Cowboys 'close book' on 49ers debacle with road win at Chargers - ESPN

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — It's only mid-October, but Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott knew Monday was important for the psyche of his team, calling it «a must-win.»

Mission accomplished with a 20-17 victory against the Los Angeles Chargers.

«It's early in the season but 4-2 or 3-3, it's a huge difference. Yeah, it just is,» Prescott said. «Yeah… it's early in the season. I've been in a 3-5 season that we turned around and went on a win streak and won the division… but 4-2, second road win of the year, against a great team, against a great offense, great defense.»

The fallout from Dallas' Week 5 blowout loss — 42-10 — against the San Francisco 49ers brought questions about the entire team, from Prescott's effectiveness to Mike McCarthy's playcalling and the ability of a defense that was shredded.

«We talked after last week about not allowing this thing to landslide, and obviously I think a win like this allows you to really close that book,» Prescott said.

Last year, the Cowboys were 4-2 after six games en route to a second straight 12-5 finish that qualified them for the playoffs. Since 2000, the Cowboys have started 4-2 or better nine times and made the playoffs seven times, including their last five. When they have been 3-3 after six games since 2000, they have missed the postseason six of eight times.

«The win was good,» edge player Micah Parsons said. «It's good to always get back on track. That's our record: prove the naysayers wrong.»

The Cowboys are 10-1 after a loss over the last three seasons, but the heat they were catching after the San Francisco loss seemed to come at a higher temperature than at any other time in McCarthy's time as coach. Prescott was intercepted three times and nine of his 11 drives were