Win over the Chargers was a must-have for Dallas, Dak Prescott

With the Cowboys playing on Monday night, this week’s Monday Morning Quarterback was delayed a day.

It was worth the wait if you ask me.

It wasn’t a blowout, and it wasn’t easy. But at least it was a win and one Dallas badly needed.

The Cowboys’ offense got just enough done and the defense stepped up when it had to.

Dak Prescott didn’t turn over the ball. He did just miss Tony Pollard for a touchdown at the end of the game.

But he made some key throws when the Cowboys needed them.

He put Brandon Aubrey in position to hit the game-winner with a little over two minutes left.

Then the Dallas defense stepped up. Micah Parsons got a huge sack.

On the next play Stephon Gilmore – who’d been burned on a few passes – hauled in a game-sealing interception.

It wasn’t the prettiest win in Dallas’ history. But they go into the bye week only a game behind the Eagles.

And Philadelphia faces the Dolphins on Sunday while the Cowboys will be home watching.

Hopefully they’ll also be working on improving their offense. It still needs work.

By The Numbers

The Cowboys are now 8-5 all-time against the Chargers dating back to Dallas’ 34-28 win at San Diego in 1972 in their first meeting.

Dallas is now 6-2 on the road against the Chargers. The Cowboys have won the last two meetings in Los Angeles.

The Chargers last home win against Dallas came in 2013, a 30-21 victory after the Cowboys had taken a 21-10 lead in the first half.

Dallas has lost the last three meetings with the Chargers when the games were played in Texas.

Dolphins of 1972 Rejoice

Two undefeated teams walked out of the locker room and onto the gridiron on Sunday. None returned.

The Eagles falling to the New York Jets would have been the shocker of the day if not for the 49ers’ loss to the Browns.

Philadelphia’s 5-0 record had been a mirage – they really should have been 2-3 going into Sunday’s game.

So the loss to the Jets probably isn’t that big of a surprise. Although most expected the Dolphins to be the team that brought the Eagles to ground.

The 49ers had been looking like world beaters. Especially after the way they dismantled the Cowboys last week.

Judging from George Kittle’s attire and some post-game comments it seems the 49ers treated the Dallas game like their Super Bowl.

That’s the problem with doing that to a regular season game.

You set yourself up for a major letdown the following week. And that’s what the 49ers had on Sunday.

Even before the injuries to Deebo Samuel and Christian McCaffrey the 49ers looked flat.

The Browns, without their starting quarterback, took it to the 49ers.

Thanks to a missed field goal, the Browns walked away with a win. The surviving members of the 1972 Miami Dolphins team popped the champagne corks.

Speaking of the Browns, Amari Cooper had four catches for 108 yards against the 49ers on Sunday.

Reckon Dak Prescott could have used Cooper last week?

What In The Name Of Doug Flutie?

I’m still not sure what I watched this week in college football.

Thursday night saw one of the craziest final quarters of football go down in Houston. The Cougars took a 21-17 lead into the final 15 minutes.

Houston and West Virginia would combine for 42 points in those 15 minutes.

Another Big 12 matchup last weekend saw Iowa State and Cincinnati combine for just 40 points for the entire game.

The capper came in the final 12 seconds of the game.

West Virginia quarterback Garrett Greene tossed a 50-yard pass for what appeared to be the game-winning touchdown.

Greene drew an unsportsmanlike penalty for celebrating and waved bye-bye to the Houston fans. His penalty came back to haunt him.

The Cougars wound up fair catching the ensuing kickoff at their own 43. A completion moved the ball to the Mountaineers 49 with seven seconds left.

Houston’s quarterback Donovan Smith then heaved one final pass into the endzone.

It was tipped right into the hands of Cougars’ receiver Stephon Johnson for the actual game-winning touchdown as time expired.

My father once said: “Win with the same grace that you lose with.” Food for thought, Mr. Greene.

Not Ready For Prime Time

Owing to a ridiculously late start of 8 p.m. local time, I went to bed at halftime with Colorado up 29-0 on Stanford on Friday night.

Apparently, so did the entire Buffaloes’ team. The Cardinal stormed back to send the game into overtime before winning, 46-43.

I’m not sure how former Cowboys’ cornerback Deion Sanders addressed his team afterwards.

I’m just glad I wasn’t in the locker room to hear it.

I imagine practices between now and the Buffaloes’ next game – at UCLA on the 28th — are not going to be fun in Boulder.

Maybe it was in the air in Colorado? Colorado State also got a win on a tipped Hail Mary pass on Saturday.

The Rams erased a 20-point lead to upset Boise State.

Whatever the reason, it was a wild weekend in college football.