For Chargers and Cowboys December remains the Same

The Chargers kept the momentum rolling on Sunday with their 8 th straight win by beating the Cowboys 20-17 in Dallas. The game was close throughout, but some big missed opportunities by the Cowboys and a couple late drives by the Chargers gave San Diego the victory. It was a game that could’ve went either way, but in the end both teams fulfilled their typical roles in games played in December. The Chargers won. The Cowboys lost.

Perhaps the opening drive of the game was a microcosm of what Cowboy seasons have been like in recent years. They got off to a good start, but couldn’t come through when it mattered most. Dallas drove the ball into the red zone to the Chargers 16 yard line. They appeared to be on their way to a touchdown, but sputtered and had to settle for three. The Chargers on the other hand did not fail to get into the end zone on their first possession. San Diego advanced from their own 16 to the Dallas 1 where Ladanian Tomlinson busted through the Cowboys defensive line for the score.

In the second quarter the Cowboys let another golden opportunity slip through their fingers. Trailing 10-3, Dallas made their way down field and was set up with a 1 st and goal at the Charger 4 yard line. Marion Barber picked up 3 yards to make it a 2 nd and goal from the one and then San Diego’s defense stiffened, stuffing Barber at the line of scrimmage three more times including on fourth down. It was the defining moment of the game.

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Despite the lost chances, the Cowboys managed to finally get into the end zone at the very end of the third quarter. And they did it the hard way, driving 99 yards from their own 1 yard line. Tony Romo hooked up with Miles Austin for a six yard touchdown pass that tied the game at 10-10. But the Chargers struck back, stealing away any momentum the Cowboys gained from their epic drive. Rivers’ 14 yard touchdown pass to Antonio Gates put the Chargers back on top at 17-10.

On their ensuing possession the Cowboys went three and out and gave the ball back to the Chargers with a little over nine minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. From there the Chargers proceeded to drive, primarily using the running game to chew up precious time. Eleven of their fifteen plays came on the ground, nine of them by Tomlinson who gained 26 of his total 50 yards rushing for the day. By the time Nick Kaeding’s field goal sailed through the uprights for three more points San Diego had taken another 7:17 off the clock, leaving Dallas with only 1:56.

The Cowboys were able to reach the end zone for a second time, trimming the lead to 20-17, but with only a few seconds left that game was all but over. The Chargers walked off the field triumphantly, adding a huge win on the road to their winning streak. It couldn’t have been a better day for the Bolts who also increased their lead in the AFC west to two games because of the Broncos loss to the Colts. At 10-3 the Chargers are flying high and can now set their sets on not only clinching the west but also securing a number two seed in the AFC and a first round bye in the playoffs.

By Steven Mondelli
ProFootball-fans.com San Diego Chargers Correspondent