The Los Angeles Chargers, led by a resilient Justin Herbert playing with a broken left hand, have stormed into playoff contention with three straight wins. Their success sets up a dramatic regular-season finale against the Dallas Cowboys, a team staring at postseason elimination even before Sunday's kickoff in Arlington.
Herbert's Painful Path to Playoffs
Justin Herbert suffered a fracture in his non-throwing hand during the Chargers' victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. Despite undergoing immediate surgery, the star quarterback returned to action just seven days later. With his hand heavily protected, he has since guided his team to crucial wins against the previous season's Super Bowl participants – the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Chargers' 16-13 triumph over the Chiefs last week was particularly significant, ending Patrick Mahomes' streak of seven consecutive AFC championship game appearances. Herbert's toughness has been central to the Chargers' 10-4 record, positioning them for a likely wild-card berth, mirroring their path from last season.
"Getting better," Herbert stated about his hand. "That's the most important part, just getting the swelling down and getting full range of motion and control with it, just to get a good grip on the ball." However, his performance has dipped post-injury, with the offense struggling and Herbert throwing interceptions in seven of the last eight games.
Cowboys' Crumbling Season and Defensive Woes
In stark contrast, the Dallas Cowboys' season is on the brink of collapse with a 6-7-1 record. Despite a brief resurgence with wins over the Eagles and Chiefs, consecutive losses to Detroit and Minnesota have left them needing a miracle. A Cowboys loss or an Eagles win over Washington this Saturday will officially end their playoff hopes for the second consecutive year.
First-year coach Brian Schottenheimer has confirmed that Dak Prescott, the NFL's passing leader, will start against the Chargers. "I want to win," Schottenheimer said. "So the plan will be to play Dak."
The core of Dallas's problems lies in its defense, ranked last in pass defense and 29th overall. Owner Jerry Jones has expressed growing frustration with first-year defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, noting a pattern of opposing quarterbacks performing exceptionally well against them. "It seems like we're always saying that about these quarterbacks," Jones lamented after the loss to Minnesota and QB J.J. McCarthy.
Under mounting pressure, Eberflus announced he will coach from the booth instead of the sideline against the Chargers, seeking a new perspective. Jones hinted that the defensive struggles arrived too late to salvage their season.
Side Stories: Pickens Under Scrutiny and Chargers' Defensive Strength
The spotlight also falls on Cowboys receiver George Pickens, whose breakout year has hit a rough patch. After a quiet game against Detroit drew public criticism from retired All-Pro Richard Sherman about his route-running commitment, Pickens responded tersely on social media. He managed only three catches for 33 yards against Minnesota, though teammate CeeDee Lamb defended him, suggesting critics were waiting for a slump.
"Some people’s job is to do that, tear down character, see how much clicks they can get," Pickens remarked this week. When asked about the constant scrutiny, he added, "Starting to get kind of old, honestly."
Meanwhile, the Chargers' recent wins have been anchored by their defense, compensating for an offense that has totaled under 300 yards in each of the last two games. As the playoffs approach, Los Angeles hopes Herbert can regain his early-season form and secure a deeper postseason run than last year's wild-card exit.
This Sunday's clash at AT&T Stadium is more than a game; it's a tale of two franchises on dramatically different trajectories, with one fighting for a playoff seed and the other fighting for pride.
