Chargers 34-17 Cowboys, summary: score, stats, highlights | NFL Week 16
Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers dominate while the Dallas Cowboys’ defensive issues resurface at home.
Show key events only
Chargers surge past Cowboys, 34-17
The afternoon started with the Cowboys confident and aggressive at home, converting fourth downs and marching straight down the field like they meant to remind everyone that Arlington is still their house. Quarterback DakPrescott looked comfortable early, spreading the ball around before capping the opening drive with a short touchdown pass to Ryan Flournoy.
But Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert had plans of his own. From the Chargers' first possession, Herbert set a tone that never really faded. He carved up the Cowboys’ secondary with deep strikes that flipped the field in a blink. Quentin Johnston’s 23-yard touchdown was the beginning of it all, and it foreshadowed a long evening for Dallas defenders trying to track the ball in the air.
The first half became a shootout with big passes, quick responses from both sides, and just enough chaos to keep things tense. Dak fired back with his best punch midway through the second quarter, uncorking a 38-yard touchdown to George Pickens that briefly swung momentum back to Dallas. Prescott finished the night with solid numbers (21 of 30, 244 yards, two touchdowns), but that throw was the peak for the Cowboys.
Right before halftime, Herbert delivered the gut punch. With the clock winding down and the Chargers trailing, Herbert orchestrated a drive in which he escaped pressure and found Keenan Allen before tucking the ball himself at the goal line. His one-yard touchdown run with 19 seconds left didn’t just give LA the lead...it changed the energy of the entire game.
From there, the Chargers took control. Herbert continued to dice up Dallas (23 of 29, 300 yards, two passing touchdowns, one rushing touchdown, no turnovers), while the Chargers’ run game steadily wore the Cowboys down. Omarion Hampton was the closer - 85 yards on the ground and a late five-yard touchdown that finally slammed the door.
The moment that symbolized the shift came in the fourth quarter. Trailing and desperate, Dallas turned to Joe Milton III to relieve Prescott of his duties. His first drive on the field included a strip-sack and recovery by the Chargers, turning hope into resignation. Minutes later, Hampton crossed the goal line again, and AT&T Stadium emptied out in silence as Los Angeles stretched the lead to 34–17.
The Chargers finished with 152 rushing yards, balanced offense, and a defense that clamped down when it mattered most.
Now what?
The win pushed the Chargers to 11-4 and put them on the doorstep of the postseason, one Texans loss away from officially punching their playoff ticket.
For the Cowboys, now 6–8–1, the loss was another blow to their already lost playoff hopes that ended before the game even began, as the Eagles beat the Commanders to destroy what little chances there still were.
GAME OVER!
And that's game - The Chargers beat the Cowboys 34-17. If the Texans lose, the Chargers are in the postseason.
Davis gains 2 - 2nd and 8
Herbert takes a knee to turn it over to Dallas
Chargers take second timeout
Herbert loses a yard, stopped by Steward - 4th and 7
Haskins gains another 2 - 3rd and 6
TWO-MINUTE WARNING
We're just 2 minutes away from a Chargers win in Arlington as they lead the Cowboys 34-17.
Haskins gains 2 this time - 2nd and 8
Haskins gains 7 - 1st down
Hampton gains 4 yards - 2nd and 6
Milton scrambled 12 yards, but then FUMBLED the ball, punched out by James, RECOVERED by Chargers' Tuipulotu and he ran it back 11 yards to the Cowboys 43
Milton's pass to Lamb was incomplete
Offsetting penalties - Offside on Lamb and Pass Interference on Molden, 1st and 10
Cowboys give up
Milton has come in for Prescott under center.
He makes the pass to Lamb for 7 yards - 2nd and 3
Dicker kicks to the end zone - touchback to the Cowboys 35
Hampton TD for LA!
Hampton took the ball in 5 yards for the touchdown and Dicker's PAT was good to double their lead over the Cowboys with just 4:48 left in the game.
CHARGERS TOUCHDOWN!
Cowboys take first timeout
Hampton gains 5 yards - 2nd and goal
Hampton gains another 10 - 1st and goal at the 10
Herbert pass deep to Johnston caught for 25 yards - 1st down at the Cowboys 20
Herbert pass incomplete to Hampton - 3rd and 9
Hampton gains a yard - 2nd and 9
Cowboys went for it on 4th down, but Tuipulotu put the pressure on Prescott and he threw the ball incomplete - Chargers take over at the Cowboys 46
Chargers take first timeout
Prescott pass deep to who knows who? It lands in the end zone - 4th down
False Start on Cowboys' Beebe - 5 yards, 3rd and 10
Davis gains another 3 - 3rd and 5
Chargers' Brandon St-Juste was injured on the previous play
Davis gains 3 - 2nd and 7
Prescott pass complete to Pickens this time for 13 yards - 1st down
Prescott pass incomplete to Pickens - 2nd and 10
Dicker kicks to the Cowboys 8 and Turpin returns it 25 yards to the 33
Penalties set the Chargers back on this drive, but they made it into scoring range and settled for a Dicker 27-yard field goal to make it a 10-point lead over the Cowboys with just under 9 minutes left in the game.
CHARGERS FIELD GOAL!
Herbert under pressure, pass incomplete - 4th and 6
False Start on Chargers' Penning - 5 yards, 3rd and 6
Herbert pass to Johnston caught for 6 - 3rd and 1
Haskins gains 3 - 2nd and 7
Herbert bullet pass to Allen for 11 yards - 1st down at the Chargers 13
Hampton shoved back by James for no gain - 2nd and 10
Herbert gains 2 for the 1st down
Herbert gets away, passes to Hampton for 10 yards - 3rd and 1
False Start on Chargers' Deculus - 5 yards, 2nd and 11
Chargers' Vidal was injured on the previous play
Vidal gains 4 - 2nd and 6
Herbert was a little slow to get up, favoring the left hand but seems to be okay
Elbow is bleeding a little
Herbert scrambles under pressure and takes off for a huge gain of 33 yards! 1st down at the Cowboys 34
Cowboys' Donovan Wilson was injured on the previous play
Herbert pass caught by Gasdsen for 7 yards - 3rd and 7
END THIRD QUARTER
That'll take us to the end of the 3rd quarter. The Chargers are up 24-17 as the second half has been much more defensive than the first. The Chargers just made a 4th-down stop on the Cowboys and now have the ball at 2nd and 14 on their own 25.
Herbert pass to Allen caught for 6 yards, stopped by Diggs - 2nd and 14
Hampton takes off for 17 yards, but Chargers' Penning was called for Holding - 10 yards, 1st and 20
Herbert pass to Dissly caught for 7 yards - 1st down
Hampton gains 6 - 2nd and 4
Cowboys go for it and Luepke takes it but he's STOPPED short and the Chargers will take over at their own 16
Prescott pass to Lamb caught by Pickens for 9 yards - 4th and 1
False Start on Cowboys' Lamb - 5 yards, 3rd and 10
Williams stuffed by Oweh for a gain of just a yard - 3rd and 5
Turpin takes the ball 4 yards - 2nd and 6
Prescott pass CAUGHT by Lamb for 18yards - 1st down at the Chargers 25
Williams gains 4 - 2nd and 6
Prescott pass deep to Pickens caught for 23yards - 1st down at the Chargers 47
Prescott pass to Ferguson caught for 8 - 1st down
Davis gains 4 - 2nd and 6
Scott punts to the Cowboys 19 and Turpin calls for the fair catch
Herbert makes another deep pass to Johnston but this time Bridges stops him - 4th and 1
Herbert pass complete to Harris for 5 yards - 3rd and 1
Herbert scrambles for 4 yards - 2nd and 6
Anger kicks to the 16 and McConkey makes the fair catch
Prescott scrambles for a gain of 6 yards - 4th and 4 at their own 41
Prescott pass BATTED by Caldwell, nearly picked by Perryman - incomplete. 3rd and 10
Preescott gets it to Luepke again but he drops it - 2nd and 10 at the 35
Prescott gets the ball away to Luepke and he pushes forward for 14yards - 1st down
Prescott pass to Williams for a gain of 4 - 3rd and 9
Williams shoved back by Tart for a loss of 3 - 2nd and 13
Dicker kicked to the Cowboys 6 and Turpin returned it 34 yards to the 40, but Cowboys' Davis was called for Holding - 10 yards, 1st and 10 at the 20
What a catch by Johnston!
The Chargers got downfield on a 50-yard catch by Quentin Johnston, but were held to 4th down and had to kick a field goal. Dicker's 37-point try was good and the Chargers lead by 7 with 11:51 to go in the 3rd quarter.
CHARGERS FIELD GOAL!
Herbert tries to scramble, but Clark makes the stop after a yard - 4th and 5
Hampton gains 4 - 3rd and 6
Herbert pass incomplete - 2nd and 10
Herbert pass DEEP to Johnston and he jumps up and brings it down for a 50-YARD catch! 1st down at the Cowboys 24
Hampton gains 2 - 2nd and 8
We're back!
The Chargers start us on offense in the second half.
Aubrey kicked to the Chargers 5 and Lambert-Smith returned it 19 yards to the 24
Herbert TD to put Chargers in the lead before the half
Prescott SACKED by Tuipulotu for a loss of 6 and that'll end the half
Cowboys take second timeout
Prescott pass to Turpin caught for 7 yards - 2nd and 3
Dicker kicks to the Cowboys 2 and Turpin returns it 23 yards
Herbert took the ball in himself for a 1-yard touchdown and Dicker's PAT was good to put the Chargers ahead just before halftime with 19 seconds left.
CHARGERS TOUCHDOWN!
Chargers take first timeout
Herbert scrambles away and gets the ball to Allen for a total gain of 12 yards - 1st and goal at the 1
Cowboys take first timeout
Hampton pushed back by Hooker for a loss of 3 yards - 3rd and 5
Hampton picks up 8 yards - 2nd and 2
Herbert pass caught by Allen for 9 yards - 1st down
Herbert scrambles for 4 - 3rd and 7
TWO-MINUTE WARNING
Two minutes left in the first half and the Cowboys are up by 3 points, but the Chargers have the ball in Dallas' territory on 2nd and 11 at the 31.
Wilson makes the tackle on Vidal for a loss of a yard - 2nd and 11
Cowboys' DeMarvion Overshown is out with a concussion and will not return
Hampton gains 6, then 12 for the 1st down at the Cowboys 30
Herbert pass to Allen caught for 7 yards and the 1st down at the Cowboys 48
Herbert to McConkey for 3 yards - 2nd and 7
Herbert makes the short pass to Lambert-Smith and he takes off for 10 yards and the 1st down
Herbert pass incomplete to Harris - 3rd and 9
Vidal gains a yard - 2nd and 9
Vidal gains 6 - 1st down
Herbert to Dissly for 6 - 2nd and 4
Aubrey kicked to the Chargers 2 and ambert-Smith returned it 17 yards
Pickens' first TD in a month for 38 yards
Prescott made a deep pass 38 yards to George Pickens for the touchdown. Aubrey's PAT was good and the Cowboys take the lead right back with 8:08 to go in the first half.
COWBOYS TOUCHDOWN!
Williams takes it up 8 yards - 2nd and 2
Prescott made the pass to Flournoy for 13 yards and Chargers' Perryman was called for Unnecessary Roughness - 15 yards, automatic 1st down at the 46
Williams gains 6 - 2nd and 4
Dicker kicked to the 0 and Cowboys' Bell was called for Holding - 10 yards, ball will be placed at the 20
Herbert ---> McConkey 25 yards
Herbert passed deep into the end zone and McConkey made the 25-yard catch for the touchdown. Dicker's PAT was good and the Chargers steal the lead back again with9:45 to go in the first half.
CHARGERS TOUCHDOWN!
Herbert pass incomplete - 2nd and 10
Hampton gains a yard
Chargers‘ Matlock is called for Holding, but Cowboys’ Clowney is called for Face Mask
Penalties offset
Herbert pass to Dissley caught for 15yards - 1st down
Herbert pass caught by McConkey for 10 - 1st down
Hampton takes it again, stopped after 5 - 2nd and 5
Hampton takes the ball around the edge for a huge gain of 18 yards - 1st down at the Chargers 45
Herbert pass caught by Harris for 13 yards - 1st down
Aubrey kicks to the Chargers 4 and Vidal MUFFS the catch, recovers it at the 4 and takes it 9 yards before he's tackled by Houston at the 13.
The Cowboys had their next score in the end zone with another catch by Flournoy, but a penalty on Smith called it back and they had to settle for a field goal. Brandon Aubrey made the 33-yard try and Dallas takes back the lead to start the 2nd quarter.
COWBOYS FIELD GOAL!
Prescott pass to Turpin in the end zone was incomplete with two defenders on him - 4th and 14
Cowboys' Flournoy made the TD catch AGAIN, but there was a HOLD on TylerSmith, so it was called back.
3rd and 14 at the 15 instrad
Prescott pass caught by Pickens for 6 yards - 3rd and 4 at the 5
Prescott pass incomplete to Pickens - 2nd and 10 at the 10
Lamb joins Irvin in Cowboys history with that last catch!
END FIRST QUARTER
That takes us to the end of the first quarter. The Cowboys and Chargers are tied 7-7 after trading scores. Dallas now has the ball on the Chargers' 10 on 1st down.
Prescott pass caught by Lamb for 5 yards - 1st down at the 10
Prescott pass caught by Ferguson for 6 yards - 3rd and 4 at the Chargers 15
Prescott pass incomplete to Williams - 2nd and 10
Davis gains 2 - 1st down
Prescott hands it to Turpin and he gains 9 yards. The ball came loose, but Turpin was already down - 2nd and 1
Prescott keeps it and scrambles for 8 yards - 1st dowb
Prescott pass caught by Lamb for 6 yards - 2nd and 4
Williams takes it up 3 yards - 1st down at the Chargers 46
Davis stopped by Perryman after a yard - 3rd and 2
Prescott pass to Turpin caught for 7 yards with Jefferson pulling on his shirt tail - 2nd and 3
Davis takes the ball and pushes forward for 8 yards - 1st down
Williams gains 6 - 2nd and 4
*Beebe back on the field for Dallas
Dicker kicks to the Cowboys 5 and Turpin returns it 24 yards to the 29, tackled by Phillips
Quentin Johnston, Chargers glad to have you on the field!
Herbert made the deep pass to Quentin Johnston for a 23-yard score! Dicker's PAT was good and the Chargers tie up the game on their first possession with 6:43 to go in the 1st quarter.
CHARGERS TOUCHDOWN!
Chargers tackle Jamaree Salyer was injured on the previous play
Hampton gains 3 yards, stopped by Overshown - 2nd and 7
Herbert pass to Harris again caught for 11yards - 1st down
Herbert pass to Harris CAUGHT and he gets away for 23 yards - 1st down at the Cowboys 36
Herbert pass to McConkey caught for 4 yards - 3rd and 5
Vidal stuffed after a yard - 2nd and 9
Chargers on offense
Aubrey kicks to the Chargers 4 and Vidal returns it 31 yards to the 35
Flournoy with the Cowboys TD!
The Cowboys scored on their opening drive after 10 plays. Led by a 28-yard pass to CeeDee Lamb on a 4th down play, Ryan Flournouy caught the 5-yard pass in the end zone for the touchdown. Aubrey's PAT was good and the Cowboys take an early lead with 10:20 to go in the 1st quarter.
COWBOYS TOUCHDOWN!
Prescott pass to Lamb is caught for 4 yards - 3rd and 4
Williams takes the ball but he's stopped by Tart and Henley after 2 yards - 2nd and 8
Cowboys center Cooper Beebe was injured on the previous play
Cowboys go for it on 4th and 2 and Prescott makes the deep pass to Pickens and it's CAUGHT for 28 yards! 1st down at the Chargers 11
Prescott pass incomplete to Lamb - 4th and 2
Prescott pass short to Williams for a gain of 5 - 3rd and 1
Williams gains 4 - 2nd and 6
Prescott makes the pass to Lamb for 13yards - 1st down
Williams gains 5 - 2nd and 5
Prescott faked the handoff, threw to Pickens for 14yards - 1st down
HERE WE GOOO!
Cowboys are starting us on offense! Dicker kicked to the Cowboys 1 and Turpin returned it 20 yards. Let's go!
Cowboys' dominant offense
Despite the disappointing record, the Cowboys' offense has actually been one of the league’s more productive units in 2025. Dallas ranks near the top of the NFL in total yards and scoring, averaging just under 30 points per game, but repeated breakdowns on the defensive side have consistently erased that advantage, turning strong offensive performances into narrow losses.
The Chargers have allowed fewer than 20 points in three straight games, flipping the script on a defensive unit that struggled early in the season.
Once again, the Dallas Cowboys top the list of most valuable sports teams by a landslide, and once again they are decades away from a championship.
Pickens' cooldown
Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens' late-season momentum stalled just as the Cowboys needed him most. After back-to-back 140-yard outings earlier this month, Pickens has been held in check in consecutive losses, totaling just eight catches for 80 yards across the last two games. The Vikings limited him to three grabs for 33 yards, following a similarly quiet showing in Detroit.
The dip doesn’t erase what’s been a record-setting debut season. Pickens’ 1,212 receiving yards are the most ever by a Cowboys player in his first year with the team. But his recent disappearance has been impossible to ignore, unfortunately.
Justin Herbert's reputation has long carried a soft edge in the national conversation: big arm, clean mechanics, a quarterback who wins with touch and timing more than force. Chad Alexander does not buy any of it.
The cornerback has been absent since sustaining a concussion in an at-home accident in October, missing a crucial two months of the NFL season.
Cowboys-Chargers Injury Report/Inactives
Chargers Injury Report
The Chargers will be without several contributors this week, including wide receiver Derius Davis, veteran edge rusher Bud Dupree, and starting tackle Trey Pipkins III, thinning both their speed and protection up front. Tight end Tyler Conklin is also inactive, limiting some of Justin Herbert's short-to-intermediate options. The team is otherwise relatively healthy, with Herbert and the team’s top offensive weapons expected to play, though the absences along the offensive line and at pass-catcher put added pressure on a unit that has leaned on efficiency rather than explosiveness during its playoff push.
Cowboys Injury Report:
Dallas’ inactive list is headlined by defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and left tackle Tyler Guyton, continuing a trend of major trench losses that have defined the Cowboys’ season. The secondary is also shorthanded with Caelen Carson out, though Trevon Diggs has officially been activated, and is likely playing, after his long stint on injured reserve, especially with DaRon Bland expected to miss the rest of the year.
How the Cowboys blew their chances
The Cowboys entered the 2025 season with hopes of returning to the playoffs under first-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer, but inconsistency and injuries left them struggling to find traction. After a midseason rally that included a dramatic comeback win over the Eagles and a victory over the Chiefs, Dallas faltered down the stretch with losses to the Lions and Vikings that stalled their playoff push.
Entering Week 16 at 6-7-1, the Cowboys still had a slim path to the postseason, but a 29-18 Eagles win over the Washington Commanders officially clinched the NFC East for Philadelphia and eliminated Dallas from playoff contention, marking the second straight season the Cowboys will miss the postseason.
How the Chargers can get to the postseason...
The 10-4 Chargers are in the playoffs...just not officially, yet. Even if they lose to the Cowboys today, they've still got a 90% chance of making it. Those are pretty good odds. A win doesn't clinch. their spot automatically thoygh. Here's exactly what they need to seal the deal today.
Win and Houston Texans loss vs Las Vegas Raiders (today, 4:25 p.m. ET)
OR
Win and Indianapolis Colts loss vs San Francisco 49ers (Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET)
Hello and welcome to AS USA's LIVE coverage of the Los Angeles Chargers @ Dallas Cowboys game!
The Cowboys were officially eliminated from playoff contention yesterday after the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Washington Commanders. Meanwhile, the Chargers could officially punch their postseason ticket with a win and a little help.
The game kicks off at 1 p.m. ET from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX. We will be here to bring you all the live updates, scores, highlights, and commentary from kickoff to the final whistle.
Complete your personal details to comment