Greg Zuerlein scores a 56-yard field goal to give the Cowboys a win of 20-17 against the Chargers. (0:30).
INGLEWOOD (Calif.) -- Mike McCarthy, Dallas Cowboys' coach, would have preferred a game-winning field kick attempt by Greg Zuerlein from 56 yards in the final seconds of the Los Angeles Chargers match.
However, there were many problems.
After Tony Pollard's 3-yard run from the Los Angeles 38 to the Los Angeles 38 on the second down, with 33 seconds remaining, the first player was forced to leave the field.
McCarthy stated that McCarthy was wrong to say that one of our players made a mistake. McCarthy said it was a communication problem.
McCarthy saw the clock ticking on the digital board above the SoFi Stadium field. The clock went out.
McCarthy stated, "I have never seen a clock move off the board like this."
Kellen Moore, offensive coordinator, was also not in a better place.
McCarthy stated that Moore was unable to see the field-level clocks because he was blocked by a camera man.
McCarthy chose to use the timeout earlier than expected, potentially putting the Cowboys in a difficult situation if they ran third-down plays. Instead, McCarthy used the assistance of assistant coaches from the coaches' box to slow down the clock and called a timeout when there were only four seconds left.
McCarthy stated that McCarthy was unable to recall McCarthy's explanation. McCarthy explained, "Once we didn’t have the personnel for the third-down calls we were in between once it gets below 17 seconds." It's a threshold so we let it run and took the kick.
Zuerlein did it again by scoring the longest-ever winning field goal in franchise history with no time remaining in regulation. This was just 10 days after missing a field goal attempt and losing a PAT attempt, which cost them the opening 31-29 defeat to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Dak Prescott didn't know about any clock problems the coaches had, until Zuerlein's kick
"I was unsure. I'm looking at a clock in the end zone. He said, "I saw the time." "I thought that we were comfortable, and we're very good at field goal range. That's what they wanted to do," he said.
Prescott's 11th win in a row when the Cowboys were trailing or tied in the fourth quarter was his comeback win. Prescott's performance was not very impressive, as when he had to throw for 182 yards during Week 2 of last year's 40-39 win over the Atlanta Falcons. However, he was efficient and deliberate.
Prescott took over at 3:49 after the Chargers tied it. He completed all five passes for 35 yards including the crucial 12-yard throw to Amari cooper on a slant.
McCarthy stated, "I think you see Dak Prescott's best in those situations." They were a lot of work. His demeanor, his posture in the drills of two minutes are just amazing. It's great to have one on Sunday. This is evidently a product Dak and the offensive coaches. Just look at the time it takes to do two-minute drills. This is a huge accomplishment when you can do it in a live game situation.
Prescott completed 23 out of 27 passes, which was 237 total. Prescott did not throw a touchdown pass the first time he had attempted it in seven of the last seven games. He also received a pass pick off. This was the longest streak of his career, and the fifth consecutive game that he had at least one intercept.
He left the game with his first win since sustaining a compound fracture and dislocation to his right ankle last January. After suffering a latissimus injury in his right shoulder, he had to undergo two surgeries and countless hours rehabilitation.
Moments like Sunday were what he most missed during his absence.
Prescott stated, "That's why you do it for, to have the ball in your hand, and for a chance at winning it." "That was what I was telling the offense. We got the game to the position we wanted. We have to capitalize and finish this game. We were able get in field goal range, so let's let the special teams do their jobs."
