 |
|
 |
||
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|||
| Prairie View MFA Agri Services - CLICK - MFA CONNECT |
|
Printable Page
12/21 15:03 CST Justin Herbert keeps Chargers rolling toward playoffs with
34-17 win over Cowboys
Justin Herbert keeps Chargers rolling toward playoffs with 34-17 win over
Cowboys
By SCHUYLER DIXON
AP Pro Football Writer
Justin Herbert threw two touchdown passes and ran for a score and the Los
Angeles Chargers closed in on a playoff spot with a 34-17 victory over the
Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.
The Chargers' fourth consecutive victory gave them a chance later in the day to
clinch their second postseason berth in two seasons under coach Jim Harbaugh.
LA (11-4) would be in with a loss or tie by either Indianapolis or Houston.
Dak Prescott had TD passes on his first two drives but couldn't find the end
zone again for Dallas, which was eliminated from the playoffs for the second
year in a row with Philadelphia's NFC East-clinching victory at Washington on
Saturday.
The Cowboys (6-8-1) have lost three in a row since a three-game winning streak
that put them over .500 for the only time in coach Brian Schottenheimer's first
season.
In his third full game with his broken non-throwing (left) hand heavily
protected, Herbert led the Chargers to touchdowns on all three drives in the
first half. Omarion Hampton scored on a 5-yard run in the second half.
A 23-yard TD toss to Quentin Johnston, who played college football a few miles
from the home of the Cowboys at TCU, was followed by 25-yarder to Ladd McConkey
before Herbert's 1-yard plunge on a modified version of the tush push. Johnston
had four catches for 104 yards.
Defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus' move to the coaching booth from the
sideline didn't help Dallas' beleaguered defense. Herbert was 23 of 29 --- a
season-high 79% --- for 300 yards and the Chargers finished with 452 total
yards, another season best. They didn't reach 300 yards in the first two full
games with Herbert's left hand heavily wrapped.
Los Angeles punted on the first possession of the second half and was facing
third-and-7 on the next drive when Herbert escaped Kenneth Murray's grasp in
the backfield and sprinted 33 yards, leading to Cameron Dicker's 27-yard field
goal for a 27-17 lead with 9 minutes remaining.
Prescott's first TD pass was a 5-yarder to Ryan Flournoy, who had another TD
wiped out by a holding penalty before exiting with a knee injury and not
returning.
George Pickens scored on a 38-yard catch when Prescott hit him in stride in the
end zone. Pickens had seven yards on 130 catches coming off two sub-par games
that led to criticisms about his playing style.
Injuries Chargers: LT Jamaree Salyer injured a hamstring in the first half and didn't return. ... CB Donte Jackson exited with a groin injury in the third quarter and didn't return. Cowboys: LB DeMarvion Overshown sustained a concussion in the first half and didn't return. ... C Cooper Beebe missed three plays in the first quarter after getting poked in the eye.
Up next Chargers: Houston at home on Saturday. Cowboys: At Washington on Thursday. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
Injuries Chargers: LT Jamaree Salyer injured a hamstring in the first half and didn't return. ... CB Donte Jackson exited with a groin injury in the third quarter and didn't return. Cowboys: LB DeMarvion Overshown sustained a concussion in the first half and didn't return. ... C Cooper Beebe missed three plays in the first quarter after getting poked in the eye.
Up next Chargers: Houston at home on Saturday. Cowboys: At Washington on Thursday. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
