The Dallas Cowboys lost 28-20 to the San Diego Chargers on Saturday night at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego.
The Cowboys first team offense played much better in their second preseason game, with Tony Romo 9-for-13 and 75 yards in an efficient first quarter. The Cowboys would come within a Dez Bryant toe-length of taking an early 7-0 lead, settling for a 40-yard Dan Bailey field goal instead while untimely penalties derailed another long drive for Romo and the Cowboys.
Kyle Orton would lead the Cowboys to 10-0 lead in the second quarter when Brandon Carr's interception of Philip Rivers gave Dallas advantageous field position, with Jamize Olawale cashing in on a one-yard touchdown.
Carr would intercept Rivers once more in the second quarter, with the Chargers quarterback going 13-of-15 for 109 yards in the first half. The Cowboys first team defense has yet to allow a point this preseason, with the team as a whole not giving up much before Charlie Whitehurst took advantage of the Cowboys reserves in the third quarter with an 18-yard pass to Vincent Brown.
The Cowboys would allow 21 unanswered points in the second half, hindered by a stagnant Cowboys offense under Stephen McGee (9-of-16, 86 yards, INT), before Rudy Carpenter would lead the Cowboys on 10-play, 71-yard touchdown drive to finish out the game.
Despite the second-half disappointment, the Cowboys played much better in their second preseason game, aided by a tremendous effort by rookie receiver Cole Beasley. The SMU product, who briefly left camp two weeks ago while questioning his career in football, caught seven passes for 104 yards and became the go-to target for the Cowboys in the second half.
Beasley would also demonstrate what they mean when someone says, "He left it all on the field." Following his third-straight reception, Beasley could barely make it to the sideline before literally losing his lunch.
The Cowboys third preseason game is next Saturday in Dallas, with Sam Bradford and the St. Louis Rams visiting Cowboys Stadium.
For more on the Cowboys, make sure to head to Blogging The Boys for posts like a look at five non-starters to watch.