From Week 11 to Week 13, the belief was at a season high within the Dallas Cowboys organization. The team had won three-straight games, including two over the reigning Super Bowl representatives, while the playoff probability began to rise. However, that belief and playoff probability has dropped off over the last two weeks with losses to the Lions and Vikings. This week, the Cowboys (6-7-1) do not control their own playoff destiny but will look to get back on track against a red-hot Los Angeles Chargers (10-4) team. Here are 8 notable 'big facts' to remember ahead of Sunday's Noon CT kickoff on FOX.
Wrong Type of Consistency
Following their Week 15 loss, the Cowboys are back under .500 at 6-7-1. If they were to continue that trajectory, they'd finish with back-to-back losing seasons for the first time since 2000-02. That was a time where Dallas was in flux at the quarterback position, with Troy Aikman, Quincy Carter, and Chad Hutchinson each spending a season as the Cowboys leading passer.
Power Outage
On the opening drive of the Week 15 game against Minnesota, Quinnen Williams secured his second career interception and his first since 2023. It was also his first with the Cowboys, becoming just the fourth defensive tackle in franchise history to have an interception within his first five games with the team. According to Stats Perform, he joins La'Roi Glover (2002), Bruce Thornton (1979), and Ken Frost (1961).
Stretching the Streak
Dak Prescott has now thrown for at least 250 yards in six-straight games, one short of Jared Goff's longest active streak of seven. Also, one shy of Tony Romo's franchise record of seven-straight games with 250 passing yards which he achieved in 2009.
Shocking Defense
Prescott will have to continue that streak with 250 passing yards against a Chargers defense that has only allowed 250 net passing yards once this season, to Daniel Jones and the Colts on October 19. Additionally, the only player to reach the 300-yard mark against the Chargers since the start of the 2024 season, was Joe Burrow last year.
Charging Ahead
The Los Angeles Chargers have won 10 games in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2006-07 and trail the Broncos by two games in the AFC West standings. The Broncos play Jacksonville and Kansas City, while the Chargers play Dallas and Houston before the two teams face each other in the final regular season game. If the Chargers make up the two-game deficit to the Broncos, they'll hold the tiebreaker and win the division for the first time since 2009.
Power Outage
Los Angeles currently holds a three-game road winning streak against the Cowboys with wins in 2001, 2009, and 2017. The last time Dallas defeated the Chargers at home was in the 1990 season opener. Troy Aikman started at quarterback in that game, while rookie running back Emmitt Smith earned his first two career carries for his first two career yards.
Pressure Surge
This season, Justin Herbert has been sacked a career-high 49 times, which is tied for the most in the NFL. He also leads the NFL in QB hits (116) and QB pressures (239) according to NFL Next Gen Stats. Herbert is only one of two quarterbacks, along with Patrick Mahomes (102), to face over 100 hits this season.
Four-For-Four-For-Four
Dak Prescott needs just 69 passing yards to eclipse 4,000 passing yards this season. This would be Prescott's fourth 4,000 yard passing season, which ties Tony Romo for the most in Cowboys franchise history. Funny enough, he also needs four passing touchdowns to tally his fourth 30-passing touchdown season.
