A year ago, two teams undone by injuries were looking to see their good young quarterbacks take them back to the postseason in 2021. Here’s our Dallas Cowboys at Los Angeles Chargers betting preview.
Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys’ offense got off to a great start in 2020, then Dak Prescott was out for the season with a fracture of his ankle, and the wheels came off on the season
Fast forward a year, and Dak Prescott looks healthy, and the Cowboys in Week 1 showed that their offense is still one of the best in the league. The defense, however, remains a work in progress, and now the injury bug is beginning to hit.
This week’s defensive end, DeMarcus Lawrence, broke his foot in practice, knocking him out for the next six to eight weeks. The pass rush was a problem against Tom Brady, and now down their best player on the defensive line, it will struggle against a good and revamped Chargers offensive line.
Wide receiver Michael Gallup is also out until October. Amari Cooper and CeeDee Lamb are the top two targets for Prescott, but Gallup’s serious threat opens things up for the other two, and he will be missed.
Los Angeles Chargers (-3.5)
If there is a team who can challenge the Chiefs in the AFC West, it’s the Chargers. They have an excellent young quarterback in Justin Herbert, who appears to be just as good as we thought he was after one week. His arm is too special to suffer a sophomore slump. Last week against an excellent Washington defense, Herbert had the eighth 300-yard game of his 16-game career.
First-round draft pick Rashawn Slater is the new left tackle in L.A. He also passed the early test against a good pass rush from Washington. In 52 pass-block snaps, he didn’t allow a single pressure or quarterback hit. If he and the rest of the line give Herbert time against Dallas, watch out.
The Chargers also have a healthy defense for the first time in a year and have Joey Bosa teeing off on the quarterback. In 24 pass-rush snaps last week he had one sack, two hurries, four pressures, and a forced fumble. With a patchwork Cowboys offensive line until right tackle La’el Collins comes off suspension, players like Bosa will be a problem for Dallas.
Betting Predictions
Cowboys (+3.5)
The key here is that half-point. This is going to be an exciting game against two quarterbacks playing top football. Fewer injuries for the Chargers give them the slight advantage, and that will probably be enough to get them over the top at the end of the game. But this game feels like a 30-27 type of finish, and that is why we’re taking the Cowboys and the points.
Over 55.0
A wounded Dallas defense will mean the Chargers’ offense moves the ball well, forcing the Cowboys and Prescott to keep up. He’ll probably throw fewer than the 58 passes in Week 1, but the Cowboys’ offense will press downfield, and this game will hit the over.