Crystal Pouncey
Oct 17, 2023 - 07:05

Dak Prescott, Cowboys Rally in Fourth Quarter for 20-17 Victory over Chargers

The Dallas Cowboys defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 20-17, with Dak Prescott throwing for 272 yards and a touchdown.

The Dallas Cowboys bounced back from a tough loss with a 20-17 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday night. Dak Prescott had a solid performance, throwing for 272 yards and a touchdown, while also rushing for a touchdown. He joined an elite group of quarterbacks in NFL history by throwing a touchdown pass against 31 or more opponents. The Cowboys took a 17-10 lead in the fourth quarter when Prescott connected with Brandin Cooks for a 2-yard score. The Chargers tied it up with a touchdown from Justin Herbert to Gerald Everett, but the Cowboys secured the win with a late field goal from Brandon Aubrey. The Chargers had a chance to tie the game, but Stephon Gilmore intercepted Herbert to seal the victory for the Cowboys.

The Cowboys improved to 4-2 on the season, showing resilience after a blowout loss to the San Francisco 49ers. They have an impressive record of 10-1 in games following a loss since the start of 2021. CeeDee Lamb had a standout performance with seven receptions for 117 yards. Herbert had a solid outing for the Chargers, throwing for two touchdowns and 227 yards, but his interception proved costly. Keenan Allen had a touchdown catch and 85 receiving yards for the Chargers.

The game started with the Chargers scoring on their opening drive, with Allen catching a 1-yard pass from Herbert. The Cowboys answered back with a rushing touchdown from Prescott, who executed a zone read to perfection. The Cowboys took a 10-7 lead into halftime after a field goal from Aubrey. The Chargers tied it up in the third quarter with a field goal from Cameron Dicker.

The key play of the game came in the fourth quarter when Cooks scored a touchdown after a 60-yard reception by Tony Pollard. Pollard's catch was the second-longest of his career and set up the go-ahead score for the Cowboys.

The game was marred by penalties, with a total of 20 penalties for 164 yards between the two teams. Both teams struggled with discipline, with the Cowboys being flagged 11 times for 85 yards and the Chargers being penalized nine times for 79 yards.

In terms of injuries, the Chargers had two players suffer knee injuries during the game. DL Sebastian Joseph-Day injured his knee on the first play but returned in the second half, while CB Raheem Layne also sustained a knee injury in the third quarter.

Looking ahead, the Cowboys will have a bye week before facing the Los Angeles Rams on October 29th. The Chargers will travel to Kansas City to take on the Chiefs, who have won the last three meetings between the two teams.

Overall, the Cowboys showed resilience and bounced back from a tough loss with a solid victory over the Chargers. Prescott had a strong performance, and the team will look to build on this win moving forward.