Postgame Recap: Chargers 31, Cowboys 20

The San Diego Chargers shocked the Dallas Cowboys 30-21, scoring 17 points unanswered in the second half.

Dallas had a chance to answer with a trip inside the Chargers’ red zone with less than three minutes remaining. Rookie wide receiver Terrance Williams caught a six-yard pass and fumbled at the goal line trying to extend. It was just like the play in Super Bowl XXXIV where Titans wide receiver Kevin Dyson was wrapped up by Rams linebacker Mike Jones, except another defender dove onto the scene and smashed the precariously placed ball right out of the receiver’s hand. Chargers defensive back Richard Marshall recovered the fumble, evaluated his options of returning it out of the end zone, and then quickly took a knee for a touchback.

Terrance Williams didn’t have a bad day, aside from that humiliating fumble that sent Dallas to 2-2 for the fourth time in the past five seasons. The rookie wide out from Baylor had 7 catches for 71 yards, and Dez Bryant followed up with a 6 catch-performance that totaled 81 yards and 2 touchdowns, which will only be significant to one’s fantasy team. The reality is it wasn’t enough to lead Dallas to victory.

Sep 29, 2013; San Diego, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Terrance Williams (83) fumbles the balls as he tries to get into the end zone while being hit by San Diego Chargers free safety Eric Weddle (32) and cornerback Crezdon Butler during fourth quarter action at Qualcomm Stadium. The Chargers recovered the fumble. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

Philip Rivers had a career day. He had his fifth 400-yard game of his career, and second such game this season. He three 3 touchdown passes, with the final one being his 200th career touchdown pass. When was his 100th thrown? Against the Dallas Cowboys the last time they played them in what was then Cowboys Stadium in 2009.

After galloping for 175 yards last week against the Rams, DeMarco Murray scooted for 70 yards. To be fair, he only had 14 carries and only 5 passes for 20 receiving yards. Lance Dunbar, the Haltom City/North Texas product, had one carry for 7 yards and no fumbles.

Sean Lee led the team in tackles with 15, and had his second career interception for a touchdown, which is his eighth interception of his career, the most by any linebacker since 2010. For the entire day, the Cowboys amassed one George Selvie sack against the Chargers’ allegedly depleted and hapless offensive line that featured a backup left tackle and a concussed rookie right tackle.

Danny Woodhead took Bruce Carter to the woodshed, not with his 5 receptions for 54 yards, but with his 26-yard pass on a go route to give the Chargers a lead 7-0 and his 13-yard wheel route that gave the Chargers a 20-21 deficit.

Keenan Allen, third round wide receiver from California, abused Morris Claiborne all game long with his 5 receptions for 80 yards. On the Chargers’ first scoring drive, Allen caught a 31-yard pass on 3rd and 8 that helped the Chargers score merely two plays later. On 2nd and 5 from the Chargers’ own 49 yard line, Allen beat Claiborne for a 10-yard gain to help extend the drive that gave San Diego a 23-yard Nick Novak field goal to go up 23-21.

Antonio Gates showed up as the future Hall of Fame tight end today with his 10 catches for 136 yards and a 56-yard touchdown. Jason Witten managed to get 5 catches for 43 yards, and Chargers safety Eric Weddle batted away two potential grabs.

Dan Bailey missed a 56-yard field goal. Bailey now is on a missing streak, the first of his Cowboys career.

The good news is the Giants fell to 0-4 in an even more disgusting fashion today in Kansas City, and that Denver roasted the Eagles 52-30, sending Philadelphia to 1-3 and mired in second place with the Washington Redskins, who managed to win in Oakland 24-14. The bad news is Denver comes into Arlington next week. Dallas is staring a 2-3 record in the face on the heels of facing a 1-3 Washington team with renewed confidence coming off a bye week.

October starts Tuesday, but the fright is already here.