FRISCO, Texas -- In the Cowboys' 34-17 loss to the Chargers on Sunday afternoon, issues that have bit at Dallas for a majority of the season were prominent again. Struggling to execute on defense, not being able to score touchdowns in the red zone, etc.
The Cowboys allowed 452 total yards of offense and went one for three in the red zone in terms of scoring touchdowns. On Monday, Brian Schottenheimer was also adamant that losing the time of possession battle (Chargers 34:27, Cowboys 25:33) played a large role in the outcome as well.
Dallas had their opportunities to stay in the game and make it close down the stretch, but ultimately some plays like a failed fourth-and-one in the red zone in the late third quarter was too much to overcome.
Let's dive into that and more plays that stood out on film in this week's Tape Talk:
George Pickens' downfield ability
For a good portion of the season, it seemed like a lot of George Pickens' utilization in the Cowboys' offense came on slant routes, something that was present in Pickens' previous stop with the Steelers, but not to this level. For the most part, he had been utilized as a vertical, 50/50 ball guy who could go up over anybody and make it a 70/30 play in favor of the offense with his athletic ability and body control while in the air.
Well, just because he ran more slant routes earlier in the season doesn't mean he forgot how to take the top off the defense and beat opposing corners deep. On this play, every route that the Cowboys offense runs (CeeDee Lamb, Luke Schoonmaker and Pickens are the three route runner) is a vertical one. The Chargers are in Cover 4, so each member of the secondary is responsible for a fourth of the field. That makes it four defenders versus three receivers, meaning someone is doubled up.
Pro Bowl safety Derwin James, lined up on the left side of the field, turns his back to the sidelines (where Pickens is running his route) to help over the middle with Schoonmaker, leaving Pickens one-on-one with the corner. Pickens runs a stop-and-go, and around the 20 yard line hits the boosters to just run past the defender and get a step on him. Dak Prescott throws a perfect pass into the outstretched arms of Pickens for his ninth touchdown of the season.
Revisiting Dallas' fourth-and-one attempt
The fourth-and-one play for the Cowboys offense with 2:18 left to play in the third quarter was one of the notable turning points in Dallas' loss to the Chargers. At the time, they trailed by seven and were at the Los Angeles 16 yard line and had put together a strong drive leading up to it. Had it not been for a false start on CeeDee Lamb two plays earlier, the Cowboys may have had a first down on the previous play.
Still, fourth-and-one was the situation that they were in. Dak Prescott lines up under center, with Hunter Luepke in the backfield offset to Prescott's left and KaVontae Turpin as the tailback. With Turpin being lined up as the running back instead of Javonte Williams or Malik Davis, could that have been a sign that Dallas was going to go Luepke's way? Regardless, it appeared the Chargers were anticipating a run play either way.
In this instance, each Chargers defensive lineman takes a step to their right and fires into their gap. Rookie Jamaree Caldwell was ultimately the one who blew the play up from the beginning, shooting the B-gap and getting on the ground in front of Luepke, who got the handoff on a fullback dive play. There was essentially nowhere for Luepke to pivot to as Da'Shawn Hand came from the other side to finish the play off, and ultimately Dallas came up just short.
Just missing Herbert on the blitz
The Cowboys deployed their highest blitz percentage of the season on Sunday against the Chargers (54.5%), but were unable to get a sack on Justin Herbert. It was the first time all season that Herbert, who came into the game tied for being the most sacked quarterback in the league, had not been sacked at least once in a game this season.
Dallas had their opportunities, and registered a 39.7% pressure rate, but ultimately couldn't get the mobile Herbert to the ground. This play is one of the opportunities they had, arguably the closest they got, but also was a play that ended up being another turning point in the game because of the result. It was third and seven on the Chargers' drive immediately after Dallas' failed fourth and one, and the Cowboys' defense had a chance to get their offense the ball back with plenty of time in the fourth quarter to go and tie the game.
Kenny Clark, Osa Odighizuwa and Jadeveon Clowney are packed pretty tight together on the right side of the line, with James Houston on an island of sorts opposite them. At the snap, Clark and Odighizuwa crash the interior of Los Angeles' offensive line, taking away both guards and the center. Why? To open a lane for Kenneth Murray, who came across on a blitz and had an open lane straight to Herbert. Things when south when Herbert stepped out of the way, causing Murray to just miss getting his arms on him, and then Herbert turned upfield and picked up 34 yards with his legs. The Chargers would end up kicking a field goal to make it a 10 point lead several plays later. The blitz had to work on Herbert on that play in order to stop it since the middle of the field was open with Murray bringing pressure, but Dallas came up just short and Herbert made them pay.
