- Barber Stuffed On Opening Drive
The Cowboys marched the field to start the game, something that has been a rarity this season and had a first down at the Chargers' 16 after converting a fourth-down pass to Roy Williams for 19 yards. But on first down, Marion Barber was stopped for a three-yard loss and from there, the Cowboys had no chance of scoring a touchdown. Had Barber managed to get a few yards, it would've given the offense a more manageable chance to score. Instead, it was just a field goal in a game decided by three points.
- Barber Stuffed On Opening Drive
- Romo's Pass Batted Down
After the Cowboys had been stopped on fourth down at the Chargers' one - a series of plays there were clearly critical for this game and why that drive isn't on this list - the Cowboys got the ball back after Terence Newman's interception at the Chargers' 27. But on first down, Romo had Jason Witten wide open in the right flat for potentially a first-down and much more. Instead, the pass was knocked down by Chargers lineman Ian Scott. The Cowboys only picked up three more yards in two plays and Nick Folk missed a 42-yard attempt. A few more yards should've been enough for Folk to hit, or maybe the Cowboys get a touchdown. Instead, the half ended with the Chargers up 10-3.
- Refs Pick Up Flag
The Chargers already led 10-3 to start the third quarter and appeared ready for more points when the side judge threw his flag indicating pass interference on Mike Jenkins, which would've given the Chargers the ball inside the Cowboys' 20. However, the refs huddled and ruled the pass uncatchable, forcing a punt on the next play.
- Felix Fumbles
No matter that Felix Jones pounced on his own fumble midway through the fourth quarter, the simple five-yard loss was too much for the Cowboys to overcome. The Chargers had just grabbed the seven-point lead, but Dallas had responded with a pass to Witten out to their own 40. Then on first down, Jones appeared to shake two defenders with running room to the left, but before he could bounce to the outside, he was stripped of the ball and recovered it five yards back. Romo responded with two straight incomplete passes, forcing a Cowboys punt with 9:23 to play. They didn't get the ball back until the two-minute warning, trailing by 10.
- LT Goes For 11
Just an 11-yard run from LaDainian Tomlinson, but it got the Chargers out of a hole and they never looked back. On second-and-nine from their own 12 with 8:38 to play, Tomlinson got around the corner after it appeared he was bottled up, going for 11 yards and a first down. The Chargers would get four more first downs before kicking the game-clinching field goal.
