Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Gavino Borquez

Everything to know about Chargers’ loss to Cowboys

In yet another game that was determined in the final two minutes, the Chargers fell to the Cowboys on Monday night, 20-17.

To recap Week 6, here is everything you need to know:

It was over when...

Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports

Justin Herbert was picked off by Stephon Gilmore.

Game notes

Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images
  • Justin Herbert was only sacked once but the Cowboys had a 47.6% pressure rate.
  • The Chargers committed nine penalties, three of which resulted in first downs, including an illegal contact called on Ja’Sir Taylor Michael Davis on 3rd-and-18 in the fourth quarter.
  • On the same drive as when the penalty occurred, the Chargers allowed two other third-down conversions after it.
  • The Chargers held Tony Pollard to two yards per carry. On the flip side, Austin Ekeler only averaged 1.9 YPC.

3 stars of the game

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
  1. WR Keenan Allen: 7 catches, 85 yards, touchdown
  2. DT Morgan Fox: 2 sacks
  3. Defensive line: Holding Tony Pollard to two yards per carry

Quick Hits

Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images
  • The Chargers’ offensive line could not withstand the constant pressure from the Cowboys’ defensive line, but it’s not fair to point to that as the primary offensive woes.
  • Instead, Justin Herbert deserves a fair amount of the blame. While he was in the face of pressure for most of the night, Herbert still had a handful of missed throws, throws that are typically automatic for him.
  • Herbert finished the game 22-of-37 passing for 227 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.
  • The blocking did Herbert no favors and the running game, as well. Austin Ekeler had nowhere to go, finishing with 14 carries for 27 yards (1.9 YPC).
  • Keenan Allen led the receivers with 85 yards and a score on seven grabs. Joshua Palmer finished with four catches for 60 yards. Quentin Johnston failed to record a reception.
  • It’s been five games and Johnston has yet to be a factor in the offense.
  • Credit to the Chargers defensive line for sacking Dak Prescott five times and holding Tony Pollard to 30 yards on 15 carries (2.0 YPC).
  • CeeDee Lamb hadn’t had a big game since Week 2 against the Jets. Facing a vulnerable Chargers secondary, Lamb delivered. He finished with seven catches on all of his targets for 113 yards.
  • When they weren’t getting beat in coverage or blowing assignments, they were committing costly penalties. There was Ja’Sir Taylor and Michael Davis’ illegal contact on 3rd-and-19. Derwin James also had two 15-yard personal fouls.
  • The defense must find ways to get off the field in third and long situations. It has been the bone-headed mistakes that have been a consistent pattern all season.
  • Despite the penalty, Taylor had a positive moment on special teams when he ran the blocker into the return man on a punt to force a fumble that resulted in a touchdown.

What's next?

Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

The Chargers are on the road, where they will face the Chiefs in Arrowhead Stadium next Sunday, Oct. 22 at 1:25 p.m. PT.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.