The Dallas Cowboys’ 2025 season, once flickering with hope after a mid-season surge, has spiraled downward fast as a three-game losing streak has extinguished any remaining playoff aspirations and exposed even more defensive weaknesses.

On Sunday the Cowboys fell 34-17 to the visiting Los Angeles Chargers in their home finale at AT&T Stadium, dropping to 6-8-1 overall and extending their skid to 3-games. The defeat came just a day after the Philadelphia Eagles clinched the NFC East, officially eliminating Dallas from postseason contention for the second consecutive year—a drought not seen since 2019-2020.

Where it Began

The losing streak began with a tough road loss at Detroit, followed by another defeat at home (Minnesota Vikings), and culminated in the Chargers’ dominant performance, where quarterback Justin Herbert carved up a porous Cowboys defense for over 300 passing yards and the visitors racked up 152 rushing yards. Dallas managed zero sacks and little pressure on the NFL’s most-sacked QB entering the game, highlighting ongoing struggles that have seen the unit rank near the bottom of the league in points allowed (30 points per game).

“We all underachieved,” owner Jerry Jones said postgame, acknowledging the season’s shortcomings while he went on expressing optimism for the future. Despite offensive firepower—led by Dak Prescott who is on pace for a franchise-record passing yardage total and playmakers like CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens—the defense’s inability to stop opponents has doomed the Cowboys.

There Was Once Hope

Earlier in November, the Cowboys rattled off three consecutive wins, including statement victories over the Eagles and Chiefs, climbing to 6-5-1 and briefly teasing a playoff push. Cowboys fans were optimistically looking at all the playoff scenarios. But the momentum evaporated, flipping to the current three-game slide that has fans and analysts questioning coaching decisions, personnel moves, and the team’s direction under first-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer.

What’s Next

With two games remaining—a Christmas Day matchup at the struggling Washington Commanders (4-11) and a season finale against the New York Giants (2-13) the Cowboys can only play for pride and to avoid back-to-back losing seasons for the first time since 2000-2002. A loss in either contest would cement a sub-.500 record, and further extending the franchise’s 30-year Super Bowl drought.

As the season winds down out of contention, the focus shifts to finishing strong and building for next season. Looking at improving a historically bad defense, evaluating current contracts, and finding the consistency that once made Dallas a consistent playoff contender. Coaches (like Defensive Coordinator Matt Eberflus) are surely updating their resumes as well. Some may be coaching for their job at this point. Now all Cowboys fans can do is look forward to watching a “stress-free” NFL postseason without their team in it.

“The Cowboy Regg” – Co-Host of the “Sons of the Star” Podcast. Co-editor at the “We Like Sportz Show”. Follow “Cowboy Regg” on X @ Irish_Cowboy88