The Cowboys needed a statement win in their final home game of the season. What they got instead was another frustrating letdown - this time at the hands of the Chargers, who rolled into AT&T Stadium and rolled right over Dallas, 34-17.
It was a performance that felt all too familiar for Cowboys fans: flashes of promise early, but little to show for it when it mattered most. The loss drops Dallas to 6-8-1 with two road games left, and while the math might still be alive, the momentum - and perhaps the belief - is fading fast.
Let’s break down how the Cowboys fared in five key areas they needed to win to pull this one out.
1. Protecting Dak Prescott - Grade: C
This was a mixed bag. The Cowboys only gave up one sack, which on paper looks like a win.
But pressure isn’t just about sacks - and the Chargers’ defensive front made its presence felt throughout. Prescott had to navigate a collapsing pocket more than a few times, and while he still managed to go 21-of-30 for 244 yards and two touchdowns with a strong 116.5 passer rating, the offensive line’s inconsistency, particularly on third downs, stalled several drives.
Tyler Smith and T.J. Bass held their own at times, but the penalties and missed assignments added up. The offense looked sharp early, but once the Chargers adjusted, the line couldn’t hold up long enough for Prescott to keep the rhythm going.
2. Hitting the “Magic Number” - Grade: F
The Cowboys needed 28 points - that’s been the threshold for beating this Chargers team, who were 0-2 when allowing that many. And after a 17-point first half, it looked like Dallas was on track.
But then came the second half. And nothing.
Zero points after halftime. A complete offensive stall.
The Chargers’ defense clamped down, and the Cowboys had no counterpunch. George Pickens (7 catches, 130 yards, 1 TD) and CeeDee Lamb (6 catches, 51 yards) did their part, but the offense as a whole couldn’t sustain drives or finish possessions.
This was a game where Dallas needed to stay aggressive and efficient. Instead, they disappeared.
3. Winning the Turnover Battle - Grade: F
Officially, the Cowboys lost the turnover battle 1-0. But if you count failed fourth-down conversions - and in terms of momentum and field position, you absolutely should - then it’s more like 3-0.
Joe Milton’s fumble in the fourth quarter was the lone official turnover, but the failed fourth-down attempts were just as costly. Each one was a missed opportunity and a gift to a Chargers offense that didn’t need any extra help.
4. Red Zone Efficiency - Grade: D
The Cowboys came out firing. Their opening drive was textbook: 12 plays, 79 yards, touchdown.
They got into the red zone again on the next drive and settled for a field goal. After that?
Not much.
They went 1-of-3 in the red zone, including a critical fourth-down stop at the Chargers’ 16-yard line with the game still within reach at 24-17 in the third quarter. That drive could’ve swung the game. Instead, it stalled - like so many others.
Meanwhile, the Chargers went 2-of-4 in the red zone, but more importantly, they capitalized when it counted. Dallas didn’t.
5. Trevon Diggs’ Return - Grade: C
This was a big opportunity for Trevon Diggs to make a statement - not just for this game, but for his future role heading into 2026. Unfortunately, it was a quiet afternoon.
Diggs didn’t make any glaring mistakes, but he also didn’t make any game-changing plays. He may not have been directly responsible for the early touchdown to Ladd McConkey, but the fact that his presence didn’t shift the defense’s performance says a lot.
It was good to see him back on the field, but like much of the Cowboys' roster, his performance was somewhere in the middle - not bad, not great, just… there.
Final Thoughts
This was supposed to be a chance for the Cowboys to finish strong at home, to send a message that they were still in the fight. Instead, it was another reminder of how far they still have to go.
The offense sputtered in the second half. The defense couldn’t get off the field.
And the Chargers? They looked like the team with something to play for.
At 6-8-1, the road ahead is steep. And unless something changes fast, this season could be remembered more for what could’ve been than what actually was.