CHARGERS (10-4) at COWBOYS (6-7-1)
When: 10 a.m. PT Sunday
Where: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
TV/Radio: Ch. 11; 640 AM/94.3 FM (Spanish)
Line: Cowboys by 1.5
Notable injury designations
Chargers: OUT: WR Derius Davis (ankle), S RJ Mickens (shoulder); QUESTIONABLE: OLB Bud Dupree (back), WR Quentin Johnston (groin), S Elijah Molden (hamstring), RT Trey Pipkins III (ankle), DL Teair Tart (shin).
Cowboys: OUT: CB DaRon Bland (foot), T Tyler Guyton (ankle); QUESTIONABLE: CB Josh Butler (knee), CB Caelen Carson (shoulder/hamstring), CB Trevon Diggs (knee), FB Hunter Luepke (concussion), RB Phil Mafah (shoulder), DE Payton Turner (ribs), DT Quinnen Williams (concussion).
What’s at stake: The Chargers can clinch an AFC playoff berth with a victory over the Cowboys plus either a loss or a tie by the Indianapolis Colts to the San Francisco 49ers or a loss or a tie by the Houston Texans to the Las Vegas Raiders. A win by the 49ers is probably more realistic. There also are two scenarios in which the Chargers can clinch by virtue of a tie with the Cowboys. A victory by the Chargers also would all but eliminate the Cowboys from the NFC playoffs. A victory for the Cowboys would enhance their playoff odds from 1% to 2%, according to NFL.com, so they’re as good as done anyway.
Who’s better: The Cowboys are a dangerous team because they have one of the NFL’s best offenses, ranked fourth in points per game (29.1) and first in net yards per game (396.9). However, their defense is one of the weakest in the league, ranking 31st in points given up per game (30) and 29th in net yards given up per game (374.9). The Chargers moved into playoff contention with victories over the Raiders, Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs coming out of their bye in Week 12. The Chargers’ defense appears playoff-ready after holding the Raiders, Eagles and Chiefs to a combined 46 points, an average of 15.3 points per game.
Matchup to watch: Can the Chargers’ defense fluster another high-profile quarterback, as they did during the past three weeks? Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is the NFL’s leading passer with 3,931 yards going into Week 16. The Chargers limited Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, a three-time Super Bowl champion, to 189 yards passing and sacked him five times before he suffered a torn ACL in the final two minutes of the game. If the Chargers can contain Prescott in the same manner, they should have a big advantage.
Chargers win if: The Chargers’ challenge is twofold. First, they must slow down Prescott and the Cowboys’ high-powered offense. Second, they must exploit the Cowboys’ lackluster defense, as so many others have done this season.
Fantasy sleeper: Quarterback Justin Herbert hasn’t thrown for 250 yards or more since he completed 19 of 29 passes for 250 yards with two touchdowns and one interception in the Chargers’ victory Nov. 2 over the Tennessee Titans. This would seem to be the right game and the right opponent for Herbert to have a breakout game. The Cowboys’ poor defense is one reason to believe Herbert will compile some big numbers. The other reason is that he said the other day that his fractured left, non-throwing hand is feeling better after surgery, time and rehabilitation exercises have allowed it to heal somewhat. He was hurt during the Chargers’ victory Nov. 30 over the Raiders and underwent surgery the next day.
Prediction: Defense and special teams have played significant roles in the Chargers’ three-game winning streak. Now, with a chance to get their middling offense back into gear against a porous Cowboys defense, can they put it all together for a potentially playoff-clinching victory? Chargers 38, Cowboys 28.
