Dallas Cowboys at Chargers: Inside How Dak Prescott Can Get Healthy vs. Poor Los Angeles Defense
Monday night feels like a really good time for Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott to have a big day.
It would’ve been nicer on Sunday, when Dallas lost to the San Francisco 49ers, 42-10, disintegrating morale and its chances at the No. 1 seed in one fell swoop. Clearly, that wasn’t the case, and Prescott turned in one of the most forgettable performances of the year.
Mercifully, Sunday night eventually did come to a close. Week 6 is here, and with it comes something Cowboys fans can take solace in -- a get-right game.
The Los Angeles Chargers are a competitive football team with a stud under center with quarterback Justin Herbert. Even so, it’s hard to find an easier opponent on the schedule for Prescott to attack.
The Chargers defense has given up the fifth-most yards per play (5.9) in football and rank 29th in net yards per attempt (6.9). They were the Miami Dolphins’ first victim, giving up 536 yards, and have crumbled when faced with competency from an opponent. Los Angeles ranks in the bottom quarter of the league in expected points added per play, success rate, and explosive play rate. Simply put, this is a bad defense.
Dallas needs a win, but perhaps what the club needs more is a sense that the offense, and its expensive quarterback, are going to be OK. We say Prescott’s track record suggests that’s a pretty good bet.
Prescott attempts a pass against the 49ers.
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Owner Jerry Jones expressed a similar sentiment on 105.3 The Fan on Tuesday.
“I feel as good about the quality of players, feel as good about their resolve individually and we’ve got to go out here and we’ll prepare for the Chargers,” Jones said. “And we will use what happened against San Francisco to be a better team when we go on the field against the Chargers.”
The concerns about this offense are warranted. Receiver CeeDee Lamb isn’t producing as well as many had hoped. ... and seems to be pouting about it. Neither has receiver Brandin Cooks produced. The play-calling, it is being argued, has taken a step back since offensive coordinator Kellen Moore left (ironically, for the Chargers).
However, Los Angeles’ proclivity for keeping games close, despite stellar offensive production, is a boon to the Dallas offense. Through four weeks, the Chargers have faced two offenses worth their weight in salt. They gave up 811 combined passing yards.
We're not sure the bye week fixes things, either. Not only is Los Angeles vulnerable to coverage busts downfield. The defense is exceptional at turning its opponents’ quick-game concepts into explosive plays. There's a lot to fix, and head coach Brandon Staley hasn't exactly inspired confidence in his ability to do so.
Against Prescott, one of the league’s premier quick-game passers (in terms of release time), that looks like a recipe for success.
Whether it be for the narrative shift, peace of mind, or help in the standings, the Cowboys need Week 6’s episode of Monday Night Football to go swimmingly. The Chargers could very well make that easy for them, at least on one side of the ball.
