5 reasons the Cowboys will beat Chargers on Sunday

TAMPA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 09: Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys carries the ball during the second quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on September 09, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 09: Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys carries the ball during the second quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on September 09, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /
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Jaylon Smith, Dallas Cowboys
CINCINNATI, OHIO – DECEMBER 13: Jaylon Smith #54 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates after beating the Cincinnati Bengals 30-7 at Paul Brown Stadium on December 13, 2020 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

4. Dallas’ defense can stop the run

The Cowboys’ pass defense leaves a lot to be desired and is going to give up lot of yards to the Chargers’ aerial attack. The best hope for success for Dan Quinn’s defense is to make Los Angeles’ offense one-dimensional by shutting off their ground game.

The combination of Austin Ekeler and Justin Jackson gives the Chargers two running backs to lean on Sunday, but neither has the exceptional sort of talent to keep the Cowboys preoccupied. Dallas’ coaching staff shouldn’t feel the need to crowd the box with extra run defenders in a way that might compromise the team’s ability to defend the pass.

Keeping bodies at home in the secondary will give the Cowboys a solid chance to produce multiple turnovers in this game. That’s a big key for their potential victory. They may not force Los Angeles to punt very often, but taking the ball away via a turnover can be even more productive.

If the Chargers get their rushing attack growing then it’s going to be impossible for the Cowboys’ defense to hold up at a respectable level. Dallas can win an old-school shootout, but stopping the Chargers’ run game would prevent the necessity to do so.