ARLINGTON — It’s never a good thing when the Los Angeles Chargers — a team that moved from San Diego to Rams country to play in a shared stadium in Inglewood, Calif. — have fans chanting “Dee-Fense” and celebrating loudly on Sunday afternoon at AT&T Stadium.
That’s how it’s gone for the Dallas Cowboys, who suffered a 34-17 loss to the Chargers. Before the day started, the Cowboys’ playoff hopes were eliminated, thanks to Philadelphia’s win at Washington on Saturday.
So all the Cowboys had to play for was pride, while looking at some younger players and hoping to finish the season strong.
Instead, the Cowboys had backup quarterback Joe Milton on the field for the final 4:48 and now focus on draft positioning in the final two weeks of the regular season.
Cowboys
Here are five thoughts on the Cowboys-Chargers:
A chance to finish .500
The Cowboys loss means this team can finish 8-8-1 at best. But in order to do that, the Cowboys would have to win their remaining two games at Washington on Christmas Day and at New York in the regular season finale against the Giants. But the Cowboys were outclassed for most of the day against a Chargers team trying to clinch a playoff spot. Dallas’ home record will end 4-3-1, the first time since 2023 that the Cowboys had an above .500 record at AT&T Stadium. But the home record doesn’t matter at this point, considering how this season has gone.
New starters
The Cowboys not only brought back Trevon Diggs off injured reserve and re-inserted him into the starting lineup at cornerback, they also made a switch at left tackle. Tyler Smith moved from left guard to left tackle, which could signal a few things: Smith is the future at left tackle. Tyler Guyton, who missed his fourth consecutive game with a high-ankle sprain, will eventually move to right tackle. It could also mean the Cowboys have seen enough of Nate Thomas, who was an ascending player in training camp. Thomas was a projected starter at left tackle when Guyton injured his knee. But during a three-game stint, where he started, Thomas struggled at times. And even before this game, offensive coordinator Klayton Adams said Guyton has had an up-and-down season before his injury. The Cowboys have all sorts of offseason decisions to handle when it comes to the offensive line.
On defense, Logan Wilson didn’t get the start against the Chargers a week after starting at middle linebacker. Instead, Kenneth Murray started at middle linebacker. Wilson’s time with the Cowboys has been uneven. He came in a trade the same day the Cowboys acquired Quinnen Williams. Wilson, who was benched in Cincinnati, prompting him to request a trade, hasn’t had much of an impact with the Cowboys.
Secondary woes
With Diggs returning to the starting lineup, the Cowboys paired him with Shavon Revel on the outside with Reddy Steward as the slot corner. The secondary had its share of problems. Revel didn’t push receiver Tre’ Harris out of bounds after a reception, leading to more yards-after-catch. Revel also missed a tackle and got beat on a touchdown reception on a nice one-handed grab by Quentin Johnston. Diggs got beat on a TD reception as well when Ladd McConkey got behind him on a reception. But Diggs had a nice open-field tackle. Johnston, who had 104 yards receiving with a touchdown, got behind Trikweze Bridges in the third quarter for a 50-yard reception. That was the big play on a scoring drive that ended with a 33-yard field goal by Cameron Dicker to push the Chargers to a 24-17 lead. In the fourth quarter, on a third and 9, Johnston went in motion and then ran right past Diggs for a 25-yard reception. It seemed as if Diggs tried to undercut the pass but instead it allowed Johnston to run behind him for the reception.
The Pickens experience
Cowboys receiver George Pickens had seven catches for 130 yards with a touchdown. It was Pickens’ fifth 100-yard game of the season. He made a nice 38-yard touchdown reception on a go route, where in the middle of it he stutter-stepped, slowing corner Cam Hart, to catch a 38-yard pass. This was a much better effort from Pickens in compared to what we’ve seen the previous couple of weeks. Pickens had a combined eight catches in the past two games with no touchdowns. This comes off a six-catch, 88-yard game on Thanksgiving Day in a win over the Chiefs. Defenses were targeting Pickens more often, slowing his game down. And, of course, in a loss to the Lions, many questioned his efforts, and he admitted he didn’t play his best. But against the Chargers, Pickens responded like the elite receiver he is.
The fourth-down call
The Cowboys were trailing 24-17 late in the third quarter and in the midst of a productive offensive drive. They were faced with a third and 5 at the Chargers 20 when everything fell apart, in the series and the game as well. Receiver CeeDee Lamb was penalized for a false start, a five-yard penalty. Now third and 10, quarterback Dak Prescott connected with receiver George Pickens for 9 yards.
That set up fourth and 1 from the Chargers 16. The Cowboys called a handoff to fullback Hunter Luepke, who was stopped for no gain. It was a quick snap to Luepke, and you could question why you wouldn’t give it to Javonte Williams or Malik Davis or have Prescott sneak it. A chance to get some points and some momentum was lost as the Chargers would take the ball and take eight minutes and 18 seconds off the clock, spanning the end of the third quarter and ending with 8:57 to go in the fourth. Cameron Dicker’s 27-yard field goal concluded a 14-play, 76-yard drive that gave the Chargers a 27-17 lead, which basically sealed the game.
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