Cowboys defense powers Dallas to MNF win over Chargers

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — After a game filled with miscues and penalty flags, the Dallas Cowboys defense came up big in the final two minutes to seal a 20-17 win against the Los Angeles Chargers on “Monday Night Football.”

With quarterback Justin Herbert playing through a broken middle finger on his non-throwing hand, the Chargers dropped to 2-3 on the season and the Cowboys moved to 4-2.

Dallas Cowboys

After what happened last week against the San Francisco 49ers, a win of any kind was required by the Cowboys.

Monday’s win certainly wasn’t pretty but the Cowboys enter their bye week with a 4-2 record and still within striking distance of the Philadelphia Eagles and 49ers, who suffered surprising losses on Sunday.

Everything was in question after last week. Mike McCarthy’s playcalling, Dak Prescott’s ability, the defense’s toughness. Nothing was perfect — too many penalties, too many big plays allowed, not enough big plays made, special teams’ turnover — but when it mattered they made the necessary plays.

Starting with three key third-down conversions on a game-winning drive that ended with a Brandon Aubrey field goal and then a sack — the first of the game for the Cowboys — by Micah Parsons and a sealing interception by Stephon Gilmore.

The Cowboys are now 10-1 after a loss over the last two seasons.

Maybe they’re not dead after all.

QB breakdown: Let’s forget the passing numbers for Prescott. Let’s talk about his rushing. He had the longest touchdown run of his career (18 yards) in the first quarter and the longest by a Cowboys QB since 2010. Prescott has not used his feet as much in recent years. He had 18 rushing touchdowns in his first three years and now nine in the last five. He had 45 yards…