A high-scoring first half falsely set up the expectation for shootout, but the Los Angeles Chargers shut out the Dallas Cowboys in the final two quarters for a 34-17 win at AT&T Stadium in Week 16.

Dak Prescott led the Cowboys' top-ranked yards-per-game offense with 244 yards on 21-of-30 passing with two touchdowns, but a quiet second half wasn't enough to keep up with the complete showing by Los Angeles.

Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert calmly threw for 300 yards on 23-of-29 with two touchdowns and a 10.3 yards-per-completion average.

Both offenses were playing at their best by trading scores throughout the first two quarters. LA lead by four at half at , then added a field goal to begin a second half that was much more defined by defense.

Down by seven, Dallas was moving into enemy territory before the offense was stopped on a fourth-and-one rush by fullback Hunter Luepke, where it looked like play-caller Brian Schottenheimer tried to catch the defense off guard with a hurry-up cadence. It was an important stop to keep momentum on the Chargers' side with two minutes left in the third quarter.

On the rare occasion that the Cowboys got pressure on Herbert, he hit a hole for a 34-yard run up the gut of a depleted defense, but a a nicely-timed blitz on third-and-medium forced the Chargers to kick a field goal, extending their lead to 27-17 with nine minutes to go.

More costly pre-snap penalties backed the Cowboys up on third down before Prescott launched a deep ball that landed in a vacant area of the field. The Cowboys stayed on the field for fourth-and-ten from the wrong side of the 50-yard line and Prescott was rushed into throwing another incompletion for Dallas' second turnover on downs of the second half.

The Chargers used a deep strike to Quentin Johnston (four catches, 104 yards, TD) and a rushing touchdown by Omarion Hampton (85 rush yards, TD) to continue the runaway second-half onslaught. Backup QB Joe Milton was brought in to finish the final five minutes for Dallas, but fumbled the ball back to LA for the only turnover of the game.

Dallas, already eliminated from playoff contention from the day prior, dropped to 6-8-1, while LA improved to 11-4 as they hold their chance of winning the AFC West and rise in postseason seeding.

As we look at the few "Winners" and many "Losers" of this one for the Cowboys, we attempt to entertain how the final two division games on the road can lead us into 2026 with something to cheer about.

WINNER: Dak Prescott and WR Trio

The Cowboys got off to a hot start throwing the ball as Prescott found George Pickens, CeeDee Lamb and Ryan Flournoy with ease, and although they couldn't keep that pace out of halftime, the showing forms a trio of pass catchers that offer a lot of versatility and excitement for the future.

Flournoy's breakout season continued with a touchdown catch on one of his two catches. He is up to a career-high four touchdowns and 407 receiving yards on the season. He had another would-be touchdown reception called back by a holding penalty that forced Dallas to settle for a field goal in the first half.

Pickens had been subject to criticism after two sluggish games recently. He told us he was tired of the questions and comments about his performance. But here against the Chargers, he let his game do the talking with 130 receiving yards on seven catches. It's his fifth 100-yard game of the season.

Lamb (six receptions, 51 yards) also made history by surpassing 1,000 receiving yards on the year, becoming the second Cowboys player ever with five straight seasons of at least one thousand receiving yards. Only "Playmaker" Michael Irvin joins him with that accomplishment.

Prescott used these weapons to look excellent yet again, meaning in order to keep the soon-to-be 33-year-old franchise QB clicking on all cylinders next season, it is paramount for Jerry Jones to franchise tag George Pickens to keep this arsenal intact.

LOSER: Generating 3rd-Down Pressure on Herbert

The Chargers are down three starting offensive linemen, and had allowed the most sacks in the NFL entering Week 16. But you couldn't tell that was the case with how Dallas attacked Herbert in the pocket and couldn't get its defense off the field.

Herbert led the Chargers to a perfect 4-for-4 percentage on third down in the first half. LA's first punt of the game didn't come until halfway through the third quarter, one possession after Dallas' first punt. Los Angeles finished the game 7-11 on third down. Dallas did not record a sack.

The Cowboys' pass rush has been a hot topic of controversy since the trade of Micah Parsons (and now with an injury absence to Quinnen Williams), but defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus' typical low blitz rate is also a philosophical disadvantage, too, that needed alteration.

Those came, but the results didn’t. Dallas sent at least five rushers on more than half of Herbert’s drop backs, but there was no pressure to show for it. It was the first game this season that Herbert was not sacked. His O-line had previously allowed an average of over three per game.

Eberflus will have two more games to show improvements in this regard, and that might be all he'll get.

WINNER: New Formation on Offensive Line?

Nate Thomas has struggled filling in for the injured left tackle Tyler Guyton, so All-Pro guard Tyler Smith moved to the outside here against the Chargers, and other than a holding penalty that negated a touchdown catch, he held up nicely in his debut at the position in 2025.

Prescott was sacked just once, coming late in the second quarter when the QB was trying to scramble and extend a drive for a potential long field goal.

With Terence Steele being a major question mark this offseason on the right side, might this new development for Smith lead to a permanent blind-side spot? Guyton might see more success adjusting to the NFL on the right side if Steele is released to free up cap space.

LOSER: More Miscommunication in the Secondary

Eberflus made a change by moving up to the coaching booth to call plays. Unfortunately the defensive woes that have been Dallas' demise throughout this season did not travel with him.

The Cowboys returned cornerback Trevon Diggs, but he was caught watching multiple times where it was clear he was not familiar with the formations in coordination with the safeties. Those lapses made it easy for Herbert to target big receiver Johnston and shifty youngster Ladd McConkey downfield.

When it comes to the personnel and leadership, there expects to be wholesale changes on the Cowboys defense, with many of the alterations focusing on the secondary.

LOSER: DeMarvion Overshown & Injuries

The Cowboys' explosive linebacker was ruled out for the remainder of the game early in the first half after sustaining a concussion. Star defensive tackle Quinnen Williams was also a late scratch after he got concussed last week, then suffered from a neck issue.

At halftime, it was announced that Flournoy's strong day would come to an and with a knee injury. Safety Donovan Wilson also briefly got checked out by the athletic training staff in the second half.

Dallas isn't playing for the playoffs, of course, but if coach Brian Schottenheimer's mission is to continue playing the full lineup to end the season with wins, then these injuries limit that ability.

What's Next?

Dallas now travels to Washington on a short rest for Christmas Day game against the Commanders. The regular-season finale comes against the lowly New York Giants, who fell to the Minnesota Vikings 16-13 on Sunday.