4 Takeaways From the Chargers' Win Over the Cowboys

[ad_1] The Chargers went right down to Texas and obtained one step nearer to the playoffs.

By taking down the Cowboys 34-17 Sunday at AT&T Stadium, Los Angeles can clinch a playoff berth with a Texans’ loss or tie with the Raiders or a Colts’ loss or tie with the Niners Monday evening.

Listed below are my takeaways:

1. Chargers’ offensive explosion a blip or signal of extra to return? In latest weeks, the Chargers have proved that they've one of many league’s high defenses, one able to main a workforce. However to go on a deep playoff run, Los Angeles will want the offense to carry up its finish of the discount. And on Sunday, the Chargers confirmed what they’re able to offensively.

Los Angeles had 452 yards of offense, together with 300 via the air. Justin Herbert was on a heater, finishing 79.3% of his passes for 300 yards and two touchdowns and no interceptions with a season-high 132.8 passer score. Herbert entered the week as essentially the most pressured quarterback within the NFL, however he didn’t take a sack Sunday. The Chargers had 4 totally different pass-catchers with no less than 40 receiving yards. Their 300 web passing yards marked their most in a sport since Week 7.

After all, the Chargers’ exhibiting will get a little bit of an asterisk, contemplating the Cowboys entered Sunday with the NFL’s worst cross protection (254.8 passing yards allowed/sport). However so long as the cross safety holds up — which is a giant if, to be clear — the Chargers are a risk to seek out constant success via the air, which makes them a significant risk within the AFC.

2. Cowboys should go in a distinct route at DC this offseason Dallas’ protection has misplaced all of the juice it gained post-trade deadline from the acquisition of star defensive sort out Quinnen Williams.

Towards the Chargers, the Cowboys had no solutions within the run or cross sport. Sunday marked the fourth straight sport they’ve given up no less than 28 factors, together with the third straight through which they’ve allowed 34-plus.

With simply two video games left, Cowboys defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus probably finishes the yr. However getting a brand new voice to guide the protection needs to be a high precedence for Dallas.

3. Quentin Johnston is an X-factor for LAC Third-year receiver Quentin Johnston, who missed final week’s sport with a groin harm, caught 4 passes for a season-high 104 yards and a landing in Sunday’s win over the Cowboys. The Chargers improved to 5-1 when he has no less than 50 receiving yards.

There’s one thing to be mentioned about what his presence does for Herbert & Co. The previous first-round choose leads the workforce in receiving touchdowns and his 12.7 yards per receptions leads all Chargers extensive receivers (third amongst all gamers).

4. Cowboys should do no matter it takes to retain Pickens long run George Pickens had fewer than 40 receiving yards in back-to-back video games getting into Sunday, however he returned to high type in opposition to the Chargers with seven catches for 130 yards and a landing.

Jerry Jones mentioned this previous week that Pickens’ latest struggles didn’t change his emotions about wanting to increase the standout receiver, and Sunday was a reminder of how a lot worth he provides to Dallas’ offense.

4 ½. What’s subsequent? The Chargers will await the results of Texans-Raiders, which is a part of Sunday’s late afternoon slate. If Houston loses, Los Angeles will clinch a playoff berth.

Even when the Texans win, a Colts’ loss on Monday to San Francisco would get the Chargers into the postseason.

Subsequent Saturday, they will host Houston earlier than going through the Broncos in Denver within the regular-season finale.

The Cowboys finish their 2025 season on the highway in opposition to two division opponents: on the Commanders (4-11) on Thursday Evening Soccer and on the Giants (2-13) in Week 18.

Ben Arthur is an NFL reporter for FOX Sports activities. He beforehand labored for The Tennessean/USA TODAY Community, the place he was the Titans beat author for a yr and a half. He lined the Seattle Seahawks for SeattlePI.com for 3 seasons (2018-20) previous to shifting to Tennessee. You may comply with Ben on Twitter at @benyarthur.

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