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September 22 2021

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/report-cowboys-lb-keanu-neal-placed-on-reservecovid-list/ar-AAOIkXx?ocid=BingNewsSearch
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.... Neal played nearly 77% of the team’s defensive
snaps against Tampa in Week 1. Against the Char-
gers, he was on the field for almost 72%.

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11 Chargers game Insights I didn't notice or didn't
pay close attention to before re-watching the game
today (some details of items 1 & 2 based on follow-
ing article):
https://www.si.com/nfl/cowboys/news/dallas-cowboys-break-streak-touchdown-vs-los-angeles-chargers

1) Cowboys scoring a touchdown on their 1st pos-
session was the 1st time they've done that in the
last 21 games (the last time was week 14 in 2019).

2) Cowboys scoring a touchdown in the 1st quarter
was the 12th straight game they've done that, tying
a record set originally by Cowboys teams led by
Roger Staubach and Tony Romo.

3) Blocked punt, Azur Kamara was the Cowboy who
hit the punter resulting in a 15 yard penalty near the
end of the 1st half.

4) Missed field goal by Chargers after the blocked
punt penalty, hit the left upright, C.J. Goodwin could
be given credit for causing that as he almost blocked
it on a dive from the left side of the Cowboys line.
Wouldn't have counted anyway since Chargers penal-
ized for a lineman grabbing a Cowboy facemask on ...

.... that kick, the penalty leading to that final play of
the 1st half with 3 seconds left, from Cowboys 49
yard line, short pass to CeeDee at Chargers 45 yard
line which CeeDee broke free down to Chargers 17
yard line where he lateraled to Zeke who scamp-
ered to within 3 yards of the end zone before he
was knocked out of bounds just short of a TD.

5) That mistake I made of giving Kearse credit for
that critical Damontae Kazee end zone interception,
well, Kearse made an interception in the 1st half but
it didn't count as he was penalized for pass interfer-
ence, & early in the 3rd quarter he dived in front of
a pass for Cook & almost intercepted it.

6) Later on that drive, Armstrong tipped a pass at
the line, the pass caught but for a loss, the receiver
immediately tackled by Vander Esch. Next play, Her-
bert tackled for a 1 yard gain by Parsons. Next play,
good pass defense by Jaylon Smith preventing a
completion over the middle, drive ending with Char-
gers tying the game with a field goal, 14-14.

7) Cowboys drive, first downs by CeeDee on a pass,
Zeke on long run, Pollard on a pass with Tyson Smith
way on the left lined up at the snap, 5 yard run to Zeke,
pass for a 4 yard loss to CeeDee, 3rd & 9 blitz by 6
Chargers sacked Dak, those 2 plays moving Cowboys
out of field goal range.

8) Next drive, Chargers move all the way down the
field, Kearse pressured Herbert on one pass, one long
TD pass nullified by holding call, good pass to Eckler
with increased yardage due to helmet to helmet per-
sonal foul on Trevon Diggs, topped off near end of
3rd quarter with end zone interception by Damontae
Kazee.

9) Pollard's longest run of the day for 28 yards up to
48 yard line at end of 3rd quarter, followed by 3 Pol-
lard runs runs for total of 28 yards down to Chargers
24 yard line, total for Pollard thus far over 100 yards
on the ground. Quick pass to CeeDee stopped for no
gain. 1st down pass to 11 yard line to Dalton Schultz.

Dak sacked on 3rd down / fumbles / Cowboys Zack
Martin recovers, Zuerlein makes 34 yard field goal,
Cowboys 17, Chargers 14, 10:25 left in the game.

10) Chargers' final drive, all the way down the field,
a TD overturned due to 2 players moving at the same
time, 2nd down controversial call of a sack by Parsons
in which announcers thought Herbert wasn't down &
whistle should not have ended the play.

3rd down pass to around the 10, field goal just barely
made it inside the right upright, Cowboys 17 Char-
gers 17, 3:54 left in the game.

11) After holding call on kick return, ball placed on
Cowboys 13 yard line with 3:49 left in the game. Dak
succeeds in moving the Cowboys down the field &
running out the clock with 5 short completions & 5
short runs for total of 49 yards & 3 1st downs.

o 13 yard line run for 1 yard loss, time left 3:07
o pass for 7 yards to 19 yard line, time left 2:34
o 3rd & 6 pass for 7 yards to Zeke to 26 yard line
to go out of bounds, 1st down, time left 2:30

o Pollard 5 yard run to 31 yard line, time left 2
minutes (2 minute warning)
o Zeke 4 yard run to 35 yard line with 1:27 left
o 3rd & 1 3 yard run by Zeke to 38 yard line, 1st
down with 1:04 left

o 4 yard pass to Zeke to 42 yard line with 46 seconds
left
o 13 yard pass to Amari Cooper at Chargers 45 yard
line for 1st down, Cowboys call timeout after Cooper
hurt with 36 seconds left

o 4 yard pass to Cedrick Wilson who goes out of bounds
at 41 yard line with 33 seconds left
o Pollard 3 yard run to 38 yard line with 28 seconds
left & clock ticking
o Controversial Cowboys not trying to snap it 'til
Cowboys not lined up 'til 9 seconds left, deciding
to let clock run down to 4 second mark, & we all know
what happened next, 3 cheers for Greg Zuerlein's win-
ning 56 yard field goal kick as time expired

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