Chargers keep Cowboys on skids
Rivers, Allen key Los Angeles’ win
ARLINGTON, Texas — Philip Rivers was more than comfortable on the Thanksgiving stage for the first time in his 14 NFL seasons.
Same with Keenan Allen, who didn’t have to wait nearly that long.
Rivers threw for 434 yards and three touchdowns, Allen had a career-high 172 yards in his second straight big game, and the Los Angeles Chargers beat the fading Dallas Cowboys 28-6 on Thursday.
Cornerback Desmond King returned an interception 90 yards for the punctuating touchdown.
The Chargers (5-6) moved within 1½ games of AFC West-leading Kansas City after starting 0-4 while the Chiefs won their first five.
“Playing on Thanksgiving was everything it was cranked up to be,” said Rivers, who was 27 of 33 in his ninth career 400-yard game. “As a quarterback, you want to play well and throw it to your guys, and we did a lot today.”
The defending NFC East champion Cowboys (5-6) have lost three straight games by at least 20 points for the first time since 2004, all without suspended star running back Ezekiel Elliott in a damaging slide for their fading playoff hopes.
Dallas, playing its 50th Thanksgiving game, ended a touchdown drought at a team-record 10 quarters on Rod Smith’s 2-yard run early in the fourth quarter. The Cowboys have been outscored 72-6 in the second half of the three losses.
Quarterback Dak Prescott has looked lost without Elliott, his backfield mate for two remarkable rookie seasons that led the Cowboys to the NFC’S best record last season.
Prescott had two interceptions, giving him five in two games after throwing just four a year ago.