Dallas Cowboys Look to End December Woes Against San Diego Chargers

It may have been just one week, but the Dallas Cowboys 31-24 loss to the New York Giants">Dallas Cowboys 31-24 loss to the New York Giants last week is already causing the media to write them off for another December collapse.

Unfortunately, the December collapse talk will haunt the Cowboys until they finally make it past the first round of the playoffs and find a way to win the big games in December.

With an 8-4 record heading into Week 14, the Cowboys host the 9-3 San Diego Chargers as they look to end the negative December talk and maintain first place in the NFC East. Holding a one-game lead in the AFC West, San Diego travels to Dallas on a seven-game winning streak.

Despite their loss in the Meadowlands last weekend, Dallas has developed a win streak of its own, winning the last five games at Cowboys Stadium. While one team's streak will come to an end, the Cowboys are concerned with a streak that has developed over the last three years for the Chargers.

Even though the Cowboys have won their last five games at home, San Diego is the last team Dallas wants to face in this type of situation because of the Chargers success in the month of December.

While the Cowboys have struggled during the Tony Romo era in December (5-9), the Chargers have flourished in the final month of the regular season under head coach Norv Turner. Last week's win over the Cleveland Browns improved his record to 10-0 in the month of December since taking over as head coach for San Diego in 2007.

The Chargers are the last team in the NFL the Cowboys want to face in this type of situation. With two teams looking to stay at the top of their division down the stretch of the season, it should be a tough matchup between Dallas and San Diego on Sunday.

If the Cowboys win, the media may give them the credit they deserve for winning against a playoff caliber team in the Chargers during the month of December.

If they lose, expect another week of the media talking about how the Cowboys are on their way to another December collapse and a shot of missing the playoffs.

Dan Parzych is the founder of the new NFCEastFootball.com