargers up to the Dallas 29. On 1st & 15, Gordon missed a block and Rivers had to throw the ball before he was ready. Keenan Allen took a short pass, made a guy miss and nearly made it to the sticks to set up a short 3rd down. On 3rd & 3, Rivers failed to connect with Allen and Nick Novak came on to attempt a field goal. Novak, predictably, missed wide right. Novak also appeared to be injured during the kick.

Two carries by Alfred Morris and a third by Rod Smith moved the chains. Morris picked up six more yards on 1st down. Witten set up a short 3rd down and Terrance Williams converted it on an endaround. Prescott was chased by Joey Bosa on 1st down and threw it away. Morris was stopped short on 2nd down. On 3rd down, Corey Liuget sacked Prescott for a 4-yard loss to force a punt.

Gordon was stopped for a short gain on 1st down. A play fake on 2nd down gave Allen time to get open for an 11-yard gain. Jeff Cumberland made his presence felt with a false start. Gordon then slammed into the line for one yard. On 2nd & 14, Allen picked up 32 yards on a long pass down the sideline. Henry was Rivers’ next target and he picked up 27 yards. An unnecessary roughness penalty moved the Chargers to the Dallas 13. Austin Ekeler got his first touch and picked up one yard and ended the quarter.

2nd Quarter

A bad shotgun snap was recovered for an 11-yard loss. On 3rd & 20, Allen picked up 7 yards, but the Chargers had no healthy kicker and had to go for it. On 4th & 13, Ekeler was only able to take a pass 12 yards. Cowboys took over on s.down

Rod Smith got back-to-back carries and turned both into 4 yards. On 3rd & 2, the Cowboys tested Casey Hayward. He defended the pass but was flagged for illegal hands to the face penalty. Smith got the call again and rushed for 9 yards. Terrance Williams took a short pass and made it past the line to gain. They went back to Smith again on 1st down and he picked up 5. Tenny Palepoi came through with a sack on 2nd down. On 3rd & 11, Brice Butler picked up 5 and Dallas had to punt again.

Gordon took a short pass for 3 yards on 1st down. Ekeler got the next two carries and moved the chains. Allen moved the sticks again with an 11-yard reception. An Antonio Gates target was nearly intercepted. Henry picked up 7 on the next down and Allen 2 after that. On 4th & 1, a defensive pass interference penalty resulted in a new set of downs. Gordon picked up a yard on 1st down. Benjamin picked up 5 more on 2nd down. Henry picked up 22 yards on 3rd & 4. Ekeler was stopped for a 2-yard loss on 1st & goal. An incomplete pass to Gates set up a 3rd & goal from the 9. Ekeler took a short pass for 5 yards and then Novak returned to convert a 22-yard field goal.

The Cowboys came out to run a two-minute drill but stalled out at midfield and punted. Rivers kneeled to take the game to halftime.

3rd Quarter

The Chargers received to start the second half. Gordon got the ball rolling with an 11-yard run. He tacked another 7 on with his next carry. On 3rd and short, Philip Rivers hit Ekeler deep to the left for 38 yards. From the Dallas 20, Gordon rushed twice for six yards. On 3rd & 4, Rivers found Allen for 10 yards on a skinny post. Gordon was stopped twice inside the 5 and on 3rd down Rivers connected with Henry for a touchdown. Novak missed the extra point.

The Cowboys looked like they might respond, but they ultimately stalled out at midfield again before punting.

Gordon rushed twice for 22 yards to start the drive. After two failed passes, Rivers passed to Tyrell Williams for 31 yards on 3rd & 11. Allen converted another 1st down and moved the offense inside Dallas’ 30. Rivers then hit Williams again for a 27-yard touchdown. Drew Kaser converted the extra point.

Dallas took over on their own 19. Morris rushed for 5. A holding penalty backed them up. On 2nd & 15, Morris took a Prescott pass 13 yards. On 3rd & 2, Smith rushed for three yards and moved the sticks.

4th Quarter

Prescott kept the offense moving by hitting Smith for a short gain. On 2nd down, Trevor Williams was flagged for pass interference. A few plays later, Dez Bryant caught an 18-yard pass. Smith then rushed for 6 yards to set up 2nd & goal from the 2. He punched it in on the next play. They went for 2 and failed on a pass intended for Terrance Williams.

Rivers started the drive by targeting Allen for 14 yards. Benjamin ran around left end for 6 yards. Gordon then ran around right end for 9 yards. Rivers then missed Allen for a short pass. On 3rd & 6, Rivers found Allen a short distance downfield and Allen did the rest taking it to the house for a 42-yard touchdown. Kaser missed the extra point.

The Cowboys were driving and had made it to the Chargers’ 13 when Prescott was intercepted by Desmond King. King ran it back 89 yards for a touchdown.

Prescott completed two passes each for 7 yards before he was intercepted again this time by Casey Hayward.

Gordon rushed for -2 yards and the Cowboys called a timeout. Gordon rushed for 3 yards and the Cowboys called another timeout. On 3rd & 9, Jourdan Lewis was flagged for pass interference. Gordon rushed for 2 yards. The Chargers were flagged for delay of game. Then Gordon rushed for another 8 to set up 3rd & 5. And Dallas burned their final timeout. On 3rd down, Rivers hit Allen across the middle for an 18-yard gain. Gordon rushed for 1 then 9. Ekeler came in and rushed for 7 then 1 to bring the game to the two-minute warning and leave the offense with a 3rd & 2 from the Dallas 5. Encroachment by the defense gave them a 1st down and the Chargers went into victory formation.