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?
4. DaRon Bland
Bland overcame a couple missed tackles early in the game and delivered another stellar performance stepping in for Trevon Diggs as Dallas' CB1. Once again, Bland made arguably the play of the night for the Cowboys.
Trailing 10-7 in the third quarter, the Chargers went for a 4th and 1 deep in the red zone. Justin Herbert must have thought he threw the go-ahead touchdown to Josh Palmer. Bland, though, had sticky coverage on the play and executed a diving pass break up to turn LA over on downs and keep Dallas' lead in tact.
Plays don't get more clutch than that. Bland will be kicking himself for dropping a surefire pick-six that would have put the game on ice for the Cowboys, but he saved his team's bacon with this highlight reel breakup.
3. Markquese Bell
Was Markquese Bell the Cowboys top player on defense? If not, he was no worse than second. Either way, the safety-turned-linebacker saw an uptick in snaps after Leighton Vander Esch landed on injured reserve with a neck strain and he was up to the challenge.
Bell finished second on the team with seven tackles and recorded a clutch pass break up on third down.
The statistics don't encapsulate just how immense Bell was to Dallas' victory. He played a pivotal role in limiting Austin Ekeler to 27 yards on 14 carries and brought a physicality in the second level of the defense fans have been clamoring for.
With Bell and Damone Clark flying sideline to sideline, the Cowboys linebacker room might not skip a beat without Vander Esch.
2. DeMarcus Lawrence
Here's your defensive MVP from Monday night, folks.
Lawrence was everywhere against the Chargers. His most notable contribution was saving a possible touchdown by batting a ball down at the line of scrimmage. Kellen Moore dialed up a screen to Austin Ekeler and the running back had acres of space and a cavalcade of blockers to boot.
Beyond getting his hand on multiple passes, Lawrence was unstoppable defending the run. As we noted earlier, Ekeler didn't reach 30 yards rushing.
Pass-rushing output be damned (though he's still awesome at that) "Tank" is still one of the league's best DEs as far as stopping the run and still one of the most underrated defenders in the league altogether.
Pro Football Focus final grades will tell the full story of Lawrence's impact, but he came up huge for Dallas -- and Mike McCarthy -- vs the Chargers.
1. Dak Prescott
It wasn't a gaudy statistical performance from Prescott, but he played outstanding given the circumstances. Not only did he overcome more suspect play-calling from Mike McCarthy, but his offensive line was exposed all night by the Chargers pass rush, which compiled four sacks.
Prescott's ability to navigate pressure was the most impressive part of his performance. Sure enough, it was No. 4 extending the play with his legs with a Tony Romo-esque Houdini act on 3rd and 11 in the fourth quarter that turned into a 60-yard completion to Tony Pollard after the RB broke a tackle in the open field.
Prescott is the single biggest reason Dallas won this game. He finished 21-of-30 for 272 yards and one touchdown, equating to a 109.3 passer rating He would've had a second touchdown if not for a Michael Gallup drop on an absolutely preposterous throw.
The two-time Pro Bowler was surgical on third down and we can't recall a single reckless throw from his 30 dropbacks. The folks who claim Prescott can't put a team on his back don't have a leg to stand on after this performance.
He was awesome in spite of his coach, no running game and WR2 working against him.