NFL
By: Greg Rector
The Dallas Cowboys play the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday Night Football. After what we all witnessed on Sunday Night Football as the Cowboys were “humbled” by the San Francisco 49ers what does this game hold for the Dallas Cowboys?
Dallas Cowboys Offense
The Texas Coast Offense was handled by the 49ers like they were a junior varsity squad playing against the senior team. How does this group bounce back? For starters, head coach Mike McCarthy had best get his offense to play the right way and in a quick hurry. Tony Pollard was ineffective and needs to get the ball where he is effective. No more running up the A gap for Pollard to start a game with okay Coach McCarthy? Get Tony Pollard the football outside the tackle box that’s where he is effective.
Dak Prescott was simply overwhelmed by the moment against the 49ers defense. Throwing for just 14 of 24 passes with just 153 yards is simply ineffective and useless football play. It’s something that wasn’t supposed to happen with the Texas Coast Offense. When you don’t find Ceedee Lamb open as was the case against the 49ers you must have the ability to find Michael Gallup and Brandin Cooks, downfield for gains of more than the few yards they managed against San Francisco.
Kavontae Trurpin who caught a beautiful pass by Prescott for a touchdown appears to be out against the Chargers as he injured his ankle and that means Jalen Tolbert needs to be out there doing things that this Cowboys offense simply hasn’t done all season.
I predicted that the Cowboys would lose to the Los Angeles Chargers in my season outlook article for the Dallas Cowboys and the reason wasn’t due to the Chargers’ defense. I figured after losing to the 49ers in that same article that the Dallas Cowboys would be bounced out of California going 0-2 and that’s due to the Los Angeles Chargers coming off their bye week coming into this game.
After their pathetic performance against the 49ers, I believe the Dallas Cowboys won’t recover in time for this game which comes before the Dallas Cowboys has their bye week. After the loss to the Niners, I believe the Dallas Cowboys should have remained in California and gone back to basics. Instead, they are back at the Ford Center back in Texas.
I expect the Los Angeles Chargers to have Derwin James back and the rest of the defense to be healthy and even without JC Jackson who was shipped off back to New England by the Chargers will have their full defense and they will likely make the same mistakes we so often see from them.
The Dallas Cowboys offensive line finally played together and the lack of consistency showed at times against the 49ers. Hopefully they play a much better game than they did against the 49ers.
Dallas Cowboys Defense
Micah Parsons can make all the claims he likes as he has the right to say whatever he wants but this statement was simply ridiculous. “I don’t think they are at a higher level than us,” Parsons told reporters after the game. “I think we’re the same caliber playoff team. Same talent. Same standards. I just feel like we need to reconsider … and fix some things … The score doesn’t really shape what happened out there.”
No Micah you’re living in a fantasy world with comments like this…smh
The Dallas Cowboys linebackers and safeties were caught by George Kittle three times for TDs and while the Los Angeles Chargers don’t have a tight end like the one the Niners have they do have weapons and weapons galore in Keenan Allen, Josh Palmer, and of course they also have Justin Herbert at the quarterback position along with the best two way running back the last two seasons especially for fantasy football owners in Austin Ekeler.
I said in my pre-season prediction article that this game should end up as a shootout and considering the lack of effectiveness from the Dallas Cowboys offense the Cowboys would lose this game I still feel even minus Mike Williams this Chargers offense is going to be no easy task for the Dallas Cowboys.
This might be the game where former TCU wide receiver Quentin Johnson breaks loose for the Los Angeles Chargers as well.
The Chargers have used their draft picks to get together a very good young offensive line and I trust they give Herbert enough time to let loose against this Cowboys defense. Stopping Austin Ekler on the ground will be no easy task and I feel this could be another night where the Dallas Cowboys give up too many yards on the ground.
I don’t know how Leighton Vander Esche is feeling after his neck injury and if he doesn’t play that means Micah Parsons will have to take his place as a linebacker rather than playing the edge rusher he loves to play.
My Prediction
Since the Los Angeles Chargers are going to be healthy and well-rested I have them beating the Dallas Cowboys by a score of 34 to 27. Dak will be better than he played against the Niners but the Dallas Cowboys need their bye week to get their heads back to where it needs to be. If that’s even possible.
As always you can find me on X @Greg Cowboys
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