5 Cowboys who helped save Mike McCarthy's job in win vs Chargers

The Dallas Cowboys squeaked out a win against the LA Chargers on Monday night, and it wasn't anything to write home about. Mike McCarthy's side committed myriad penalties and the head coach's cowardly clock management to end the first half will be a lead storyline on every national show tomorrow morning.

By no means was McCarthy coaching for his job, but entering the bye with a 3-3 record following consecutive sloppy performances? That at least would have turned up the heat on McCarthy's seat and ramped up the pressure on him to churn out wins coming out of the bye.

Now, though, the Cowboys are 4-2 and just one game behind the Eagles and 49ers after both NFC heavyweights were upset on Sunday.

Even with the win, McCarthy didn't cover himself in glory. He's the reason Dallas was in a dogfight late in the fourth quarter. These players in particular saved the head coach from an awkward two weeks before the Cowboys' next game.

5. CeeDee Lamb

Brandin Cooks caught the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter, but everything the Cowboys accomplished through the air funneled through CeeDee Lamb, who caught all seven of his targets for a team-high 117 yards.

Lamb roasted the entire Chargers secondary all game, which made it all the more maddening that McCarthy insisted on running on first and second down.

Much was made about Lamb distancing himself from teammates in Week 5 and subsequently calling out the Cowboys offensive identity (or lack thereof), and wanting the ball more after he logged 18 combined targets the last three weeks.

Very few players call their shot and deliver. No. 88 did and then some and in the process reminded everyone he's one of the best WRs in the league. Dallas' aerial attack goes as Lamb goes. If that doesn't define elite, what does?