Chargers defeat Cowboys for 4th straight win, moving to edge of playoff berth

Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times on Dec 21, 2025

Published in Football

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ARLINGTON, Texas — The Los Angeles Chargers won Sunday, and now they wait.

After their 34-17 victory over the Dallas Cowboys, the Chargers can secure a spot in the postseason with a loss or tie by Houston or Indianapolis.

The Texans play host to Las Vegas in an afternoon game, and the Colts play host to San Francisco on Monday night.

It was the seventh win in eight games for the Chargers, who are on a season-high, four-game winning streak. Sunday marked the third time they topped 30 points this season.

Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert turned in another gritty performance, throwing for two touchdowns and plunging over the goal line for a third.

A pivotal play by Herbert came on third-and-7 early in the fourth quarter as he kept the ball and scrambled for 34 yards. At the end of that run his surgically repaired left hand collided with the helmet of his Cowboys tackler. The quarterback briefly writhed on the turf but didn’t come out of the game.

Late in the game, as rookie Omarion Hampton ran for a touchdown, Herbert joined him in the end zone and exchanged high-fives with teammates, careful to protect his casted left hand.

Although the Cowboys came into Sunday’s game eliminated from postseason contention, they still had the NFL’s No. 1 offense and a potent passing attack led by Dak Prescott. He effectively neutralized the Chargers’ defense in the first half, with touchdown passes in the first and second quarters.

The Chargers close the regular season with a home game Saturday against Houston and a finale at Denver.

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