Here are 10 storylines for the week heading into Sunday’s game in Arlington, with five each for the Chargers and Cowboys.
Chargers
Streaking to the playoffs – The Chargers are one of the hottest teams in the NFL, winning six of seven games to improve to a 10-4 record. Last week, they outlasted the Chiefs, 16-13, earning their first season sweep over Kansas City in 12 years. The Chargers are closing in on wrapping up a playoff spot for the second straight year but it’ll likely have to be a Wild Card, considering they are two games behind the Broncos (12-2) in the AFC West standings.
Judging Herbert – One could say Justin Herbert is having one of his worst seasons of his career, judging only by the stats. His 92.2 QB rating is currently the lowest of his career during any of his six pro seasons. But he’s also led the team to 10 wins, and played through a broken left hand injury that needed surgery. Herbert seems to do whatever is needed. Right after the surgery, he rushed for 66 yards in an overtime win over the Eagles but had no rushing yards last week against the Chiefs.
WR Depth? – The Chargers might not have the dynamic receivers the Cowboys have, but they have depth in their own right. Coming into Sunday’s game, the Chargers are the only team in the NFL with four players with at least 500+ receiving yards. One of them, however, Quinton Johnston (533 yards) is likely out with a groin injury for the second straight week. That means, Herbert will rely on the trio of Ladd McConkey (715 yards), Keenan Allen (688) and tight end Orande Gadsden II (602) yards.
Defensive Stand? – The Chargers haven’t been known for their defense too often in recent years, but that’s one reason for their success of late. The Chargers have seen a huge turnaround defensively since their bye week, allowing less than 20 points in three straight games – against the Raiders, Eagles and Chiefs. Ironically, the Cowboys beat those same teams, in order, for their three-game win streak last month.
Undefeated at AT&T – Not that there has been a large sample size, but the Chargers are 2-0 at AT&T Stadium, winning in 2009, the first year of the stadium, and then again in 2017 on Thanksgiving. However, this has been a road-team series in recent years, with the Cowboys winning the last two games in this series in Los Angeles in 2021 and 2023.
Cowboys
Barely Hanging On – The Cowboys have not been eliminated from the playoff contention but it’s the longest of long shots at this point. The Cowboys are 6-7-1, sitting 2.5 games behind the 9-5 Eagles. For Dallas to overtake Philly for the NFC East, the Cowboys would have to win all three games – Chargers, Commanders and Giants and the Eagles would have to lose all three – Commanders, Bills, Commanders.
Diggs? – No one seems to have a true understanding about the Trevon Diggs situation, or at least isn’t saying it. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was adamant about the fact Diggs “isn’t healthy enough to play” although the cornerback said he not only feels ready to go from a knee injury that has kept him on IR since Oct. 26. Diggs also practiced all week leading up to the Vikings game, making it even more unclear as to why he wasn’t activated again. At this point, it’s a wait-and-see situation that might not ever be resolved the rest of the regular season. But the Cowboys could use him, as they rank 32nd in the NFL in pass defense.
Slim Pickens? – After producing two straight games of 140+ receiving yards, George Pickens has yet to even crack a total of 100 yards in the last two games behind. Against the Vikings, Pickens had just three catches for 33 yards, a similar stat line from the previous game in Detroit, where Pickens also had five for 37. While he’s having his best season so far of his career, and his 1,212 receiving yards is a Cowboys record for a player in his first season with the team, Pickens has caught just 8 for 80 in this current two-game losing streak.
Making a ‘Left’ Turn? – The Cowboys have been without starting left tackle Tyler Guyton for the last three games with a high-ankle sprain. The team opted not to place Guyton on the four-week IR with hopes he could return before then. If he misses this week’s game it will be the fourth straight game, meaning he could’ve been on IR. But the Cowboys have closely monitored the injury and if there’s a chance Guyton can return, he would likely return to his spot, replacing fill-in Nate Thomas.
Defensive changes? – When asked about the overall state of the team, Jerry Jones said on 105.3 The Fan on Tuesday he is “pleased” with the offense that ranks No. 1 overall in the NFL in total yards. But the defense has obviously been struggling all year, to the point where coordinator Matt Eberflus’ status has been in question all year. Asked about potential changes after the season and how these three games would affect that, Jones responded with, “I think that should be a big criteria because these three games are vital to us, important to us. … Yes, how we play over these next three weeks will be a big criteria because we’re at one of the peaks of our healthiness right now.”
