Justin Herbert’s broken left hand didn’t stop the Chargers from crushing the Dallas Cowboys 34-17 on Sunday, giving Los Angeles a shot at a second straight postseason berth.
Game Recap
The Chargers’ fourth straight win moved them to 11-4 and put them in a position to clinch a playoff spot with a loss or tie by Indianapolis in Week 17. Los Angeles scored on all three first-half drives, with two touchdown passes from Herbert and a rushing score. Omarion Hampton added a 5-yard run in the second half. Dallas managed only a single touchdown from Dak Prescott before being eliminated from playoff contention.
Herbert finished 23 of 29 for 300 yards, a season-high 79% completion rate. He threw a 23-yard touchdown to Quentin Johnston, a 25-yard pass to Ladd McConkey, and a 1-yard plunge on a modified tush-push. Johnston had four catches for 104 yards.
Herbert’s Performance and Injury
The quarterback broke his left hand in the first game of the current winning streak. “It’s getting better,” Herbert said. “I think the swelling’s going down. I’ve got much better grip on the ball now. And so I think every week, every day helps. And just getting used to it and allowing the bone to heal.”
Despite the injury, Herbert escaped defender Kenneth Murray’s grasp on a third-and-seven play, sprinting 33 yards to set up a 27-yard field goal by Cameron Dicker that put the Chargers ahead 27-17 with nine minutes remaining. He was slow getting up and appeared to favor the injured hand, but said after the game he landed on the elbow and didn’t miss any time.
Dallas cornerback Trevon Diggs praised Herbert’s effort: “He’s amazing, his accuracy, his escapility, his ability to throw on the run,” Diggs said.
Playoff Implications
The win keeps the Chargers a chance to secure their second postseason berth in two seasons under coach Jim Harbaugh. Los Angeles would clinch the spot with a loss or tie by Indianapolis, who play Monday night. The AFC West race remains open; Denver leads the division but has a one-game lead over the Chargers with two games left. A season sweep of the Broncos in the final game would give Los Angeles the tiebreaker.
“We got the ball out quick, had a great protection plan and really were on our stuff this week,” Herbert added. “So it’s a shoutout to the front five for just communicating, talking and blocking as well as they did.”
Cowboys’ Standings and Performance
The Cowboys (6-8-1) lost three straight games after a three-game winning streak that put them over .500 for the only time in coach Brian Schottenheimer’s first season. Dak Prescott finished 21 of 30 for 244 yards; both quarterbacks went without an interception. “They played a better full game than us,” said Prescott. “The first half, we’re rolling, and we didn’t get the stop on defense. The second half, we got the stops on defense and we weren’t doing much.”
Prescott’s first touchdown pass was a 5-yard to Ryan Flournoy, who had a second TD wiped out by a holding penalty before exiting with a knee injury. George Pickens scored on a 38-yard catch when Prescott hit him in stride in the end zone.
Injuries and Roster Moves
**Chargers:
- LT Jamaree Salyer injured a hamstring in the first half and didn’t return.
- CB Donte Jackson exited with a groin injury in the third quarter and didn’t return.
Cowboys:**
- LB DeMarvion Overshown sustained a concussion in the first half and didn’t return.
- C Cooper Beebe missed three plays in the first quarter after getting poked in the eye.
Upcoming Games
- Chargers host Houston on Saturday.
- Cowboys travel to Washington on Thursday night.
Key Takeaways
- Chargers win 34-17, keeping playoff hopes alive.
- Justin Herbert throws two touchdown passes and rushes for a score while nursing a broken left hand.
- Cowboys’ season continues to stall, with a loss that eliminates them from postseason contention.
The Chargers’ victory demonstrates resilience and a growing confidence in a quarterback playing through injury, while the Cowboys face a steep climb to recover from a disappointing finish to the season.
