Cowboys Break: A Look Around The NFC

Season thirteen, episode number sixty. Welcome to another edition of The Break, live from the s WBC Mortgage Studios at the Star. It's a big picture Tuesday. We're gonna talk about the NFC East. We're gonna talk about the NFC.

I got a lot of questions for these guys about what's happening right now in the NFC and how the Cowboys fit into this picture because there's a lot of there's a lot of teams that are kind of lurking around and not really other than one team, not really a team that's kind of separate, rating themselves from the pack. So we'll talk about the Philadelphia Eagles. They are that one team that seems to be separating themselves a little bit, not statistically, not as far as a record is concerned

but definitely looking the part. So we'll talk about that and and get some opinions from you guys. What was ours everybody doing this morning? We're doing great. Everybody in the group is doing great. Good. You're speaking for everybody's yes. No, yes, Dave, are you doing good? I'm okay. You know. It's funny.

I think one day I want as we start the show, I want the camera to isolate on David as I'm talking, because he's always giving like these really weird facial looks, like he'll start, Yeah, He'll start like with that little sly grin, and then he'll kind of look like, what are you talking about? And then he'll kind of go into another yeah, like that little where he blows a little bit of air into his cheeks, and Yeah, he does all these different facials, and I don't know what

he's thinking. I wish I could know what he was thinking. Most of the time. It's got nothing to do with anything you're saying. You were just so far over in left field. How many people do you think like I feel like the vast majority of people that listen or watch mainly listen like I do think that many people even know. Some do. Some you'll be surprised. No, No, I know some people do. But I think the vast majority of our listeners just do audience. They do so

they do. You know, the ridiculous faces I make over the course of the show don't really matter, Although that would give them a reason to want to tune in and actually watch or not. I don't know how many people want to see that, but sorry, like would be a good comedy. I'm a day dreamer. That's pretty much.

That's good to know, because at least now I know that it's not sometimes though, some like I did do it just now because you were like, well, the Eagles aren't really distancing themselves with their record, and I'm like, what, They're six and one. They're one game ahead of a couple of other teams in the NFC. I mean, it's not like they're they've blown the doors off in the ahead of everybody else. I mean, they're one game ahead of the Vikings. They have the best record in football. Yes,

that's great. One game ahead of the Vikings. So it's okay. They're not so far in front where they can't be caught, depending by who. By talking about the Cowboys. Well, let's talk about that telling them twice, right, and they can handle them if they really want to, they handle their business, they can catch them. I agree with that to a point, but you know, it's start just to play Devil's advocate. Like, you know, the Cowboys beat Philly twice, but it kind

of like the Giants. If the Cowboys beat the Philly twice but don't handle their business against everybody else, it doesn't matter when you're when you're talking about a team that's winning, you know, six games in a row or no, five games in a row. Whatever it is. So anyway, but let's let's talk about Philadelphi because last night we

saw him play against the Redskins. They win that game, and to me, it was this is what what I was talking about last week, and I was talking about this team, like just offensively and defensively, they looked apart. I mean, they are explosive offensively. That quarterback come on some of those plays he made where he got out of trouble and then threw the ball downfield. I mean it's just you see his strength, his ability to throw

the ball kind of out of whim. He just seems like he just flicks it and it goes down the field twenty thirty yards. That team looks pretty scary. And then you look at the defense affront, and you look at that those guys affront that can cause so much havoc. It looks like a really formidable team. Yep, they do

look good. Uh, Carson Wentz, I thought, you know, everyone everyone knows how tall he is and how big he is, but I don't think even coming out of college people thought he was going to be as mobiles as he has been. And that touchdown he threw where I don't even know if he had any feet on the ground when he when he lofted it up there, I thought that was talking about the one to Clement, Yeah, where you know, he just kind of jumped and got hit and threw a perfect pass and they got a great catch.

And you know, his his receivers are helping him out a little bit. I mean, he had a guy that was going to be a first round bust and now he's actually playing like a first rounder. So he's got he's got guys helping him and and the defense is helping him. And then he's he's really good. He's he's he's a much better athlete than I think people thought. I agree with that. As your opinion changed after last night on what you thought of Philly or Washington Amber, No,

they've been pretty good. I mean Philly, they've I've expected them to be relatively good. Now the Redskins, I didn't really expect them to be three and three right now. I thought that would be winning a little bit more. For the most part, I definitely did not expect the Cowboys to be tied with them right now with three and three, So that's definitely going to be an interesting

match to go up against them. And now we'll really see, or we'll be able to really see where the Cowboys are really standing in if they indeed improve in all those areas that we saw improvement in the game, sorry, in the game against the forty nine ers. So did your opinions changed last night? Well, I thought that they handled a division opponent fairly. Well, I mean so that that's always an impressive win because you know you're expecting that game to be close, and it was. That was

the second time they played him, too. Yeah, they're done with those teams are done for the season. Yeah, which seems weird to me, but I'll say I'll say this though I don't know if this is kind of get us in a different direction, but this game coming up for the Cowboys is the biggest game of the year in my opinion. This is the game. I know it's Tuesday, but this is the biggest game for them. It really is. I think this is the swing game. This will tell

you where you're gonna go. You're sitting right there in the intersection. Are you're gonna go straight? You're gonna go right? What are you gonna do? Because this is the game because you got Kansas City in Atlanta coming up. If you think you're gonna win both those games, we haven't seen that kind of consistency. So you got to win this game. If to get to four and three, even if you split and get to five and four, that's good.

And I know, I mean that's that's not great, but it's it's the best you can kind of hope for. I think. So you've got to beat the Redskins, and I know there's no must wins this early in the year. This is to me as close as it gets to that. I don't I don't disagree with that. Just when you I don't know, yeah, and you know what, I'm sorry, I'll let you finish that, but I don't think it's that much out of the way of what we were

talking about. Because of what Philadelphia is doing and because they're kind of up there, you've got to you've got to establish second place and you gotta, you know, you gotta stay with them the best you can and beating the Redskins and getting a division record and all that kind of stuff. That's why this is me. This is such a huge win and a huge game for them.

And the other part to that is now you're starting to think if if Philly keeps winning and they maintain this lead, and all you do is, let's say, even just split with Philly and they maintain that lead, now you're looking at wildcards. So those games become even more important. The game against Atlanta becomes extremely important. The game against

Seattle becomes extremely important. These teams, Yeah, well, you already lost a game, and so you start then you start rooting for the ram to keep winning because you want them to just go and win that division so they're

not in that wildcard hunt. But that's the point, like, now you have to really look at all those wildcard teams, and really those games become way more important in Washington's right there, and that mix with those wildcard teams, you can't really afford to lose any NFC games going down here. But well, I was gonna say I agree in the sense that, you know, I said last week that they're not gonna make the playoffs if they lose the forty nine ers. So all right, you handle You handled the

forty nine ers, that's good. This isn't gonna be like a you know, ten eleven win season if you can't win, like if they can't win this game against the Redskins, then it just furthers that idea that this is, you know, eight and eight type of trading wins and losses. You're never really digging out of that five hundred sub five hundred hole. Because yeah, I agree with that. I think the best realistic expectation is a split with Atlanta in Kansas City. So you need this to kind of not

lose too much ground in that department. So you know, if you're trying to get to nine wins are better. This is the type of game you need to win. The one thing that looks really good for the Cowboys right now is when you start thinking about the injury situation. I went last night and I looked at each team's injured reserve. Sorry, what were you buy saying screw the injured reserve? Those teams got beat up last night. No they did, and we'll get to that part too, but

I wanted just starting with the injured reserve part of this. Like, right now, the Cowboys have five guys on injured reserve, and the guys like guys like Rico and Stephen Paia and Charles Tapper and Duke Thomas and Zack Desert, like these are guys that weren't even your front line guys. But check this out. Philly has seven guys on IR. They've got Darnce Rolls, who was a their lead running back.

They've got Caleb Sturgis, who is their kicker, which Cowboys are dealing with a kicker situation, but he's not on injured reserve. And then last night they lose Jason Peters, who is their Pro Bowl left tackle. They don't know how long yet. There are some conflicting reports this morning as to whether it's a torn a sayl or not. Either way, he's gonna miss some hime and that's significant time for he left tackle. Judging by the way he was carted off, it was almost like you would assume, yeah,

goodbye forever. Right, So that's that's the Eagles. Then Washington lost the first round pick Jonathan Allen to injured reserve. Their kicker Dustin Hopkins is also an injured reserve. Last night, their Pro Bowl guard Brandon Sherriff goes down with an injury. Don't know the extent of that when just yet they lost another one of their tackles late in the game.

Williams didn't finish the game. So three of their top offensive lineman got hurt in the game last night, including some of the guys they already have on a high are What about a Norman. Norman's out right now, But I heard last night they said there's a possibility he can play this week. Yeah, you don't have I wasn't believing he was going to miss a game. You don't have a commercial with another guy on another team, back and forth, and then he has a commercial and then

you missed the game. Yeah, I think he's gonna probably play, but we'll see how they know something else about you know, these guys staying I think they said on Monday Night Football last night that like Jay Gruden was just like

Trent Williams probably isn't going to practice again this year. Yeah, you know, he's just gonna be a game time type of deal assumed, like the left tackle here, assuming he didn't get hurt too badly at the tail end, right, I mean they lost and yeah, I don't know the significance, but they lost for offensive linemen of significant of significance over the course of that game last night. And so that's what I'm looking at, and that on a short week,

that'll be interesting to see how that plays out. And then obviously the Giants, we've already seen them get platooned. I'm sorry ahead use that word again. We already seen him. We've already seen them get damaged by the fact that they lost their best player, Odell Beckham Junior, and then lost Brandon Marshland, then lost d Wayne Harris. These are all that basically, that's their wide receiver. That's three other

top four wide receivers or the return guy. Our time's coming. No, what I'm saying is right now as it sits, and we know this about the foot the NFL injuries are part of the game. Right now, as it sits, the Cowboys sit in a very good position because they haven't had those kinds of big injuries two key players that have kept them out for the rest of the season. Now they've had some injuries they've had to deal with, but it's been two, three, four games. It has not

been eight games. It has not been ir So I think for right now, you probably are going to experience some injuries at some point, But for right now, Cowboys are sitting in a pretty good position. Yeah. I don't know as a hell of a spend job right there, like my washing machine? How's that a spin job? It's fact like like Bay, I don't know like that. By

the time you is, it's all factual. You're right. But by the time you were done talking, I would have thought the Cowboys are in first in the division right now. Oh all it says is right now in the as far as injuries are concerned, they're in a good position. And that's a good thing for the Cowboys. It doesn't mean they're gonna win games. Because I saw a Green Bay team what was that? And it was the year they went to the Super Bowl, had like seventeen guys

on IR. So it doesn't mean because you have a lot of guys on I R, you can't go. But it also depends on those guys that are Who are the guys that are that are on IR? Who are the guys that you're missing? Like Green Bay? I don't factor green Bay anymore because I just don't think they can do it without that Quarterback's a heck of a

philosophical question. Would you rather be six and one and coping with some serious injuries or three and three healthy with the potential to kind of I mean, but yeah, you have all the guys you need to do that. You know. Another factor of this is this, We're gonna start to see some of these games change a little bit with the weather and get colder. And this is

the team. The Cowboys are a team that's built for that obviously, the way they run the ball and the way their offensive line is and the way Dak's playing and he's not really a big down the field throw er time, So you know, that says you got to stay in position because you're gonna get to a point in the season where you can you know, I think a lot of injuries is I just cold weather it's

just the injuries and stuff. You want to be able to grind games out, and so they do have the personnel to play that way, that physical style that I think they could maybe you know, win some games down the stretch that maybe you maybe they wouldn't think that they would. There's nobody on the schedule that you say they can't beat them, not not the Cowboys. Yeah, so that's it. But there's nobody on the schedule that you're like, they won't lose to them. That team was just gone.

I wrote that on my column last week, like they just played the last game that you're like, you know, really really confident. Chargers are one of the hottest teams. You're not confident about the time? No, not a division way, no, not all no way, not a division game on the road in December against the team that has had success against them and has shown nothing as recently last week they beat Denver. No. No, And yeah, that game seems you really feel right, I mean, no, char Chargers aren't

in the same boat. Like there have you seen Melvin Ingram and Joey Bosa. This is starting to play now. Those guys, I know they're fifteen, they're pretty good but there is not a game. Crazy part is they're probably gonna be the last team in their division. Oh yeah, but it's a pretty good division. There's not an easy out. There's not a game left on this schedule that I'm just like that should be a win. There isn't one. I looked, Yeah, you were searching. Yeah, I'm not saying.

I'm obviously like they're gonna win games, obviously like they're not gonna finish three in thirteen. And there are no guarantees none, although last week Red Skin, I don't think. I don't think they were guarantees last week. Last week when we were talking about that team, we were even saying, like this team hasn't lost by a lot. Did the Redskin, like off the top of the red Skins play on Thanksgiving? I doubt it. I don't think so. I mean, I don't know if they've played Detroit, and I don't know

if they played that night game. Yeah, I don't because all I'm saying is is then that means that they would have to go back on a short week, Yes, when the Cowboys play Thursday night, and then if twice they have to go on a short on a short week against the Cowboys, I think so, and let against the Giants is that they do play Thanksgiving, Okay, okay, So I was just thinking that then that they had to have a short week to come and play that Thursday game, then that would be a game I think

the Cowboys, you know, you would think should be able to win. But you know, division games are all up in the air anyways, I'll rephrase, Yeah, San Francisco was a should win. Got it there. There aren't any more should wins. There's like can wins now, you know. But it's a slight difference. I think usually those ends up in five hundred seasons. I'm just saying, they got their work cut out for him. Man, there's no way around that.

So do you do you think though, if if, if they play to the point where let's assume for a second that what we saw at the end of the Green Bay game and what we saw last week suggests that they are starting to figure this thing out from the standpoint of they're running game. If they're off, that change your opinion about whether there are games that are left on the schedule that they should win playing that

style of football. If they're playing at their best, does that change your opinion about games that they should win down the stretch. Yes, yeah, I think so. But and I'm not gonna give them that benefit of doubt. They got to show me more than a game and a quarter. A game and a quarter a game against the O and seven team, right, and a quarter in a game that they lost, Right, I need a little more than that.

I'm with you. But if they do get it rolling like that, then sure, because as we saw him roll them off last year, like, if you're playing that style of football, they can win some games. They can stack some games together, you know, a lot of games. But they have some issues right now though. I mean this

is these games are gonna be close. There's gonna be some games down to the wire, and their security blanket that they've had for the last three or four years is not with them this week, and who knows after that. And I don't know when we want to talk about the kicking situation and all that, But I mean that these games will come down to the wire, and the Cowboys to me have the best, if not you know,

definitely one of the best kickers in the league. And so something's gonna have to give here in the next few weeks. Yeah, they have gotten very comfortable because they've had now for a lot of years, they've had a good kicker that you know, you get within a fifty yard field goal and you're like, let's do it, Like you don't even worry about it as a fan, as somebody watching and observing games, I don't even think to about him like I was gonna make it. I'm surprised

if he doesn't make it. And I remember a time that was in case, Like, there have been years, a lot of years here where you didn't have that kind of kicker in It looks like what you're gonna have to deal with now for at least a week, and who knows how long after that, I would guess several. Yeah, so it's it's not gonna be right. It's in close games or you're playing really good teams. That kind of

stuff matters. Before we go to break. I let's just say they've got workouts today, They've got Um, I'm bringing in Jason Myers, Mike Nugent. I don't think that they wound up getting that young Hookho guy. They didn't. I don't think so. Um and Sam Arowin Hill, who was here in training camp and they're bringing which I think this is Yeah, I was wrong. I'm sorry. I still maintain why, Like, what do you stand to lose by bringing him in and taking a look at him like

there's no talent with it? You're right, m You're both right. It's a move the Cowboys would do. It's a it's a Jerry Jones type of move. But what you say, we don't need you to get it right here, we want it need to be right when you walk into do as right as you can be, Like I think hell of a hell of a vote of not a vote of confidence. It's just funny to me that, you know, long snapper is such a it's the most overlooked job

in the NFL. They're bringing in a guy they're signed, like they're bringing in a guy to do this workout, a long snapper to help with the workout. Because like LP's you're like, nah, you don't hold on, hold on. I have to say this too. Do you know who after Heath? You know who the kicker is? LP? Lattice Er you met? Just the visual of that makes me laugh, Like as big as he is, as tall as he is, him back there like kicking field that's gonna look weird.

I was telling some people. I was like, so you mean to tell me those bad chicken strips that I had at halftime of the forty nine game cost me a chance to watch him kick do some kicks at halftime. Yeah, and I missed that, um something else. So so shuffling around everything you know to get Jeff Swain would be your backup snapper to Chris Jones to LP. Which also, what did we learn Chris Jones is your fourth kicker on the team at least I don't even know, maybe

someone behind Heath and LP. We learned that I was right, didn't we that? Yeah? Well, according to Brian, which if you want to believe Brian, you know, it makes sense that you don't want to mess with the guy's mechanics. That was Bryan said that. Literally, it is a situation where like coaches are afraid of messing with because it is very different mechanics. You're afraid of messing with the mechanics of a punter having him also kick. And so that's why is not your backup kicker. You also don't

have a holder if Chris Jones is the kicker. I mean, you got to find a new guy. I'm sure. I'm sure. Well they're gonna have to find a new guy to snap if they have to get to that point. So what Jason's thought is the snap is the most important thing. You don't get that, then nothing, right. Yeah, so get the guy that's been consistent for thirteen years, like he's

doing that. He's he's good there, Which goes back to my point that I like, he's so revered in this organization that they're like, Noah, like, bring a guy in to do this work out you you don't need to worry about the rest. Yeah, well, you have this offensive line, and you have Zeke, and you have a mobile quarterback.

I'm not sure that a two point conversion isn't a better option than a backup kicker kicking at thirty four year you'll get You only want to get fifty percent of them in order to get the same points, right, So that's true, And fifty percent is the It's about forty eight percent is the conversion rate, right, So probably you're probably better off. The only thing I think would be kind of challenging is that now you're eating into

those plays. I would assume that you would use usually in short yardist goal line situations because now you have to use them for extra points, and so now you're showing that maybe a little earlier in games and maybe you want to run a quarterback draw with a pass option. I don't care how many times you run, keep running. It's unstoppable if you do it right. How many like,

how many times have they done that? And how many times is Dak not when when they point When they put on the first touchdown of the game, I had the binoculars on there, and they spread three receivers out and then one to the left, and I was just looking at it like this is a touchdown, Like there's no way that whoever is over the right guard, there's no way that they're gonna stop them. And it was pretty easy. So that's what I think you gotta do.

Spread them out and then let Dak just figure it out that that I mean that was a touchdown or the two point conversion against the Packers in the playoffs. They did it against the Rams. Still they had that penalty on Travis Frederick, but I still think that that's almost unstoppable. They picked up a third down in San Francisco doing it. It's yeah, yeah, all right, looks like our first break. When we come back, I want to ask these guys a question about about the rest of

the NFC and who scares you. We're gonna talk a little bit about the rest of the chairs that are in the mix and h and how much the Cowboys should be worried about particular teams and also look at the quarterbacks from those teams. What quarterbacks are still left in this thing that could pose big problems because of their ability to score. We'll do that when we come right back. This is Dallas Cowboys dot Com Radio. We the entertainment loving people want a small our phone built

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Stetson hats are handmade right here in Texas, and I bet on cowboys heads for over one hundred and fifty years. The rest of you can visit stetson dot com slash cowboy to find a retailer nearest you. Back to the brink, Welcome back. It's the second segment of the break Life in SWBC Mortgage Studios. At the start, we're talking NFC

East and the NFC Cowboys an interesting position. They're at three and three right now, and there are right now there are one, two, three, four, five, six, seven teams that have a better record than they do in the NFC, and then there are two other teams that have the exact same record that they do. There's a total of ten teams that are at five hundred or above Cowboys at the bottom of that list. So here's what you got.

You got Seattle at four and two, you got New Orleans at four and two, you got Minnesota at five and two, you got the Rams at five and two, you got the Eagles at six and one, you got Caroline at four and three, Green Bay at four and three. Those all the teams that are above the Cowboys, and then tied with the Cowboys, you have Detroit at three and three, and you have Washington at three and three.

Looking at all those teams, which of those teams do you think is the biggest has the biggest And we've already talked about the Eagle, So let's leave the Eagles out for a second. Look. Yeah, just the NFC picture without the Eagles involved, assuming that they let's assume that they're going to just kind of be up there. Who are the other teams here that you think are legitimate threats to win and represent the NFC in Super Bowl? What did you say Carolina's record is Carolina is four

and three. They lost two in a row. Yeah, I actually just got in an argument about this because and Minnesota is leading the NFC North. They have a nasty defense, their their running game has been solid, which is impressive since Dalvin Cook went down with a torn acl Now Switheltavius Murray and Jerick McKinnon, I just don't. I don't take them as seriously as maybe I should, because Sam

Bradford's been out all for most of the year. Case Kams played well, but you know, and then Teddy Teddy Bridgewater's supposedly back, but it's way too early for me to assume that he's going to be what he was. Um, So I'm interested because you know, I just again I always maybe I give too much respect to the quarterbacks because I don't care what else was wrong with Green Bay.

I'm I was, I'm rolling with them if Aaron Rodgers is in the game and in a similar vein, I look at Detroit as a team to watch in that division just because they have Matt Stafford and he's typically capable of putting his team on his back that way. M Philly, I you know, I think I had a pretty good idea what they were heading into that game, but they just re emphasized that. Honestly, their defense I

think is the best part about them. But when Carson Wentz plays like that, they certainly look like the best team in the conference right now. I think the team that's looking pretty good is the Saints. They and they have obviously have a quarterback that Phil can go out and score points, outscore anybody. They seem kind of balanced with some good running attack and their defense. I don't know, it just seems like they're being you know, opportunistic and

making some play. So they to me though that I don't mean another Cowboys don't face them, but they seem like somebody is going to get in the mix here. Oh yeah, and well, actually they are in the mills. We've got we've got good morning football on the TVs and here Peter Schreeger said like last week that they're set up to go on a run, mainly because they're playing well, but also their schedule, like they got the

Packers the week after Aaron Rodgers got hurt. I think they have the Bears this week, which I know they just beat the Panthers, but you would think that they can get to win there they've got a chance to put it together to the point where they're like seven and two if they play well. Having said that, I don't trust that defense. Like they have Cameron Jordan and they got a couple other guys, but like that's that's not a defense that strikes fear in your heart, especially

like the way Philly does. I mean, Fletcher Cox, h Timmy Joern again, those corner you know, Ronald Darby, Jalen Mills are playing well. Malcolm Jenkins is one of the better safeties in the league. That Philly's defense, I think is what makes them so formidable, whereas Saints. I think if the Cowboys were to play the Saints, I mean, you're probably talking about like a thirty five thirty one

type of game. I just you know. That's the interesting thing about this is when you look at all of the teams that are left in the NFC that are in that five hundred or above category, in my opinion, there are only two teams that you think are balancing. When I say balanced, I mean balance not only from a standpoint of being able to run or pass, but also has plays good defense. I think it's the Rams and I think it's the Eagles. Those are really the only two teams that you look at across the board

and you say, man, they got good pieces everywhere. They can do a lot of those things really well. At least in what they've shown so far this season. I don't think you can find another one that has like enough like in all three of those different categories, does them equally well. I was about to say, you know, Okay, so the Rams beat the Cowboys to improve to three and one, and the talking point was, all right, they look really good, but they started three and one last

year and finished four and twelve. They followed that went up by losing in a defensive game to the Seahawks. And then I think they've won two games since they beat Jacksonville whatever, and they beat the crap out of

Arizona in London. They're five and two. They certainly look like basically I'm wondering, is it time to take them seriously as a I mean, obviously they're going to be in the playoff hunt regardless, but I mean, is this a team that could win the West and be a you know, a top two seed in the NFC, Because it kind of looks that way right now. You would think if Carson wentz it was drafted second overall, that whoever was taken first, that they would look at and

go man could have had him. But Golf is playing well enough where I'm sure they don't really think that. I mean some in the organization probably do. But you know, they both are two of the best young quarterbacks in the league. So it's Dax and Dax in there too. I mean, well, yeah, that's the interesting thing. You look at the quarterbacks that are in this mix. There's a bunch of young talent in this in these teams as

far as the quarterback position is concerned. I don't know if I've seen this much, this many young quarterbacks performing well, because when you think about it, you've got Golf, You've got Prescott, you've got Wentz, Um these are all relatively really young guys. You've got Wilson, who's not an old guy, like he's kind of right there at that point in his career when he should be getting to kind of the peak of his career, at least getting to the

point where he's hitting his stride in that peak. Right um. Drew Brees is really the only established, long term veteran quarterback that's in these ten teams, you got Rogers already out in which you assume it's going to be for the year. But forget I mean I get there five hundred, but I mean Matt Ryan's still hanging around. Yeah right, I'm sorry, Matt Ryan. You're right, Matt Ryan and Matt

Ryan and staff of Stafford. I don't know, Like right now, Matt Ryan's having some struggles, like their offense is not playing great team um, and so I guess from the standpoint of just how you look at the quarterbacks that are left. You usually look at the quarterbacks and say, give me the best quarterback, especially when you get to the playoffs and I'm gonna ride. I think that guy's probably gonna take his team as far as it can go. But I think in this case, I don't know that

the quarterback. I mean, these quarterbacks are really unproven, so you really don't know. Other than Breeze, you really don't know what you're getting. Even for the guys that have had some success like Ryan and Newton, you still don't know because they're playing so inconsistent this year. Yeah, it's fun.

I mean you think back to five or six years ago, I guess twenty twelve was when Russell Wilson came onto the scene, and like you could kind of see that the Seahawks had the makings of this team that was going to be formidable for the foreseeable future. Well you're kind of seeing that, you know, shift in the power dynamic in the NFC, because you know, the Cowboys have a new quarterback. They I mean, they're completely remade from

what they were even five years ago. The Eagles look like they've got it figured out for the next little bit. The Rams, which Rams haven't been a team that anybody was worried about in fifteen years. And then even you know, I like I just said, I'm not impressed by their quarterbacks right now, but I think you probably throw the

Vikings in there too. You know what they've managed to build with their defense, So I know, you know, Drew Brees and some of those guys are still kicking around, but like there's a new there's a new bunch of these teams with these young players that are kind of on the come up right, and most of them start with the quarterback position. It always does most of them stays. I mean, the Seahawks had that defense for a couple of years before Russell Wilson showed up. You need the

quarterback before you become a contender. Where would you put Prescott right now in that list of quarterbacks. I'm gonna run him down for you. A get You've got Breeze, You've got Russell Wilson, cam Newton, Wentz, Prescott, Stafford, Goff, Bradford. I'm not gonna throw Hunley in there, although he's a starting quarterback in one on one of those teams. And then you got Ryan, where would you put him? Kind of in MBIX, that's tough man probably you know, somewhere

in the middle. The thing about about Dak that that's kind of tough to evaluate, and it's a good thing for the for the Cowboys is that they don't have to lean on him as much as some of these other quarterbacks do. And that's why you know his stats, I mean, I don't know if it's still up there. I mean, we're looking at some of the TVs that have his stats right next to Carson Wentz. He doesn't have the passion that's touchdowns interception. Well, he's got six

hundred more passing yards Wins does. Because he doesn't have he didn't have the leading rusher in the league, um that he was playing with. But Dak's got eleven more touchdowns, you know, in in passing and of course and running, so um, it is hard to evaluate that. I think. I think he's he's right in in the middle of the pack. Um, they haven't. He hasn't had to go win games all the time, but he did a couple times last year where he needed to go down and win and drive and he and he was able to

do that. So I don't know if this is a cop out or a hot take. I can't tell which is weird. But of that list, there's like you can't definitively say Dak is better than a lot of those guys. But I think only like two of those guys are definitively better than him, Right, That's why I was going to go with the questions like who's better. Drew Brees is a Hall of Famer and he's in that rare category where you're just like, all right, he's on my team, we got a good chance to win. He's I mean,

he's in the Aaron Rodgers category. Who else? Ryan? I mean, he won he won NFL MVP, like he's a he's really good. I mean Cam has won NFL the MVP, right, Yeah, but Cam has like just this horrifying body of roller coaster rides. Yeah, where Matt Ryan has, Matt Ryan doesn't. He's been Matt had a great year last year. He's had a great during his career. He's been up and down. I think not on the level of am not where

he's turning the ball, is a better quarterback than Matt Ryan. No, and I'm not I'm not nicely making that claim, but I think that if you're gonna say that that Cam Newton is a rollercoaster type quarterback, I think you have to say a similar things. I don't have I don't have the stats on last year. Matt Ryan had a great year. There have been a lot of years before that where Matt Ryan was kind of up and down.

We'll go tally it up and find like the number of games over their careers where they've both had like two or more turnovers, and I bet you it'll be vastly more. Well, if we're just talking about turnofs, we're gonna isolate the stat of talking like maybe so like Matt Ryan is either pretty good or great like he like, he's not usually awful like Cam Newton can be great, but he can also be like so bad, like unbelievably bad.

Matt Ryan is never unbelievably I think it's a hard compared at Ryan doesn't lose to a Bears team that completes four passes like that would not happen. That's not gonna. It's historic. That's okay, that's history. I think I think you and I know Nick won't like this, but I

think you probably throw Stafford in there too. No, Stafford is better than Matt, I mean better than Stafford is definitively a better quarterback than Dak right now in terms of what he can do that like he you know, like I said, Matt or Matt Stafford can put his team on his back and get a win. Um you agree with that, Yeah, I do. And I'm not that like sour on Matt Matt Stafford. I mean, he he does throw the ball a lot. He has a lot of stats. I think sometimes those stats are a little

bit misleading. They're a very one dimensional team, and that's not his fault. I mean they needed to and they tried to get some running back help in there, but Um, they don't scare you as much because of that. And you know, he lost a potential Hall of Fame player just who decided not to play anymore. I mean, that's their team. Thought he'd fall off after that. I actually, that's when I got a lot of respect for Matt what he did that you after Megatron left. I got

a lot of respect for him. I forgot one to actually, which Um, Russell Wilson's career path gives me so much optimism and confidence for Dad, because I think it's really similar. I mean, in the first two or so years of his career, Russell Wilson was doing the same type of stuff and now you see him blossom into this you know, three or four hundred yard guy who's dropping dimes and

again can kind of carry his team. He doesn't have the supporting cast that he did when he was younger, but he's developed as a pocket passer and a pure quarterback to the point where you would put him up there. So I probably put him above Dak right now too. But I mean that's what that's four guys in the NFC, and I put I mean Dak, Goff Wentz, who am I forget cousins like all, I mean, I think they're all kind of right there together. I think Dak is

just as good, if not better than any of those guys. Yeah, and actually what you said about Russell Wilson is the reason why when I look at it, this entire list in the NFC, I actually think Seattle is still the team to beat. I think their defense is far and away better than any other defense on this list. And I think that that, like you said, Russell Wilson, he's getting to that point in his career where he doesn't really need he can actually carry the offense. They don't

need a running game to do a whole lot. He can carry the offense. He could score points, he could put up points in bunches too, and so and he has that ability. Runny has ability to throw. It's the fascinating thing about the NFL, though, Like Russell Wilson won a Super Bowl when you know he was making six hundred thousand dollars a year and that whole team was loaded with talent. And now and Tony Romo probably saw

that and hated it. And now Russell Wilson's getting older and he's Tony Romo because I mean, they still have the talent on defense, but like he is a one man show on offense. Yeah, I mean, they don't have an offensive line. They've got a committee doesn't even do justice to their running back situations. It's like a different guy,

everything better. And then I mean, Jimmy Graham's there, but and Doug Baldwin's a really good player, but it's not I mean, it's not anything worth getting excited about, especially if you can't block the other team's defense. Yes, so somehow they're they're making that work and they're putting up points and put up twenty four against the Giants last week. And that's a good defense that the Giants have there. So I mean I think that I think that they're still the team I look at as the team to

beat me in a seat for right now. We'll see how it all plays out down the stretch. Let's get some questions, you guys, give us a call. The numbers two one four eight seven two twenty one O two again it is two one four eight seven two twenty one O two. We're going to take a break and we'll come back with some questions. We'll be right back this Dallas Cowboys dot Com Radio to work this big land. You need equipment with values rooted as deep in Texas

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to unbelievable photos of childhood stars grown up. To learn more, visit Better Money Habits dot com. Back to the Break, Welcome back. It's the final segment of The Breaklock and s WBC Morgat Studios and Nick, it's your target. Tommy John gives you the feeling of freedom where it counts over three million pairs sold. We've put in the hustle to make sure you're nestled. Shop Exclusive Cowboys Underwear Tommy John dot com, Forward Slash Cowboys. Thank you, Nick. Welcome.

Actually I saw yesterday I think was it you on the show? Was that you on the show Dave that said you won't How many people have listened to this and yeah, somebody tweeted me yesterday like, oh broke down, Yeah, good for you. Yeah I was. I wanted to reply, I'm happy for you and your boys, but I thought that might be appropriate. Would you guys say that we just kept that Tommy John segment brief. See what you did? Now, you know what? I see what you did. I'm trying

to say, I see what she did there. Yeah I hate myself too, Yeah I did too. Yeah. All right, um, let's get into some questions. We'll take costs to one, four, eight, seven, two, twenty one h two. We'll also take questions on Twitter at Cowboys Break with Box or Briefs. Yeah yeah, I love that look him seriously. Got it. Let's take a call in Houston, Landing. What do you have? Hey, thanks for taking my call. First off, um uh, just like my second time getting on there. Enjoy our shows and

like I said, than to take my call. Thank you. I have a question, Um, A lot of people were seeing at the end of the season that Zeke was kind of out of shape and slow and not looking himself, which I can see that, But do you think was it because he was always shaved coming to the season or do you think it was because he had, you know, all those things on his mind. The issue was on his mind because gifts have Cisco. He looked like the same zem twenty sixteen. So that was my question. And

I also got a fun set for you guys. I don't know if you noticed, but Brendan car has three picks. Thanks for taking my cough all right, thanks for the call. I did know that because people update me about it every time. He's got three picks in seven games. With the Ravens. He had three picks in his final fifty three games with the Cowboys. I believe somebody tweeted me that. I'm not shouts out to whoever said that, I'm sorry for stealing your fun fact, but yeah, that's true. Well,

I mean, I don't know. Never mind, Gavin Escobar is a Raven now too, so get ready for him to just tear the league up. I'm sure based on the way everybody else is going so excited. I never once thought that Ezekiel Elliott like looked fat or you know, I got any different than last year personally. No, I do think he looked, if you want to say, slower or indecisive, or just not as crisp as he did

last year. I do also think that's true. Whether it's because the legal case is weighing on him, or he's stressed out about that, or the offensive line is different and it just takes a while for that stuff to get going. I think there's probably eighteen things that contributed to it, hopefully, And you're right, I mean that, Yeah, Sunday was the most he's looked like his rookie self so far this year. Maybe a little bit of that's got to do with because you're playing one of the

worst teams in the league. I don't know, or you know, maybe the offensive line's clicking. You would like, you know, you hope that's the reason why we're going to need to see some more, but hopefully it's a trend that continues. So do you guys think that maybe because this is the second year and he's only been in the league two years, but this is the second year. Last year is saying a similar thing happened. He didn't start off hot. He kind of got going as the season went along,

but that was that was two weeks. Now, I get I get it. I understand what you're saying. I guess my point is, do you think that maybe some of this and this year, I think there were some other factors obviously that weren't there last year that could have linked in the amount of time andicul to get going.

Most importantly, my opinion is the offensive line. But do you think that part of this could be the fact that you know, it just he doesn't play a lot of preseason games, so it's not like he goes into the season already conditioned and ready to be able to get his best production, and maybe if you played him a little bit more in the preseason that maybe I know you're not a big fan of the preseason, so I get that, But do you think that maybe that

could be part of it? And you're as a coaching staff, you're kind of expect you're kind of giving up that that time that it'll take him to get going in the season because you want to keep him healthy during the preseason. Does that make sense? It makes sense, But I don't agree with it. Okay, why did you look like you just I be cut? First of all? Yeah, because I don't want to lose good play players and games that don't matter. I said that a million times.

I'm gonna keep saying it, and I'm fully aware that maybe you lose some things by not giving those guys some reps. But I just don't I don't buy that. Zeke got every practice rep. I mean, how many practice reps did he get out in Oxnard? Like he was there all summer long, getting the vast majority of those carries, taking it to the end zone on his last rep of practice every freaking day. He's an All Pro player. He had one hundred yards in his first game of

the year. I mean, it's not like it's not like he's been off actually been more productive this year at the beginning the than last year. Right if if him running for one hundred and eleven yards, which I think was his tally against the Giants, is the I mean, if that's oh no, he didn't play her in the preseason, so they only ran for one hundred yards against the jat. No, I'm not buying that. I'm sorry, um, and I don't buy that that's the reason why it's been a slow

start either. I think, you know, I think a little bit of the off field has to do with it, and just it's you know, how can that not take up some of your brain space and then getting acclimated to aligne that I think we would all agree took has taken longer and has had some more struggles than a lot of people thought. Well, I wouldn't agree with the whole off field issue kind of interfering with his performance.

I do agree, yes, it matters in the weekly preparation preparing to go against the team, But as far as speed and what he's doing, you know, if he's slow or whatever, I don't think it plays into that because once you're in a game, that's your main focus. But if you're doing prepare, well, don't you think that carries over to the game. Yeah, but preparing and studying the opposing team that's completely different to how you're gonna run

and your speed. I'm not saying like obvious, it's it's not like, it's not like it's forty times going to change because he's distracted by this. But if if he's not preparing the right way, he's not seeing the you know, he doesn't see the cut when he needs to see it, or he's indecisive because he's not sure how that hole's going to open. He's also not able to predict as much because if he if he isn't spending as much time.

And I shouldn't say that, I shouldn't say at the time, but if he's a little bit distracted, let's say, and his focus during the week is not in the right place all the time, then maybe he doesn't recognize things as quickly. He doesn't recognize a specific formation that the defense gets into that allows him to know, here's where my crease is going to be, And so he's really having to do it on the fly rather than being

able to predict it. So that makes him less fast, right, He's not in and out of the hole as quickly because he doesn't he isn't able to predict what's going to happen as much as he would if he wasn't distracted. And again, these are all these all assumptions that were making because we think that maybe he's or we're pondering whether he is distracted by this. I don't know that we can say that definitively. I want, I just want to be clear about that, which you can even take

if you that's totally fair. You can take the off field stuff out of it and just talk talk about the line. I mean, how much of that Not that I've ever play running back, but I gotta imagine a lot of it is muscle memory, you know, like you just like, Okay, he sealed that right there. I gotta go. And I you know, I think I think it was the very first play of the game. It was an

inside run. It wasn't there. And I mean he had like he had barely even got the ball in his hands before he made a cut off tackle and took what could have been a one yard game for about the seven and It's that type of stuff where you don't even have time to think about it. It's just gotta just like it's gotta be almost like a muscle reaction, like Okay, that's there, I'm gone. I gotta do that.

But that also comes with knowing, right, I trusted this right tackle is gonna block this way in this kind of situation, and so as soon as I get the ball, I know where I'm going, I'm gonna get there quick. And that's the part I think that that we're not talking about enough is this is a new offensive line for him, and he's having to adjust to how does this guy block? How quickly does he get from one block to the next. If he's supposed to get off one guy and get to the second level, how quickly

does he do that? So I know how to time my run to where I'm right in the right spot so that I take advantage of the block. Right, This is random, but I just remember in Super Bowl Super Bowl forty, Willie Parker scored a touchdowns. Will scored a touchdown from like seventy five yards out, Steelers beat the Seahawks, and somebody broke down the play. Just to illustrate for you to score from that far away. In the NFL, everything had I mean, everything has to happen right. Your

offensive line has to get the right blocks. You're going to need a block from your receiver down field. The running back's going to have to make all of his cuts the right way and make every decision perfectly. And I just, you know, I gotta go back and find it because I just think it's a really great illustration of everything has to click just the right way for you to really have that type of success in running the ball in the NFL. And I think you're seeing that.

And like I said, it's it's too early to say that they've got it figured out, but it's it's a reasonable guess that, you know, six weeks of playing together, three weeks with Jonathan Cooper, maybe they're starting to get that to where they can all kind of trust each other and flow the way they need to for this

to work. And I agree with all that, And I guess my point here is, Yeah, there are certain things that I mean, there's a lot of different factors that when we're talking about some of these guys we tend not to consider. But at the same time, there are certain times when you talk about muscle memory and how you're you should react after playing how long, however long you've been playing. I'm not talking about the NFL just

in the NFL, but in his life now. A difference that I didn't notice, for example, in this past game against the forty nine ers is and we were talking about this Nick. Even in the fakes, you could see with how much speed he would just take off, even with him not even having the ball. He's just faking it. And that was a big difference. You would see that in other games and he wouldn't necessarily react like that,

he would just kind of take off slow. And I think there has been a big change now, and that's why I'm kind of referring to him being the whole off the field issue. I mean, yes, it affects you, but there are certain things that it shouldn't affect you, especially when you're doing I know, for me, when you're doing something that you're passionate about and being in an environment that you love. And for me, for example, that would say painting. When I'm painting, that's my main focus,

I forget about the whole world. I mean, time could be flying by, I forget I'm in my own environment. And I feel like when you're really doing what you love and you're in that setting, you forget about everything else and your main focus is what you're doing. Good point, So the only thing is is that there's a maturity difference obviously with Zeke and a lot of people, you know, And and I think that's something that he's just he's got to get better. He's got to be more mature

on and off the field. And when you're he's getting there. We hope, We hope though, if this has, if this doesn't humble him, then I don't know what will, but I think it has. Yeah, I think it has too. And and I've gained a little bit more respect for him, not that I didn't have any, but I'm just saying, when all this up, it's really easy to just say I'm not gonna sit and I'm not gonna talk to the media or whatever. Now he doesn't love it, but

he stands up there and does it. And that's more than some of the other guys in this locker room. Came way more veteran than he is. Yeah, and and and you know, and and I don't have a problem saying it. I mean, des Bryant. He wants to be like the leader and in a spokesman and all this. He needs to talk. He needs to talk after the good games, after the bad games. He needs to stand up there, because when you don't do that, you you're forcing your other teammates to have to sit there and

answer those questions. And when things are going bad and you have, you have a bad loss against the Giants and half the team doesn't talk, you're putting all the onus on the other guys to stand up there. They don't have the answers either. They don't know why they lost. So I just think that you know, and and Dez, you know, and we talked about this the other day.

Dez set a record or tied a record for Cowboys, you know, touchdowns, and you know he should have stood up there and talked, and for whatever the reason, he didn't. And and so some guys do that, and that's fine. They don't speak. But I respect Zeke for all the stuff and all the questions he gets. I respect him stand in front of his locker every time and facing

the music. He doesn't And and to be honest with you, there aren't a whole lot of guys on this team, and this has been throughout the years that are like that, that that really will consistently good or bad, stand up

there every time and take the tough questions. And I know sometimes fans want to say, well, they don't need to talk to you, guys, but the fact the matter is this is the business, and the business is this is an entertainment business, and that means that in order to entertain the masses, they want to know the people that pay the dollars. They want to know from the players what their thoughts were on what just happened, so

they have a responsibility. It's about more than that too, Like, yeah, it's frustrating for us when players don't want to talk, but it says it's not about the quotes, it's about what that says about you as a you know, a member of the locker room and a leader in the team and the organization and accountability, you know, And that's how you earn those stripes is by being willing to do those types of things that you don't necessarily want

to do. And you know, everybody is different and the situation is different than than when we started when I started covering the team, because you know, now like des Briant, and he's not afraid to do that. Des Bryant can voice his own opinion and he does, and you know he through social media then they can announce his own

news and his own thoughts. So you know a lot of times I think players take that out and it was like, I'm not necessarily talking to you guys, but I'll sit there and I'll say what i want to say on my own terms. And that's part of the problem though, is that when you do that, then you

don't you're not really being accountable. Ye you're saying what you want to say rather than ask answering the tough question what because you're not gonna get out there just be like, man, y'all suck today, Like you're not going to do that most of the time, I wouldn't think, And so you know, there's nobody that's holding your account to what the product was on the field and asking you the questions about the things you don't want to

talk about that you need to be discussed. Right, This wasn't really a bad death, but it was about the fact that the Zeke is showing some maturity in other ways that you know that we haven't really that you don't always notice. Ye. All right, we appreciate you guys, join us. We are back tomorrow. Say something real quick. It's tough topic. I just wanted to mention this real quick. Jalen Smith he posted a picture on his Twitter account he's bidding some of his custom accustom cleats and some

game worn gloves. All proceeds benefits to of Elshian Army in relief efforts for Pero Rico. Just a reminder that people out there still don't have drinking water and still struggling, struggling with having power and energy in the island. So if you're interested in winning some cleats and some game worn gloves, go check out Jaylen Smith's Twitter at the Jalen Smith and there's a link there that you can

check it out. Really really great work by by Jalen and a lot of people who are doing some great work down there. I think I read yesterday it's like just some crazy percentage of people that still don't have power. And this is weeks after matching for weeks, still don't have power and still don't have water. Yeah, exactly, and you still don't have water, still don't have power. So it is a it is a dire situation down there. Do what you can to help out. I think it's

a good cause obviously. All right, we'll appreciate you guys join us. We'll be back tomorrow nine thirty regular time. Till then for Nick Even, Dave Hellman, Amber Garcia. I'm Derek Eagles and this has been The Break live on Dallas Cowboys dot Com Radio Water. This has been a production of Dallas Cowboys dot Com and the Dallas Cowboys Football Club.