Cowboys Break: Can This Happen?

I'm joined by David Hellman, Nick Eatman, and then of course Derek is still here with us, but I will be driving the bus today the car because Derek is still flushing out some stuff out of his system today because of his wild birthday party last night, So we don't want any DWI is happening. They'll stay on your record, Derek, I got it under control. Birthday last night. Oh it was good. I had I had a really good time. We didn't go anywhere now, so there was no potential

for DWI. I was at home with my family, but we had a very very nice evening and my wife and kids made it very special for me, so it was good. That's okay. Well, we got a very special show today because We're about to talk about the Cowboys making it to the super Bowl, and that starts about this weekend. What happens this weekend with the NFC East.

So with the first question for you guys, we know what's happening with Washington currently with the quarterback position, Well we kind of know what's happening there, but with the Eagles being officially eliminated for the playoff, rons Ken Washington actually lose against the Eagles, I mean, hell yeah. If anything, the last like two or three weeks have reminded us that this is an insane league. And I'm not even talking about the Cowboys winning three games in a row.

The New York Jets are on a two game winning streak right now, and like not against terrible teams either. They beat the Rams and the Browns, both of whom might be in the playoffs. So yeah, it's totally possible. I actually I read this morning Jim Schwartz, I guess spoke to the Philadelphia media and he said he said this is a no hat game, which is to say, we don't want anybody wearing hats on our field, meaning if Washington were to clinch the division, obviously they would

pass around hats and T shirts. You know, we'll see what happens. But I think there's something to be said for being the spoiler, Like if you can ruin your rivals season, that's worth getting up for. So I mean, I absolutely expect Philly to come out trying to ruin their season because it's all they can do. And uh, yeah, I absolutely think that's possible. Yeah. I mean, if you look back at the last few games, and actually the teams that have have lost to the Cowboys are four

and one this year. In the next week and then including four in a row, and if the Falcons, I believe, blew another lead against the Bears after they beat are lost to the Cowboys, where it would be all five. But everybody that's lost to the Cowboys, the Bengals, the forty nine ers, what do you think that means? I don't know, if anything, I want to I mean, it's not like a huge sample size, it's just a few, but I don't know. I mean that they're still playing.

I mean, the Bengals are what are they playing for? You know? And then they're winning games and stuff. So yeah, I mean I think I think the Sunday night thing actually helps you know, it's a it's a Sunday night game that I think they want to see. The NFL wants to see more of Jalen Hurts. Sounds so yeah, I think I think that they certainly can win this game in Washington's going the wrong direction. Yeah, I'm gonna I'm gonna steal one of your sayings, Nick, because I

think it's so apt. Here is that you look at these teams and they're gonna show up Sunday. They're gonna show up ready to play Sunday. The question is how much are they showing up on Wednesday and Thursday of this week to prepare for that game, like when you're out of it. That's where you start testing the professionalism of a team. You know, are they willing to put in the same amount of time preparing as they would if they were playing for something this weekend? And that's

where you get a little bit worried. But the flip side to that is these are division teams. They know each other extremely well. That's the thing about playing in the division. You know them really well. The prep time that you have to spend on getting to know that guy that's across from you, it's probably a little less that week because you know them really well. You've played them twice a year for who knows how many years,

so that does help in this situation. But I do wonder how much they're going to be preparing this week. How much extra time are they gonna put in to get ready for this game where normally they might spend some time there. Well, Washington's culture was that their starting quarterback was at the strip club after a game, so what's there? You know, and they were still in it trying to win. He's gone, he man, that was their culture.

I will which although you know, bringing up Dwayne Haskins, it sounds like Alex Smith has a good chance to start Sunday, So I mean, that's good news for Washington. But you're right, Derek, like this this is a test of your professionalism. But the fun thing is, like you or if you are a professional, if you're good at your job, like you should always be able to find a reason. I already mentioned like playing spoiler, but think about regardless of who starts for Philly, I assume it

would be Jalen Hurts, but maybe it's Carson Wentz. Either way, that's a hell of an opportunity for the starting quarterback to put his best foot forward. You know, Jalen Hurts is auditioning for a chance to be the starting quarterback and Philly moving forward, if it were Carson wins, that is a huge opportunity for him to play a great game and say I'm still the guy. Y'all are crazy

for trying to get rid of me. So at the very least, the most important player on the team, whoever he is, has a lot of reasons to want to play well. Yeah, and I mean that goes across the board, yep. And ironically, although it probably it may not even be the case, there are there are people who think that their head coach is on the hot seat, and so he also has a reason to get his team ready

to play and go out and win this game. And nobody likes seeing an opposing team in their facility brandishing

the championship hats. So there's a lot I think here that if you want to find, like you said, Dave, if you want to find yourself reasons if you're a member of the Eagles team, for why you want to spend that extra time getting ready for this game and why you want to give it You're all, there's lots of reasons out there you can find to give it everything you got, So would that eliminate this whole idea

of possibly the Eagles trying to lose? And I hate saying this because I am a believer that every team goes into a game wanting to win that game. But I've seen a few questions from fans in regards to that whole mentality that maybe the Eagles are trying to lose in order to get a better draft pick. If they were to lose or win, whichever one. I mean, Dave, is there really a big difference there for them as

far as draft picks goes? Oh? Yeah, I mean there absolutely is, because they're sixth right now, and if they lose to Washington, you know, I don't know, I don't know the tiebreakers for draft order off the top of my head, but like it's conceivable that they could wind up with a top five pick, and if they win, they could probably jump as high as nine, ten, eleven,

depending on different results. So yeah, that definitely matters. And I guarantee you there are a ton I would bet the vast majority of the Philadelphia fan base wants the Eagles to lose because they would probably rather Washington be in the playoffs than Dallas, and b they want that draft pick. But the thing is, it doesn't you know, it doesn't matter what the fans want. That's what we've said about the Cowboys tanking this entire time. Is maybe Philly comes out flat and gets their ass kicked on

Sunday because they don't care. But that's not up to the fans. And if I were on that team, like I said, there's a million reasons, whether it's playtime incentives in your contract, whether it's auditioning for a job next year, whether it's personal pride, Like there's a million reasons for the players themselves to want to play hard. So you know, draft order shouldn't matter to anybody that's actually in that locker room. Yeah, and when you start looking at oh sorry,

go ahead there. Well, I was just gonna say one other thing that I think we should keep a note on and keep the eyes on with regard to that game is Terry McLaren. He missed the game last week, and if you look at how this game matches up, the reason why I think Dallas was so successful against Philadelphias because they took advantage of the biggest weakness right now Philly has, which is their secondary. They got so many injuries there and Dallas really took advantage of it

without Terry McLaren in the line up. Even if you get Alex Smith back, Like Alex Smith is not has not been great. He's just a guy that's steady and doesn't turn the ball over as much. Right So, even if you even if you get him back and don't get Terry mclarenback, I think they are severely limited in being able to take advantage of a very compromised secondary. And that being said, I still think that this game

is very winnable, winnable for Philadelphia. Yeah, we know that in the next few days we're going to get into the Giants team and get into the breakdown there. But Nick, right now, looking at this matchup, we both know that both teams have a chance here to win. Who would be the team between the two that has more to lose if they were to lose this game this weekend? Um, I don't know, more, good question, more to lose? I would I would guess Dallas maybe would have more to

lose because they're going to be now. I take that back, the Giants would have more to lose because because really all you're losing is that you're losing draft spots, right, so the Giants are going to have less of the drafts. I mean, they're in a better position to have a higher pick than the Cowboys because there are five and ten right now, so I guess, you know, and if they would win the game, and they win the NFC East,

then they jump all the way to nineteen. So I guess you would say that Giants would have more to lose. And maybe I don't understand the question as much unless it's just talking about about that, because it's an opportunity for both teams, and both teams are in a situation where they feel like they're going to be better next year. They've got key players that were out and first year coaches, So I mean it's very similar. I think both teams, that Giants and the Cowboys. I think it's with the

mentality of I see fans asking more. You know, when we get towards the end of the year, and especially with teams with like losing records, you start asking for Okay, who's the team that has the biggest motivation, the biggest drive the biggest need to go in that game and fight for something. So it's more in like that kind of what I was trying to get out of here. You basically answered it. Go Dave, I were like trying

to read each other's facial expressions. I'll, i'll, I'll be the bad guy here and say, like in the spirit of your question, And I don't want to suggest that this wouldn't mean a lot to the Cowboys, the coaches, the players of the organization. I know that they would really love to win this game and get into the playoffs, but I think that probably means more to the Giants, or would mean more to the Giants that this turn.

Just if you look at the makeup of these teams right now, the Giants are trying to decide, you know, is Daniel Jones their quarterback of the future. They have all of players like I can't think of a player on the Giants roster who has been there and done that in terms of playoffs success, other than maybe like Golden Tate. Other than that, you're talking about a team

full of guys who have never done it. You're talking about a first year head coach talking about a team that's been picking near the top of the draft for three or four years. Meanwhile, like we all know, the Cowboys haven't gotten as far as they want to. But this team is full of maybe they know what. You know, They've been part of successful seasons. They've been through the wars of the NFL. You know, eight nine ten year veterans, guys that have been to the divisional round. You know.

Maybe this is famous last words, but I think that I think that they have their quarterback of the future. I guess we'll see how that plays out. But and the you know, Mike McCarthy and his whole coaching staff. I mean, for the most part, those guys have done it too. McCarthy's won a Super Bowl. A lot of those guys have been head coaches. So I don't think the Cowboys need that experience as much as the Giants

probably do. And I'll take the opposite approach. I look at it more from the standpoint of the Giants right now. I think these are two teams that are going in little different directions from the standpoint of just their last three weeks. Cowboys have three wins under their belt here in the last three weeks. The Giants have three losses. I think this final game, if the Giants were to lose it, I don't think that really changes much about

how they enter the off season. I think if Dallas loses it, I think it's a big difference than if Dallas wins. Even if Dallas doesn't get into the playoffs, I think a win this week gives them four in a row. It gives them something. And I've been talking about this for the last few weeks. I think there's some value when you have a coaching staff that has made some questionable decisions throughout the year. They've made some

controversial decisions throughout the year. I think there's some value to being able to look in the eyes of the players and say, look, what we've been telling you all along is if you stay with us, if you stay committed to what we're asking you to do, good things will happen. And what we saw at the end of

the season was good things are happening. We're on a four game winning streak, and so I think that's valuable going into an off season and going into next season for a team that you have a head coach and a coaching staff that's only going to be hit in the second year, they hopefully will get a little bit more access and able to do more things this offseason than they were able to do last. So I think it's valuable to get this last win for the Cowboys,

regardless of whether they get the playoffs or not. And I think it's more important for them because of those reasons than it is for the Giants. Okay, well, let's go ahead and take an early well not early, it's right on time. We'll take our first break, and when we come back, I'm gonna ask you guys a bigger question. Can the Cowboys win if they make it to the playoffs, can they win that first game when we come back.

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Welcome back to Cowboys Break, presented by Geico. I think that the more the week goes by, the more and more we see a real possibility for the Cowboys to

actually make it into the playoffs. But the biggest question yet is can they actually win that first week, the first game of the playoffs if they were to make it in So, Derek, you can go ahead and get started with that kind of matchup, because that's something that you know, sometimes the Cowboys get to skip that first game and then once they make it into the second week, they lose. And it's like, at least at the time that I've been here, it never gets past that first game.

So tell me about your prediction if that was to happen. Yeah, the tough part about this one is we still have not seen the Cowboys win against teams that are of that caliber. Like they've won some games against some teams that are not that good, they have not beaten teams that are of the playoff caliber in the NFC or THEFC for that matter, And so from that standpoint, I would be it would be hard to come up with a rational reason why you would think that they would

be able to beat one of those teams. Now, I will say this, though you know the NFL is crazy and we see it every year. There are things that happened that you aren't expected to happen. We were on a call, Nick, you and I were on a call this morning where someone brought up the Giants back in I don't remember what year it was, but back when, Yeah, when they won the championship. They won the championship and came in as a sixth seed. I want to say the Steelers did it a year or two after that,

so it happens. I just don't see a scenario here where that happens. Now, you know, winning one game, maybe that happens, you know, I don't think. And right now it looks like Tampa Bay is the team that they would match up with. I don't think Tampa Bay is without flaws. I think Tampa Bay is a team that has shown this year that they can have some off

weeks and they can put up some clunkers. I just again, I just don't see how you could rationally think that Dallas, based on what they've done so far this year, has a legitimate shot at beating any of those teams. Yeah, I agree, and I think that you know, in other years it's happened where the team that's seven to nine gets in the playoffs and wins, even that we win their first game, But it also is a playoff atmosphere, you know, where it's really loud, like Seattle did it.

You know how tough it is to win there. And I think San Diego might have done it at eight and eight or so. But but I'm just saying that,

you know, this little different here. You can't really create that kind of playoff atmosphere, so it's just going to kind of come down to who's the better team, And yeah, anything can happen, but we'd like to compare quarterbacks around here, and if you're going going up against Tampa Bay, it just seems like it would be an uphill battle for Andy Dalton, who's never won a playoff game, to beat Tom Brady, who has won playoff games. I believe, I

think he has. He's won a couple of Dallas has actually played eight games against teams that are either in the playoffs or still alive to make the playoffs. They're o and eight in those games, and the average margin of defeat is fifteen points. And they've done it. They've done it across the board, by the way. They lost to Seattle in Cleveland when they still had Dak. They lost to Arizona with Dalton, they lost to Pittsburgh with Garrett Gilbert, and on and on and on and on.

So obviously anything can happen in the NFL. Like it would be crazy to just say no, it's impossible, But yeah, Derek worded it perfectly. It's hard to come up with a rational reason why I would picked out to beat Tampa Bay. In a playoff game, and especially, like Nick said, in a season where I mean, I know, you know, the Cowboys have more fans in their stadium than anybody else, but it's still not going to be the type of atmosphere that you're accustomed to with a home playoff game.

But we will throw this out there just for those people that want to see the the you know, the half glass, the glass half full. Like this is the year of the of COVID, right, and so everything can change on a dime. It's the reason why Cleveland found themselves on the other end of of a win against the jetsice last week because they're basically their wide receiver

room got wiped out by COVID. It's happened, and so it's it's it's I mean, it's you don't want to be rooting for guys to get COVID, But I'm just saying, in this year, there are lots of crazy things that can happen, and that's why you just want to get into the dance and see where it goes. And even if you're overmatched, sometimes there's a way that things kind of level themselves off. This year, you know, yeah, let

me let me correct myself real quick. I guess technically, since the Giants are still alive, the Cowboys are one and eight against teams that still have a shot to make the playoffs. Thanks for that correction. You know, the Giants make a lot, right, Yeah, the Giants that maybe aren't in the same category some of those other teams. Yeah yeah, maybe not, but they get into the playoffs will have to make sure and alter that that stat because then it would be teams that are in the playoffs.

And then there's two wins, two losses by Washington their hats out, you know, and then um, yea, then they maybe Cleveland, I don't know. I mean they're they're they may make it, might not make Arizona. Yeah, yeah, no, there's which which are those are a few teams that might especially especially the two Washington ones, Baltimore which I think they're gonna make it, but maybe not. And then

um and then Arizona. I mean those were the those are the ones that made that that margin of victory like really out there, so um, you know, not wrong, but I didn't realize it was like that. I mean, I knew they hadn't beaten anybody that was that was really any good, but didn't think it was that bad. Well, let's go ahead and address the draft real quick, because I know there are plenty of fans that really really care about the draft and where they land this year.

If the Cowboys were to win this game against the Giants but then don't actually make it into the playoffs because Washington won their game as well, where does that leave the Cowboys as far as positioning in the draft. It's hard to say that here before we play the final game because you know, obviously a bunch of teams are going to wind up with the same record, and then you're using strength of schedule to break those ties.

I know, if they don't make the playoffs, then they can't pick any worse than sixteenth, because Arizona is sitting in the seventeen spot with eight wins. Obviously, the Cowboys are not capable of getting to eight wins, So if they don't make the playoffs, sixteen is probably the worst they could be. And then obviously, if they were to win the division, they could pick as high as nineteen, and it just depends, you know, if they win or not,

so you're probably looking. I think the range is like anywhere between eight and sixteen, depending on what happens, Like if they lose and they get some other results, they might jump back up into the top ten, or if they win, it could be like sixteen. So it's hard to say, but the variance is somewhere between like eight and sixteen. Hopefully, um, they make it worth the ride. I don't know what that ride is going to lead to. Man, I am so this is this is this is ag

right here. She's like, if you're gonna do it, you better win the super Bowl. Otherwise, why are you messing with my draft picks exactly? And look this is coming from someone that has never ever cared about the draft. I'll be honest, I've never really cared or been that much into but this year, out of all the years, I actually really do care. So I just hope they make it worth the while, and that if they do make it into the playoffs and don't get very far,

that alsa was worth the ride. I mean, Nick is very excited to see Tom Brady. I don't know why, but he's very excited about it. So I hope it's worth it. I just think, you know, getting an opportunity to face you know, the Bucks and Tom Brady in the playoffs. I mean that, who would have ever thought that that, you know, you would get a chance to, you know, be in a situation like that. I just I don't know. I just think it's just a it's

just a crazy year. And so you know, if we were to sit back in training camp, which was crazy then and to say what do you think the Halbums are going to do this year, It's like, well, I think their best quarterback is going to be out ten games. I think their best tight end's gonna be out sixteen games, their best tackle is going to be out fourteen, and their second best will be out sixteen, and their best linebacker will be out six games. And you know, and

I just think they're gonna struggle. But I think they're gonna make the playoffs. Still, you'd be like, what seriously, Yeah, yeah, I think they Well I think they'll sneak into the playoffs. That would be that would be a miracle. And I think, you know, they're at one percent chance to make the playoffs. And now I don't know where they are now. But I heard somebody say the other day it's sixteen is the right now? Yeah, I think that's a little low. It would seem you think it'd be more like twenty

five at least. But well, we talked about this other night, Dave and I when we were walking out, they who who's favored? Is Dallas favored to win? I'm not sure. I haven't looked recently, to be honest with you, I don't know. I know, I know Philadelphia was. I know Philadelphia was favored as of Sunday Sunday after the game Philadelphia. I would just think if both teams are favored to win, then you should be favored to make the playoffs. If both scenarios are favored by a point and a half,

I'm looking at three. I don't know what you're looking at. Oh sorry, well I don't know. There's like five different companies that do this. I'm going off of an ESPN, the company that ESPN uses. Got it? Okay, So but you know, here's the deal. I think the way I look at it is and this goes back to what AG was saying, like, I'm just entertained, me, keep me entertained. That to me, that's what sports is. Sports is entertainment. So I really, at this point don't care a whole

lot about what happens with the draft pick. I'll deal with that once I get to April, and entertain me with whatever you're gonna do on draft Day in April, But as of right now, entertain me for as long as possible. So if you can get in the playoffs, get in the playoffs, if you can maybe get a win in the playoffs, maybe get a win in the playoffs,

that just keeps me entertained a little bit longer. And as a football fan, I want to be entertained because you're not, because you're not one of those draft gurus like like others are, and that's how they've been entertained this whole time of like, well this is boring because they're not very good, so just keep losing, so because we can get from one of these really good players. I watched this kid that from Oregon and he's good,

so we can get him, you know. So all the players are on the table as bad as you are. Then the guys that have studied the draft are saying, I got my hands on everybody because I'm not bad. But as it turns out, I mean, they didn't earn it. They haven't earned a bad pick because they're not that bad. They're not great. But they're not that bad, you know. No, they're not. I mean they're not. They're not like, they're

not just bad. Yeah, they're not just bad. And when they were three and nine we thought maybe maybe they are, but they're not. I mean, they went in they face those beat teams. He's gonna say, this is one of those potato potato scenarios here. No, I don't think I'll say this. I No, I don't. I don't. Necessarily, I don't think so either. I'm and I am. I am a draft guy, and as somebody whose job it is

to create draft content throughout the entire offseason. No offense to anybody, I'll be ecstatic if they have a top ten pick because that makes my job a lot easier. But you know what, it goes back to the same thing we said at the top of the show, like it's really it's not up to me. I don't have any control over anyway, So I might as well sit

back and enjoy the ride. And you know what, if they get to host a playoff game against the best quarterback ever, you know, we get to see what Tom Brady looks like in the playoffs for the first time without Satriots and what and how many times has Tom Brady even played the Cowboys in his career, like maybe five in twenty something years. So that's you know, that's special and that's cool. Um and you know who I mean.

I think the Bucks are on the schedule next year, but you don't know for sure what's going to happen. Brady might not play a game, So hell yeah, I want to see Tom Brady in a playoff game against the Cowboys. That sounds fun as hell, no doubt. And IM and I'm with you there too when it gets down to it, like, yeah, you want the highest draft pick that you can get. I've said this, I've said this before, maybe on this show. Yeah, if you if you're putting me in the hospital, give me the best

hospital there is. But I'm not going to break my legs so i can go to this nice hospital. Okay, I'm not going to do that. If that's the scenario, that I've earned analogy, if I've earned it, if I've earned it, I'll take the best. But as it turns out, they just didn't earn it. They weren't that bad. They were way better than Cincinnati, they were better than San Francisco. They were better than the Eagles. They you know, as the schedule unfolded, they're in the middle of the pack

team and that's kind of where they are. That's what they've earned. Yep, you know. I think my concern is even though they found some consistency here in the past three weeks, and if they weren't to get to that scenario, that would mean they found consistency four weeks in a row. But it's that mentality that like, I'm still not feeling sure of what kind of Cowboys team we would get that day. I don't know what kind of Cowboys defense

is gonna show up. So it's that's why I'm not as excited of that scenario because I'm like, Okay, if they go out there and put a good game, even if they lose, if they go and put out a good game where it was entertaining, yeah, it's gonna be fun. But if they go out there and get just completely run over by their offense, it's it's just one of those games that it's just it's just gonna be it's gonna piss you off. I'm gonna walk out of the day not getting completely pissed off. So I just don't

know what we would get that week. But let me ask you us real quick. I want to throw this in real quick. Do you guys think and I know we're up against a break but and maybe we have to go to break first, But do you think that maybe and I get me, correct me if I'm wrong, was last week the first week this season when you had your complete starting defense in there. I know we've talked about this defense and said that they didn't have nearly the to deal with that the offense dealt with,

but the secondary has been in flux all season. Was last week the first week when you had the exact the entire starting defense on the field for a game? Or was there are other game where the other games this season where you had everybody's kind of bench Layton like that they didn't even have. Yeah, they didn't even Have'm sorry, yeah they didn't have. Like I was thinking about the secondary because the first time he had secondary all together, and I didn't even think about the fact

of Layton. But maybe we found out last week that that Layton isn't as critical as having all those secondary guys. Maybe I don't know, Yeah, yeah, but I guess my question though, becomes with with the entire secondary. Does this defense change a bit? Are they a little bit different than what we thought they've been or what they really have shown us all season? You know, are they a

little bit better than that? I think? I think though when the season began, you know, this last we're talking about the last three games, because that's where that's what's got him here the last three games. Nobody of the three quarterbacks was expected to be a starting quarterback, if even in the league. Brandon Alan, Nick Mullins, Jalen hurts to play quarterback. So that's who they face. And so if they and they gotta face I guess Daniel Jones. I don't know what's going on. If m Colton McCoy,

I don't know who that is over there. I think it's Daniel Jones. But um, either way, you know you're you're not facing these top caliber quarter and so if you get to the playoffs, you're probably gonna face the greatest quarterback that ever that ever played. Now. I know the Rams can get the five spot, but their quarterback just broke his thumb, So I don't know if he's gonna They have to win and the Bucks have to lose for that to happen. So it looks like the

five seat would beat Tampa, right. Yes, but I will say this though, you gotta I think we're we're all kind of almost giving a little less credit to Jalen Hurts. But remember, just two weeks before that, they went and beat a New Orleans team that is one of the best teams in the NFC. Yeah, and they also followed that up with a very very impressive game against the Cardinals. They lost, but they put up points and they they

battle them. Yeah. I just think I just think you gotta you gotta give this defense maybe a little bit of credit for the fact that they did shut them down or slow them down at least in after two weeks of some really good production against some better teams. Great, I mean, and that's what will happen. Congratulations, you guys have won four in a row. You're in the playoffs. You snuck in there. You're in the playoffs. Go beat Tom Brady, you get Tom Brady as the prize. Have fun.

It would be not only that, but congratulations, we discovered the secondary might be better than we thought, just in time for most of them to be out of contracts. So Oh that's really a killer. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm just saying just what we need in more confusion. Let's go ahead and take our final break. When we come back, let's get into Andy Dalton's performance. We didn't get a chance to talk about it yesterday, so we'll talk about some of that quarterback matchups here in a little bit.

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slash United. I got that part, Thank you. Sorry, all right, here we go now, let's go ran Okay, welcome back to Cowboys Break presented by Geico. We're here about to talk about Andy Dalton, who had a pretty pretty good game last weekend, and we did not get a chance to talk about him yesterday, but we're about to do that now. He completed twenty two of thirty passes for a season high of three hundred and seventy seven yards passing yards with three touchdowns and the win against the Eagles.

So just wanted to get an assessment from you guys and where are you currently feeding feeling about him? Because I believe it was Nick that mentioned a few minutes ago that Andy Dalton hasn't actually won a playoff game. But the fact that you see him performing at this level right now, this far down the road, does that give you any more confidence that he could possibly go out there and put up a good match. I think so.

I mean, I think he. I think he's playing his best football now, you know he had of this season. Of course, I'd haven't studied all of this tape of Cincinnati but like or any of it. But I think that he now not even a play. I did see a play the other day though, that he caught a touchdown pass like on a fake fake pass throw back to him. Really he kind of like Randy Moss somebody I don't know when that was in his career. Through

it it was like the running back. It was like a trick play and he threw it back to Andy Dalton and he kind of called over his nice play. But the interception was kind of bothersome to me the other day, you know, and he was having a great game and then it was like unnecessary that forced it like that. Well, he I think he had the throw he said to throw it a little bit farther. Seed was out there. I think he could have made a play. But but I mean that that was really the only hiccup.

He had a really nice game. You know, it could have been he could have maybe flirted with a perfect game. If you think about if the tight end rolls out for a pass there and they give it to him instead of a you know, third down, you know, he could score a touchdown there. He can take away that interception. I mean, you're you're looking at four touchdowns and no picks. You know, if they don't interfere CD at the end of the game, I mean that that might be in a touchdown too the way he had it. So, I

mean it was a really nice game. Kellen Moore took responsibility for that hiccup on the third and goal. By the way, we talked about that yesterday. He said that's on me. It was a miscommunication and he didn't have anybody to throw too. Yeah, so I know I thought he was great. I think, um, you know, his his deep ball is yeah, I think Derek said yesterday his deep ball is not as good as Dacks. You know, he had a had a couple throws to Gallop like

he had. He took a deep shot to Gallop where he didn't really even give him a chance down the sideline, and then you know, if he puts a little more air under the ball to CD that I think that's a touchdown like he had. He had a couple steps on his coverage. But I mean that's nitpicking in a game where you know, you you put together that performance and it's I almost it's almost unfair. I maybe because Andy obviously has been asked to do way more than

most backup quarterbacks. Like just imagine imagine if Dad, like Drew Brees last year, Imagine if Dak had broken his thumb and they just needed Andy Dalton to hold the line for a month done that. You know what, what what is what's his starting record right now? Like four

and four? I think four? So if I mean if Andy had gone two and two or three and one as the back, as the backup in place of Dak, it would have been amazing and we'd probably be sitting here arguing about whether he should be the starter because that's the nature of the NFL. So it's really only the sample size that has has screwed him over. I think he's been phenomenal for most of the opportunity that he's gotten. Yeah, and that brings up an interesting point.

I think there's a bit bit of a dilemma here for Dallas from the standpoint that you know, everything we've heard suggests that Dak is on schedule. He'll be back,

he'll be better than ever. But the fact is, until you see him back out there and you see him actually performing in the way that he normally performs, Dallas has an interesting dilemma here because you know, you would think Andy Dalton, with what he's done in these games, particularly in this last game, and whatever he does in this game upcoming, he may be positioning himself and probably already has positioned himself to where some team out there

would be happy to make him their starting quarterback. Question becomes, does Dallas say, hey, we really want to keep We think it's important to keep him because we don't like there still is that small percentage chance that Dak's not quite ready. And as Dave was saying, if I need him for the first four weeks of the season, while I'm still getting Dak ready, I feel pretty good that we can still get off to a pretty good start

with Andy Dalton. But financially, can you even afford to like you would think, okay, money whipping and get him to stay here as your backup. You can't do that. You have Dak that you're gonna have to try to pay or give a franchise tag too. Like there's a there's a lot of issues right now that quarterback position and trying to figure out how you navigate all that in this offseason, where, by the way, at the best case scenario your cap stays the same, it's probably gonna

go down. So there is a lot to think about there, and and Andy Dalton playing well is only complicating that even more. Yeah, yeah, I think you know you can't. You can't really have fifty million dollars committed to your quarterback room, which would it would be in the neighborhood of that, you know, even and I think you're right. I think he could be you know, he could go to another team. There'd be a team that would probably love to have him, you know, especially a team that

drafts a quarterback high. You know, and then the Bridge player made a great player for that. He wouldn't be bad in Washington either, you know, if you think about it, that would be a good Can I look into my go ahead? Can I look into my crystal ball? Here? Go for it? Because I just I can see how see how this I just I can see it. I can see it with crystal clarity. It's so clear that it doesn't even look like I'm holding one right, Andy

Dalton has played well enough. Nick, You're exactly right. Like a Chicago Bears or a Jacksonville Jaguars, like they're gonna pay him, not like they're not gonna break the bank, but they're gonna pay him three years, fifty million or something like that to go compete for the starting job

slash start until the rookie is ready. Like that. I just feel like that's gonna happen, and we are going to spend the offseason talking about how great Garrett Gilbert played against Pittsburgh and that is why the Cowboys have faith that he can be their backup quarterback. That's my prediction. That's what I say. Seems I'm looking into your crystal ball. Say, yeah, yeah, I see the same thing. Like you say, the Bears. Who the who the Bears drafting? He can oh, I

don't know. The Bears had good no good point. The Bears might go to the playoffs, so who knows. But but you're saying somebody who drafts one of those top teams, those top quarterbacks. Yeah, yeah, you get like Fitzpatrick every year, Yes, yes, every every year there's a team that Yeah, there's always a team that's like, well, we're not gonna splash cash for like a true franchise quarterback, but we need to we need to pay a veteran who can come in

here and start if we need to do it. Was Nick Voles did it in Jacksonville, Mike Glennon did it in Chicago a few years ago. It happens all the time, and he feels so bad for that guy too, Like Tyrod Taylor, You're like, man, you've done everything right and then that's just a bad situation right right with the Chargers. Yeah, yeah, but I'm just saying, you know, it happens, and you

feel for that. But I don't know, I think he could maybe maybe beat the guy on another team, you know, a team that's you know, that just needs a good quarter And that's why I think Washington, you know, I know they have Alex Smith, but I think Andy Dalton could be better than him. Yea, And yeah, I don't know. I hate I don't really want to face him twice, but I'm just saying that I think that could be

a good scenario. Okay, maybe we have time for one last question before we have to end the show real quick, Dave, you talked about some of the progress we've seen in the final weeks of the season, especially in the secondary and the Dallas defense. My question for you guys, has anyone done enough to make you change your opinion about them based on what you thought about them throughout the season beginning middle of the season to where they are

currently now? Does anyone come to mind Jordan Lewis. Jordan Lewis, for me, I didn't want to resign him, but now now I'll resign him. That's a good one. I like him in his role. I think he just needs confidence. I think he needs to needs people that a team that says, man, you're our guy. You're not for everybody. You're not maybe in every down outside corner, but you've got a niche, You've got a role. He's got a good attitude really through it all. And I think he's

a good, good player to have on your team. I know from a media standpoint, he's a great player to have for us, But I mean that's not the point. If it was, then Joe Looney would be the team captain. But um, but I just think I think Jordan Lewis is a guy that I've changed my opinion on whether or not he would come back or not. In my opinion, I think the easy answer here is Dalton Schultz because I was so, oh, did you said just say defense? No? Just okay, okay, okay, yeah. No, I think the easy

answer is Dalton Schultz. Yeah. But but I will say I would actually opt to say Terrence Still because I don't think Terren Still has been as good as like Dalton Schultz. Like Dalton Schultz has been very clearly a like opposite of what we thought of him. He's been that right. Terren Still is not that good. But I think from what I thought of him early this season, I thought he was I didn't understand why he was

even on the team. Now what I think of him is he is a serviceable backup type player and and by the way, he's a service vistable backup player who is a young player that still has the opportunity to a sin to get better. So I have a whole different opinion of him. I want to see how he develops. Can you turn into a guy that may be good enough to be a swing tackle, and if you can get that guy and pay him early, and you can't create some opportunities where he becomes you know, a pretty

good player maybe later in his career. Maybe a guy that can kind of get on the cusp of you know, a guy that can start play some good I remember what was the guy's name, Purnell that played tackle for the Cowboys, went on to get Jeremy Parnell, went on to get a went on to get a good contract with the Jaguars, a pretty nice contract with the Jaguars, and played for them for several years. Maybe he has that kind of trajectory where he can grow into that

kind of player. I just want to keep an eye on him because he showed me a little bit here in the second half of the season. I like all of those answers. I will throw in Antoine Woods just you know, I don't know if I learned anything new about him, but going into the season, it's like, yeah, he's a rotational member defensive line. He's he's an undrafted guy, like you know, he's Rod Marinelli was in love with him. I don't know if he's like the most amazing player

in the world. I still, you know, I'm not saying he's Aaron Donald. But the run defense got a lot better when he started playing more snaps after don Terry Po left. He I mean, the guy plays with an edge. You can tell it matters to him. The thing with Juju Smith Schuster, like that matters like he like he gives a damn about like repping the star and all of that intangible stuff that you look for. Um. I think that's a good character guy to have on your

defense in addition to being a good player. And I believe he's a restricted free agent, so you know, you're not talking about having to spend a lot of money to keep him around, So you know. I don't know if I felt that way in August, but I do now. I think we might have missed an obvious one too. And Donovan Woods, I think I think Donovan Wilson, Sorry Donovan, I didn't think. I didn't. I don't know that my opinion changed. A lot of you thought he would be

a starting safety, but I thought he was. I thought he was a player that could be good. I just thought he had an ad an opportunity. So now he's got an opportunity. He showed us he can be pretty good. I don't know that I thought, you know that the upside was that he would be as good as he's been, but I certainly didn't think of him as a player who was not very good, which all these names we just mentioned were guys that we all thought at some

point we're not very good. Well, I'll also throw Xavier Woods into that group on the flip side, Okay, I mean I thought he was a better player than he is. I really did. I thought he would make a guy that would take the moment and make more plays, and he didn't. I don't think he's made a playoffs. Are we all kind of done on him? I think so. He hasn't made a play all year. He really hasn't for the Cowboys. He has not made a good positive play, And I mean you need that out of him, You

need that out of your safety. I mean, I don't know, I just I mean, he goes into free agency, is I don't know. It wasn't a great no contract here, No, it really wasn't. And usually you see it the other way around. Ye. Well, I was trying to end on the show on a positive note, and you we flipped your positive question into a negative question. Yeah, thanks, thanks for that, Nick, Derek, do you mind doing the honors of closing the show? Sure? Well, thank you guys for

joining us. We'll be back tomorrow. We're gonna jump into Cowboys versus Giants. We'll have Bucky Brooks on tomorrow. He'll give us his breakdown of the Giants offense versus the Cowboys defense. Still in for Nick Eatman, Dave helmt Ambergarcia. Thank you Ember for so graciously hosting us today. We'll be back tomorrow. This has been The Break live on Dallas Cowboys dot Com Radio. This has been a production of Dallas Cowboys dot Com and the Dallas Cowboys Football Club.