ARLINGTON, Texas – Eliminated from playoff contention before the game, the Cowboys were playing for pride against the Chargers, who needed a win to clinch their own playoff spot.
However, the Chargers were too much for a Dallas defense that has struggled all year, and that didn't change on this day against Justin Herbert, who hurt the Cowboys with his arm and his legs.
Here are five plays that might be forgotten but played a role in Sunday's outcome.
Smith's holding call – Starting at left tackle for the first time this season, Tyler Smith was flagged for a hold that wiped out Ryan Flournoy's second touchdown catch of the game. That would've given Dallas a 14-7 lead and kept the pressure on the Chargers. However, the call pushed the offense back and forced a Brandon Aubrey field goal.
Cowboys not calling timeouts before the half – The Cowboys had a shot to get more time on the clock than just the 15 seconds remaining when they got the ball to finish the first half. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer called one of his timeouts but had two more he could've used to stop the clock with the Chargers driving. There was a run by Omarion Hampton on first down with 1:13 left, and they didn't run another play until there were 36 seconds left. Maybe one timeout would've changed the play-calling and forced the Chargers to be more aggressive and throw a pass. Either way, they scored a touchdown, and the Cowboys got the ball back with 15 seconds and only ran two plays before halftime. Even if the Cowboys had no timeouts, they could've gotten into Aubrey's field goal range with close to a minute of game clock available.
Lamb false start call – Near the end of the third quarter, the Cowboys were driving with a chance to tie the game at 24. But on third-and-5 at the 20-yard line, CeeDee Lamb was flagged for a false start call just before the snap. That pushed the Cowboys back 10 yards and on the next play, Dak Prescott hit George Pickens for a 9-yard reception back to the 16. The Cowboys went for it on fourth down, but Hunter Luepke was stuffed behind the line of scrimmage for a turnover on downs. While it's hard to tell what the play call might have been on third-and-5, needless to say, the Lamb penalty pushed them back far enough where they eventually didn't convert. One could argue the Pickens catch is the play to point out because without that, they would have likely kicked a field goal.
Herbert avoids sack, takes off – There's a lot happening on this play as the Cowboys desperately needed a stop early in the fourth quarter, trailing by a touchdown. On third-and-7, the defense blitzed and Kenneth Murray got home but couldn't wrap up Herbert, who slipped away and then stepped up into plenty of free space. Herbert took off for a 34-yard run. But he was hit hard by a trailing Markquese Bell, who jarred the ball loose for a fumble. Unfortunately, the ball bounced back into Herbert's hands for the recovery. The Chargers continued that drive and grabbed a two-score lead with a field goal.
Lamb lines up offside – You don't see many offensive offsides calls but late in the fourth quarter, with the game out of hand, Lamb was flagged for offside on the same play he drew a pass interference call at the 5-yard line. Had he just lined up an inch or two back, the Cowboys would've had the ball at the 5 and likely would've scored. It doesn't change the outcome, but considering Joe Milton fumbled a couple of plays later and the Chargers then ran out the clock, that play would've at least changed the perception of the game. Either way, the Chargers got the win, but an odd offside penalty would've prevented the Cowboys' second-lowest scoring total of the season.
