Cowboys Break: Split Decision?

number seventy eight. Welcome to the latest edition of The Break Clock from the s WBC Mortgage Studios at the Star U Cowboys Break presented by Geico, and We've got a lot to talk about today. We're gonna get you guys ready for Cowboys Versus Bingles. That happens this Sunday. It is a noon kickoff and it'll be an interesting It'll be an interesting game for the Cowboys, just to see how they respond to this. And we'll talk about

it a little later in the show. Going from a Tuesday night road game to a Sunday noon road game, it's really a short turnaround. We'll talk about that a little bit later in the show. But we got to start first with some injuries. We got a lot of stuff to talk about in injuries. Let's start first with the secondary. What do we know at this point about Anthony Brown and Donovan Wilson, two guys that have been on the injury report. We've been kind of monitoring them

this week. What do we know at this point about maybe their status going into Sunday's game. Dave that it doesn't seem great, particularly with Donovan Wilson. You know, he hasn't practiced. Mike McCarthy said, if he does anything today,

it's probably not going to be a whole lot. You think about the fact that this is a very abbreviated week, you know, Mike even he mentioned like this is it's an unprecedented short week because you just don't see very many Tuesday games with Sunday period and then with a Sunday turnaround. So it just doesn't seem overly optimistic that those two guys are going to be available, particularly Donovan. We'll see with Anthony Brown, but I would I just

probably lean know on both of them at this point. Yesterday, the Cowboys add Cheetobewoozier to their reserve COVID list. What do we know about that? Because when you when you first at when we was first added, my first thought was, if you were a person that was just maybe exposed, that's five days. If you actually have COVID that's longer. So it didn't seem like it was a possibility. But Mike McCarthy seemed a little noncommittal on what the status was.

What did you guys and what do you guys know at this point about what's gonna happen with this little non committal about the count, about the COVID nineteen stuff. Yeah, yeah, that's what the Cowboys have been this year. Yeah, I can give you the cowboys official statement on Cheeto? What is it? Quiet? That was? That was what they said about Cheeto yesterday. Um, it's frustrating because there's different levels

of this, you know what I mean. If somebody were to say, hey, so and so's in the hospital, you your next question is for what I mean? And you don't know, you don't know if this is this is gonna be a couple of days. I mean, so I again and maybe Jerry Stephen McCarthy everybody talks today, having got a chance to listen to all that, I don't has anybody said, why did Jarry I don't think Jerry said that what Cheeto's status is on that So he's not playing this game, but you know, does he come

back next week? I don't know. I mean that that's this is the frustrating part of it, is your top cornerback is out and you don't really know the status of for how long. Yeah, I'm not trying to throw shade on Yeah, I'm not trying to throw shade on any of my fellow reporters because I guess, you know, I could have asked the question too, but I was a little surprised. You know, Mike's press conference went for fifteen or twenty minutes and nobody asked about Cheeto until

we were like seven or eight minutes in. I was like, that's not the leading topic. That arguably the best cornerback on the team is out on the COVID list, And yeah, and you know, the Cowboys might not be the worst team when it comes to communicating what's going on with COVID related stuff, but they definitely don't enjoy getting out in front of it, that's for sure. So you're just left to kind of piece together the details for yourself.

So he's not going to be available Sunday, So have fun with that considering that Anthony Brown is also hurt. Other than that, it's hard to really say, so walk me through what happens at this point from the standpoint of on field. If you don't have Cheeto and you don't have Digs and sounds like there's a good possibility you might not have Brown, Like, who's left? What do you have that you can roll out there? Especially thinking about the fact that they run a lot of nickel.

What do they do at this point? You know, I'm a little confused on the whole Anthony Anthony Brown situation because I feel like usually we have a better idea as far as timeline and when guys are supposed to come back. But I feel like Anthony Brown, we've been expected him to come back for like three weeks now or so. It's like every week we think he might play in this game, and that he doesn't, and then

he goes back into another week. And I know that that again, Mike McCarthy, he doesn't like talking very much about like really getting into details as far as injuries and all that. But do you guys, And I guess Nick, maybe you because you're closer to the team. Have you heard anything else as far as what's really going on with his situation? No, I really haven't, because it's not like it's impossible to have the same injury, you know, later on. I mean, Frank Romo had two broken collar

bones in one year. I mean, it happened, and they probably related. So I would just imagine that this rib injury is related to the one he had earlier, or you know, maybe not you know, quite yield all the way whatever. So but no, I don't know. I don't know specifically if he's going to practice or nine. I mean, I know it's that doesn't seem like an injury that would be easy to run, you know, it wouldn't be

easy to breathe, breath and all that kind of stuff. Um, this has just been this has just been twenty twenty in a nutshell. It's just it's not one injury to the position. It's two or three or four. And you know, I offensive tackle, cornerback, and quarterback. It's just been one thing after another for that and and this is the worst year to have it happen because you can't go get players like you normally would, and the pool of players is a lot less than it is normally, and

you just can't go get them. And so it's just it's really been tough. You're getting these guys off the practice squad that are playing in NFL games that if it wasn't for this situation, they would not be in the NFL, they'd be in the XFL probably, and then and they're having to play for you in a game that matters. So, Dave, what do they do right now with these three guys potentially out what do they bodies? Just give me bodies names that you can actually throw

out there to play this game. That's what they have as bodies. Yeah, that's what I'm saying. Like, have you ever I'm sure you've seen it. Have you seen Jurassic Park or do you have a good remember remember a memory of Jurassic Park. No, I've never seen anything. I've never seen them. No real Now, all right, well you're ruined. You ruined my jokes. People. Hey, Jurassic Park came out in like nineteen ninety three, so I ain't trying to hear that. I ain't busy in college. I didn't have

time to see you. I worked at a movie and I was too cool to see the biggest movie in the world. Dave, go ahead and make your analogy, because most people will probably not get it. It's not an analogy. Everybody's got four or five movies that they should see they haven't. Who chuses one for me? Godfather? Brave Heart? No, I haven't I seen Brave part takes six hours. No thanks? You think I could get through Brave Heart? I can't get through this show a right messing up? Good boy? Point,

good boy, Dave, finish your point. I didn't. I didn't mean to turn this into a movie podcast. But there's a part in Jurassic Park where Samuel L. Jackson says, hold onto your butts. And that's what I think about when I think about what they're gonna have to play at cornerback. Um, I mean, y'all are the ones that took it off the rails. Certainly y'all are the ones that took it off the rails. If y'all had just seen one of the biggest movies ever day, what do

you think about? What do they need to do at the cornerback position? What would you do that's good? I mean, you got you got Deonta, you got Deontay Burton, you got you obviously got Jordan Lewis, you got Richard Robinson, go Tigers, and uh, and then you could probably sign Savean Smith back to the active roster, although I feel like he's done that so many times at this point in the season that you would that would probably have

to be a permanent change, Like I don't. I don't think they can elevate him and move him back anymore. So it's sorry, but my next question is about that I would do a permanent move because I'd ask you this. I'll just be the host for a second. S it's Cheetauzia going to play another game for the Dallas Cowboys. Why not? I would, yes, So it's I think it's a fair question. You do, Okay, your answer is yes. I think it's a fair question too, because well, we I mean, how yeah, I don't know. How can you

answer that? Like we don't know the severity of his situation? Excuse me, guys, what if they make it into the playoffs? You're you're gonna need him to Oh you really see Amber? Can you see my face? I twenty twenties a crazy year. You just never know, You just never know. I mean, I would lean toward thinking that he will. I lean toward thinking that he will, because even if he has COVID, he could still be back at the end of the year.

And he's the guy that said all the way back in August that it's a contract year or so he needs tape. He desperately needs tape. Man, I feel bad for Cheeto because I mean, whether injuries, whether COVID, Okay, yeah he does. I mean, yeah, he needs to prove to somebody that he's worth a contract. You're right, You're absolutely right. Does he think that way? He should? But did he though honestly he should well did he did? He come back on a decent time with the hamstrain injury.

But here's the deal. I don't think it's fair for us to say that he could have come back soon. Only he knows that, and only the athletic trainers know that. Like, that's not something. Now, maybe you've talked to people that have that have said things that make you think that, but I haven't talked to you about it. I can't say that he should have been back earlier than he was. And I know, I know you don't rush players back from injury. I mean you you you don't rush them back.

But I just think that um yeah, there was there was. I think there were some questions there. There were some questions about him getting back, getting help. That's why I wonder about this. I wonder if he's gonna be if he's good. Well, again, we don't know the severity of what the COVID nineteen situation is. I will say this though, Let's assume for a second that he has COVID. Right, I don't think it's the same thing as my hamstring

still hurts. You're either still like you still got COVID or you don't, right Like, I don't think it's a I can still say I got COVID when I really don't because I don't really want to go play. I don't. I don't know if it works like that. Could could you could? Anybody could? I'm not talking about football payers I'm talking about anybody. Well, there's a test that says yeah, but if you say, man, my third hurts, I've been coughing a lot, and they'll probably tell you to come in,

don't come in. Good point. So I'm just I'm not saying he's gonna do all that. I just don't think he's gonna play again. I'll be surprised if he plays. I just don't. I don't think so. I think he's I think they'll be back. I think he will play, and I think he'll play some more this year. And quite frankly, I agree with Dave. He needs to play because if he wants to play in the NFL next year. And not to say honestly, I don't know that he's

gonna do a ton in two games. They'll say, let's assume worst case scenario and he's back to play the final games. I don't know if he's gonna enough in two games that's gonna change the whole dynamic of whether somebody's willing to give him a big contract or not. Right, that story's already written. But I do think it could help, right if he could come back and have good performances. And I do think it could help in his free agency. Don Jalen Rager and the Eagles, you know, hey, you know,

you never know. I mean, I just think, I honestly think that that this is a situation where he needs to play. He needs to play, all right, real quick. Before we go to our first break, I did want to get some updates on a couple other people. Zeke Elliott was limited with an industry injury to his hamstring. I think it is a calf and then we had Alda Smith who was limited and Tyler beat returned to practice.

Obviously not going to play this week, but catch me up on those guys, particularly Zeke and whether he's going to be available this weekend. Sounds like he wants to play, and it sounds like he's going to play that this is just something that they're they're trying to manage. We'll see what happens on Sunday, but I'm guessing that would you know, we'll see about Saturday because I would imagine if he's not gonna play, we'll see one of those. We'll see the TCU running back that's a rookie, say,

whoa something, Shay, whoa what's his last Alana Lua? Good Ala Lua, good job, Dave. They will bring him up. That's my guy. So why you've never met him before, but that's your go Yeah. I mean, anytime you have a six three, two hundred and forty pound fullback running back who can go to the house from fifty yards out, I just you know, it's fun. He's a fun player. I haven't gotten to see a whole lot of him because we didn't have a preseason. But that's okay. I

like that. All right, here's what's gonna do. We're gonna check our first break. Well, we come back from break, we are going to join We're gonna be joined by Bucky Brooks of NFL Network. We'll do that when we come right back. This is Dallas Cowboys dot Com Radio. There's nothing as unique as our eyes, which is why SLOR pioneers ways to make lenses as unique as you. Varilux for super sharp vision, Essential Blue for protection, and Crisolve for freedom from glam. Three cutting ex solutions in

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AT and T star View is all about. Available in stadium and for home use, download the Dallas Cowboys mobile app and look for star View under the stadium tab presented by AT and T five G. Welcome back to the second segment of the Break presented by Geico Life from the s WBC Mortgage Studios at the Star It is now time for us to bring on Bucky Brooks of NFL Network presented by Texico with tech Ron. Bucky,

Welcome to the show man. Let's start with a question that typically I ask you because we just want to get fans an idea, But I legitimately need to know more about this defense because I have no idea who they are and what they are. Tell us the greatest strength, the greatest weakness of the Cincinnati Bengals defense was strength her willingness to do unconventional things in terms of bring pressure from all over. It's a team that doesn't have

a lot of a level talent all around. Their best players have been okay when it comes to the production. But up front, you're talking about Sam Hubbard, if you're talking about Carl Lawson, you're talking about those guys kind of getting it done. In the back end, Jesse Bates is a safe two as three interceptions, and then it's just kind of a hodgepodge in a collection of guys. To their credit, they do play hard. They have played better in recent weeks. The last three opponents they failed

to twenty points of fewer. And so it's a team that is dangerous because of their willingness to bring pressure from all over their line up and bring zero pressures in those things. And they play hard and that always to give you a chance. Bucky, I would like to know more about the D line and what they got

going on there. I think that we did see a good game from the Cowboys old line last week, and I'm just really curious what that's gonna look like and what they currently have there as far as like the ability to create some pressure and get to the quarterback. Well, they had a few sacs in the National Football League. They only have thirteen sacks in twelve games, so you're

talking about one a little over one a game. They haven't really been able to generate pressure, and so because of that they've had to add extra rushers into the blitz. We talk about a get right game and those things like this is one where you should have an opportunity to get right because there's not a five star talent on the other side that can um completely disrupt and

destroy the game as a one man breaking crew. Buck you eat when you said Lawson, Hubbard and Bates and then there's some other dis guys that that one kind of catch me by surprise because I had never heard Honestly, I never heard of any of those three players. Likes play. Did you play for the forty nine ers? Now, I think though, no, no, no, no, I haven't never heard any and I'm okay with that. I'm okay. So but yeah, Carl, Carl, who's Carl Auston? Tell me more about him, that's my question.

Carl Auston, Yeah, Carl, Yeah. Carl Lauson coming out of Auburn was a guy that was a highly decorated recruit um that look they drafted. He's been a hard working player. He's a guy who certainly has some snap off the ball. He has strong hands, he has the ability to get to the quarterback. He has four and a half sacks. Sam Hubbard played at Ohio State. Here's someone I really liked in the draft process. I thought he's very, very versatile,

he has length, he has athleticism. For whatever reason in this scheme, he hasn't been able to get it done. He's had more productive years early in his career. Jesse Bates, safety from Wake Forest, is instinctive and aware. He was a really good player in college. But you know, sometimes, man, we played for a losing team. It's a bit of

a black hole. And I think some of those players, even Vonville who has come over as a free agent, they just kind of get swallowed up and just all of the losing and you don't see them necessarily play at a high level or to the level that you thought they would play at when you evaluated them coming out of college. I will I'll say this, Buck, I mean, I'm I loved Jesse Bates when you know when he was a draft prospect on the Draft show coming out

of Wake Forest, and it's seen. I've barely watched the Bengals this year obviously they're a bad team. Joe Burrows not playing anymore, but you know he's he's he's gonna finish with more than one hundred tackles, He's got three interceptions. It seems like he's got a decent shot at the Pro Bowl. I mean, are those are those numbers hollow or is he actually having a pretty good season. I mean, what type of safety has he been for them this year?

Because statistically it looks like he's having a bit of a breakthrough. Yeah. I mean this is a combination. The defense hasn't played well, so he has been forced to make a lot of tackles, but he has may plays on the ball, and that was this thing when he's coming out of way far it's very instinctive, really good awareness and anticipation, and I think those things that played out. He's now playing alongside Von Bill. Von Bill, there's a guy who played at New Orleans for a long time,

played a big program. Ohio State has some physicality and toughness, and so their safeties can certainly come down and be factors. But I think on the scale, this is not one of the more talented defenses that the Cowboys to face. But I will say they do play with great effort and energy, and because they've seen the things that the Cowboys are put on tape, they certainly will be inspired because they probably feel like they can walk away with

a whim. Bucky the how do you assess this Dallas offensive line in the game versus Baltimore and particularly I want to know about Steel and Night. Do you think that they're getting better or was it just kind of more the same or was it just a situation where just the way that they schematically did it it didn't expose them. I think combination of vetters. I think they have gotten better. I think the more that you play is more likely for you to improve, and I think

those guys, especially being young, they have improved. I think from a play calling standpoint, they did a good job of protecting them. We didn't see these long drawn out routes. When the Cowboys elected to pass, it was a quick rhythm. The ball was out in a hurry, and so you

didn't really expose Andy Dalton to big hits. And then I think leaning into the running game, for most linemen, it's a lot easier going forward than going backwards, and so by leaning into the run and running to the football, they're able to get some confidence, they're able to move people down. It makes the defense tired, and so it worked in their favor. So this week was very, very solid.

I don't think you saw any leaks and protection until late in the game when I felt like the hope and stuff was lost, where they felt like, hey, it's over and those things happen. Yep. We know that the Cowboys sometimes have a tendency of making mistakes, not because of the opponent, but more because of their own doing. And you talked about this defense at least having a lot of energy and making an effort went on the field.

So my question is in regards to if the Cowboys, whether it's a fumble or a bad throw or anything like that, it's this a defense capable of taking advantage of advantage of opportunities like that in creating place well, I mean, it's it's a defense that hasn't played well. But yeah, if you're careless with the ball, if you're not on your game, they certainly can turn you over. I think the big thing for the Cowboys, and it's been an emphasis that we've talked about since the beginning

of the year. Before you can win games, you have to learn how not to lose them. And so, whether it's the penalties, the negative plays, the turnovers, all of those things that are controllable, they have to control those things. And so I think the point of emphasis from Mike McCarthy to the team has to be, Hey, let's just do what we do. Let's be really fine and pay

attention to the details. Let's take care of the ball, Let's not give them anything cheap, and let's see if they can beat us by having to sustain drives and not getting short fields or benefiting from anything silly that may happen in the kicking gap, Bucky. This offense has had so many injuries, obviously, and when you think to maybe next year, I mean, there's a silver lining to the injuries, is that you're having to play these young

guys and maybe they'll get better. Who would you say it's benefited the most this year, Terrence Steele, Brandon Knight, or Dalton Schultz. That's a good one. I think Dalton Schultz has certainly benefited because the ball is hitded in his direction a little bit, and I think initially maybe he was pegged as being a a blocker or a marginal option at the tight in spite and I think

we've seen that, hey, he can't do some things. I would say the offensive tackles they benefit, but I don't know if they benefit enough that when you're sitting in the draft room and there's someone that's sitting at the top of the board that you bypassed them because you

feel good about Night and Steel. I think for Schultz, I think you could probably talk yourself into bypassing maybe a tight end prospect because you feel like he showed you well enough that if you have Scholtz and Blake Darwin, maybe that is a combination that you like if you want to use some twelve personnel things. Sounds like a tag based on Imack back in you know, old wrestling days.

Doesn't it sound like, you know, or a law firm either one, yeah, the law firm of Knight and Steel, the law firm of Knight Kneel, or like the road Warriors, Night and Talk. With all due respect to those guys, you gotta play better before you get a nickname like that. But that's fair Buck, based on based on the scattering

report you gave it. I mean, so these guys, don't they don't get a ton of pressure and the secondary isn't terribly impressive, Like might might this be another opportunity for Andy Dalton to show that he is still capable of slinging it around. I mean, he kind of did that against Baltimore, but this is an I mean, this is a much less talented defense, and I love the idea of that Andy Dalton getting to throw for three or so hundred yards against his old team. Is that

is that doable? Man? I don't know, because I gave worried because they dropped back and he throve thirty five to forty times. I just I just getting nervous. I just would like to see him win the game. And so if you can get him to I say, thirty five is probably where I would max out. At thirty five or few where I think is the right pitch count because the more that you throw, the more it

takes away from Zeke and Tone Pollard. And I think it's really important for Kellen Moore if you can't realize that, you know, the game running pretty good when it goes through the running backs, and then those other guys are compliments. But yeah, this is a week where Andy Dalton should be able to take care of the ball. I'm sure he's gonna be fired up because at one point they benched him for Ryan Finley, So I think he'll have his a game, all right. So here's the deal, if

you gotta give me. I know we've talked about this defense not being great, but if we come back in here on Monday and the defense had a good game, or if the Cowboys lose and the defense the Cincinnati defense, the reason why give me one player that we would be talking about and saying, here's the reason why Dallas couldn't win this game. Steal at night. I wouldn't even

talk to the player. If the Cowboys lose to the Cincinnati Bengals, I think everything has to go to the head coach, Like as much as I would talk to the players, if Mike McCarthy can't get this team to play against the Cincinnati Bengals, because in spite of all the odds, there's still a potential for this team to go to the playoffs. Like if they can't realize this opportunity about knowing everybody on our schedule now is beautiful

and this is one that should be chalked up. I think this is one that we chalked up at the beginning of the seasons, one that we chalked up last week, and those things. If they can't win what is a winnable game, then it has to go on the head coach. I can't even put it on a player. I would say that Mike McCarthy would have to be capable for any underachievement that takes place in this game. All right, Bucky Man, we appreciate you join us. We'll have you

back next week. We're actually gonna probably flip the schedule. We'll get with you on that, but we'll have a little different schedule. No, not next week, that's a week after that. Next week we'll be on our normal schedule. So we'll have you back on Wednesday to talk about the game going up coming up next weekend against San Francisco forty nine ers. All we're gonna take our second break when we come back. We got some questions that I want to run by these guys. We'll talk about

Cowboys versus Bengals. Will be right back. This is Dallas Cowboys dot Com Radio. We're back in a tasty treat that's sweeping airwaves and taste buds it's new Doctor Pepper and Creep Soda. Let's take a listen, Doctor cream sodas a new Combonelet's music to my years. Okay, doctor time play music to my ears and mouth New Doctor Pepper and Cream Soda. A delis. There's nothing as unique as our eyes, which is why SLOR pioneers ways to make

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candles to see it night? It's just electricity lights up the room fast. It's more reliable than candles blowing out, and people seem to love it nationwide. Well, candles, dare did you just run into the wall? I have a new candle please. Historically, switching to new technology is a no brainer. Today it's AT and T five G fast, reliable, secure and nationwide. Switch to AT and T five G. It's not complicated. Five G requires compatible plant may not be in your area. See att dot com slash five

G for you for details. Back to the break, don't miss your chance to see the Cowboys next week when they take on the San Francisco for nine ers at AT and T Stadium. Limited number of tickets are on sale. Get yours today at Dallas Cowboys dot com slash tickets. Welcome back, final segment of the Break, brought to you by Geico. We're going to get some questions here to talk about the Cowboys versus Cincinnati Bengals. Here's my first question for you guys, and this goes back to the

Baltimore game. But how did you guys assess the offensive line. I asked Bucky about this a little early. How did you guys assess the offensive line? And particularly I want to talk about Brandon Knighte and Terrence Steele. Let's start first with you, Nick. I thought it was okay, you know, it was one of I mean, at first they looked pretty good and they were able to run the ball and stuff. But you know, you always kind of remember how it goes at the end, and at the end

they couldn't run. They couldn't get a yard. You know, I got people texted me going, Zeke makes fifteen million a year and he couldn't get a yard or well, I mean there's a reason why. I mean, you know, the best I mean, Jerome Bennets is not running through a break brick wall any night. Maybe he might have made but anyway, I just thought at the end, you know, you could tell that they didn't have that they were kind of overpowered a little bit. I thought they did

a decent job. There's a lot of times Andy Dalton just standing around there looking looking, you know, I thought that was something that I hadn't seen before. But at the end that they seemed like they kind of got word down a little bit. I thought they did a nice job just in general compared to things that we've seen in previous games. I mean, this was a game where we or meet personally. I'm just gonna speak for myself.

When I was watching the game, it wasn't like I was like, oh my god, freaking Steel, here he goes again, and what's happening. You know, it wasn't one of those games. I thought they held up pretty nicely. Wasn't obviously perfect or oh oh wow, they're doing an amazing job or anything, but they just it's like that band aid that we talked about sometimes. You know, you want the band aid to be able to stick and not start peeling off in the middle of the day, and that's what they did.

I thought they stuck. There was only one little peel, but then they get it back down and it stuck throughout the game. I thought, good Dave. Yeah, I mean I brought it up yesterday. If like, you know, I great on a curve, like I am, I am the nicest teacher because if you're not, if you're not supposed to be there, like if you're not, if you're not supposed to be in the lineup, I am going to be very nice to you. And I thought, I thought

they played great all things consider. I mean, they averaged four yards per carry because Zeke was productive on the ground, Dalton only got sacked once. Yannick and Gockway, Calais Campbell, Pernell McPhee like, these are really good NFL pass rushers and have been for a long time. Jason Garrett and they I mean they didn't. They did not wreck that game. They gave up one sack. Andy Dalton had time to find eight receivers. He had his best day as a

passer since he's had to come in. So I mean, yeah, they didn't win, and maybe they did wear down, but you're talking about Brandon Knight, Connor McGovern and Terrence Steele. So with I mean, with all of that in mind, I thought they played great. I can't recall a time this year when we've or since the season has began,

that we have talked about Joe Philbin by name. But should we be talking about him if if this offensive line is playing better, and even against the team where you, like Dave said, they had a lot of pass rushers on that team, and I know going into game, my expectation was not that they would give up only one sack, and that they would be able to be effective at least in parts of the game. In the running game.

Should we be talking more about the job that Joe Philbin is doing with this remade offensive line, Nick, Well, I think you know he's done. He's done a good job with having to teach these guys. You know, he's been doing a lot more teaching than he thought. He didn't think he'd have to really teach the left hawp. You take this job, You're probably thinking, I just gotta show him, Like I guess this is the play we're doing,

so go do it. Yeah, I mean, if you think about it, you say, Joe, you know, before the season, what do you got to get done? Like off the record, he's like, I gotta get Connor Williams to play at the top level right now, It's like, well, Connor Williams is that you know, he's the veteran guy out there and he's he's he's what he is. I gotta get these other guys to learn how to play. If that's how different and upside down the position has been Amber, I think it depends this A lot has been thrown

at him. He's had I mean out of anyone else on the team. I think as far as coaching, he has to have deal with the most because of all the injuries and all that. But I'm curious to see as far as like I would assume Mike McCarthy has the final say as far as who makes it into the lineup or what. But there are still some of

the decisions are very questionable. Earlier at the season that I'm like, Okay, we all on this show talked about it, and we all saw it, So how come there were things that they weren't willing to make changes despite of the things that they were seeing week after weeks. So

to me that that's just very questionable there. But if we're talking about recent weeks, like after the Sack Martin change, I would say, yes, I've seen some improvement there about as far as some of the things he's done, But just in general, there are some things that it makes me wonder how much, say does he really have or is he just following why Mike McCarthy is saying and say, Okay,

these are the guys we need it out there. All of that it makes me just wonder about those conversations and who has at the end of the day, the more power to figure out who is going to be playing in the lineup, Dave, I am beaming over here, Age. That was just masterfoots and wonderful that you took the words right out of my mouth. I mean, okay, you know the coaches, Yeah, Joe Philbin deserves a lot of credit for stabilizing this thing with how bad it's gotten.

I mean, you know, with what they're down to to be playing competently awesome, well done, But what about September like and AG's absolutely right, Like I don't know if it's Joe Philbin's fault or if it was a Mike McCarthy thing, But who decided Terrence Steele was the day one guy, and who decided that he needed to be the day one guy for like a month? I mean, Brandon Knight's better than him. He he just is. I

don't care what anybody says. But they didn't think that, and they were wrong, and they didn't really adjust to it until injuries forced him. What about the Zach Martin saga, you know, fantasy football nonsense. I'll never I will never let go of that because it was wrong and dumb then and we were right. Is that Joe Philbin's fault or Mike McCarthy's. I don't know, but I thought they made a lot of questionable decisions early in the season when they had much better health on the offensive line,

and you know now that they're down to it. I do think they're doing a good job and they deserve credit for that, but I'm not going to forget the weird things that they were doing earlier. It's good stuff, all right. So how much do you think this odd week for the Cowboys will affect these players? They went from Tuesday night road game to a Sunday noon road game.

It'd be hard enough if you were going to be at home on one of those two, but having to travel for both of them, and going from a night to a noon, like just the time period and the travel. How much do you think that affects this team? Let's start first with you ag a lot, especially after looking at what happened last week. I mean, it makes me

wonder how bad they're gonna look in this game. Despite everything that Bucky said about how the Bengals are right now and all that, it's like, okay last week, they have like ten days to prepare for the game, and to me, they looked absolutely unprepared when he got to it, when they got to play against the Ravens. So when you get such a short week, it could go either way. It could be a google one side where they really kick things up and you know, you get the adrenaline

rushing and all that. But on the other hand, it's like then they could really look bad because clearly, or as of right now, I just don't think they have going good use of their time during the week. I'm not there or anything, but just looking from the outside, they didn't take advantage of last week and all the days they had, so it makes me really question about this week and how they're really utilizing this time right now. Dave,

I think everything she just said is right. I mean, yeah, it's you know, it's like playing on it It's basically like playing on a Thursday. It's a very similar amount of downtime. So I think everything she just said is right. But I guess if I'm looking for a silver lining, maybe maybe it helps that, like you, you know, you don't have time to dwell, you just kind of got

to dive right back into it. It's it's just like autopilots like, Okay, I don't have time to be I don't have time to be embarrassed or getting get in my feelings about where things are, like, we just gotta go get ready for this, and you know, so maybe there's almost like an autopilot aspect to it where it can help you focus a little bit because you don't

have time to do anything else. I think this might be the first time that you know, you know, Bill Parcells was famous at kind of doing things to kind of needle the players a little bit, whether put a tank of gas in the guy's lockers, see if you have any gas up, or the mouse traps or whatever. This might be the first thing that we've seen out of Mike McCarthy, you know where he's it's a short week.

You're playing a team that isn't very good, justlike you, and now you're gonna question the effort or you're gonna when the when the question is asked. You didn't close the book on it like he usually protects the players. He didn't say Daryl Whorley was a bad player at all when he wasn't and everyone knew that he wasn't playing well, but he didn't do that now he's kind

of doing it for this week. So maybe that's his way of kind of because Jalen Smith's talking about it and Zeke's talking about it, that might be a way that he's kind of saying, all right, you know, I got to get him in gear. Yeah, and that might be the McCarthy way of doing it. You kind of have to challenge them right in order just challenging mentally, like are you capable of being? When he was at Green Bay and things were bad, he could say, Hey,

Aaron Rodgers gonna make the play. Well you don't have that right now, so you gotta figure out way, and maybe this is this is the way to do it. I mean, I thought Bucky's words were really strong but accurate. You know this, they don't win this game. You know the finger point and starts right there, Well, it doesn't start, It just continues. It's been there, and I know we talked to me, you know, Dave, you mentioned it. You know, it's very similar to playing a Sunday and then a

Thursday game. I don't know, And maybe this happens a lot. I haven't seen it with the Cowboys, where you would go from a night game on one. Let's say you played a night game on Sunday and then you would play on a Thursday, and both of them being road games. I think that's part to me that seems like this

is so unprecedented because teams aren't really asked. Typically, they protect teams a little bit more and they try to put them earlier, give them a little bit that extra time, or at least don't make them both it's technically a Friday, though honestly it's technically yeah, it's like a Friday. Basically, it's a four and a half. They got four and a half days basically. And again, when you do four and a half days and both of them are road games, that's the part that I think true really really is

tough for them. And again, nobody's crying for you. This is the NFL. Everybody's gonna have things they got to deal with, and so you have to just go out there and play. But I do think it's gonna be a little bit of a challenge and I'm interested to see how they respond to that. I've been crying for him, keep been crying for I've been crying about it, like I've been talking about it forever. I think this is a crap. It's crap what they did. You said it

since the moment they announced it, like, what are we doing? Oh? Mom saying now? I was like, this doesn't make any sense. This is bad. I don't like this at all. You know, Cowboys have to play on Sunday and the Ravens have to play. Ravens has playing on Monday. Oh, this is really crap. Like that's what I lost it right there with the raven I found out what the Ravens are doing. Yeah, all right, One more question I have for you guys

before we get to our picks. How much an advantage you think Andy Dalton has in this game going up against his former team, A team that you would think maybe he knows some of this personnel, some of the things they do rather well, let's start first with you, Dave. I've always thought that's a little bit overrated, to be

honest with you. I mean, a guy that's been in the league as long as Andy Dalton, I would I would hope he can for I mean, I would hope that he can get a really good picture of what a defense is doing, just based on a week of film study. Anyway, And then you think about You know, this is a young Bengals team that's changed, you know, a lot of things just in the one season Sin Stalton left. You know, they drafted some young linebackers. They've got some young guys playing, so I mean, you know

this ain't this. Ain't Vantes Perfect and Carlos Dunlap. Those guys are gone, you know, so um yeah, I mean, you know, maybe it helps, like he practiced against a few of these guys, so maybe he knows their ticks and their tells a little bit. But I've always thought that was a little bit overrated. So I don't know. Maybe maybe it's something, but not just this huge ace

up his sleeve, if I had to guess. Yeah, Nicky made me laugh a little earlier Dale the radio show when you mentioned to Kiel Spikes, I didn't, like, I don't know where did you get that one? Like you just pulled out one out. Yeah, I don't know any players on the Bengals team. And then I tried to like do some more and like, well, I thought of one cornerback and I thought he might be dead, honestly, and I wasn't gonna say his name. So I'm like, I don't you know what, I'm just gonna stop. I

think Dave's right about that. I think if Tom if the Buccaneers were playing at the Patriots this year, Tom Brady been in there forever, the systems are very I mean like like he's been around the system forever and it doesn't really change. I think Tom Brady could get a little bit of a benefit there. But like Dave said, I mean, there's been so many moving parts there for the for the Bengals that I don't I don't know

if he would really do that. I just think his motivation will be there, and his motivation seems like it could be there. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I agree with everything they said. It's not like if you were to, ye, oh, what are some of the advantages that the Cowboys have this week, that would not be one of them. I would not be talking about, oh yes, we got Andy Dalton, he played for the Bengals. No, So I just I don't see it as an advantage whatsoever. All right, let's

get to our picks. Let's hear what you guys have to say. What you think is going to happen this Sunday at noon when the Cowboys take on the Big Goals at AT and T Stadium. Let's start first with mister Hellman, what you got? I was really hoping you were gonna let me go last today, all right? Which no, But that's fine, that's fine. I'll step out. I'll step out on a limb. I'll take I will take y'all behind the curtain of how I think about these picks, because in a vacuum, in a vacuum, I think the

Cowboys are the better team. It may it's perfectly logical that they're a road favorite. I think they should win this game. They should, but I'm not and I don't know what y'all are gonna say. So maybe this is pointless, but I am not going to let us unanimously pick the three and nine Cowboys. That is ridiculous. A three and nine team that has gotten blown out seven times. You realize they've only they've only lost by one possession three out of the nine times, and two of those

three where when Dak was in the lineup. So with the with the X exception of the Pittsburgh game, they've basically gotten their ass speed and all of their losses eleven points, twenty five points, twenty two points, uh seventeen points the other night, so and I looked this up before the show. The only team with the worst point differential is the Jets, who haven't won yet. By the way, So it's utterly insane to think that all four of us should pick the Cowboys to go on the road

and beat anybody. So I don't. I don't feel good about picking them to lose, but I just think somebody should. So that's what I'm gonna do. Uh, you know, it'll probably be an ugly game. Bengals find a way to like kick a field goal to win, like twenty to twenty to seventeen whatever. I don't know, and I don't even really I think the Cowboys are gonna win. But I just can't. I can't let all four of us pick the pick I haven't even picked. That's awful presumptuous.

And will you change that? Will you change your pick? Everybody goes down the line of like Bengals, Bengals, Bengals, Bengals. Yeah if if somebody else, if somebody else picks the Bengals, I'll switch to the Cowboys. Sure, absolutely all. Hey, hey Dave Dave on on our written form of gut feeling like there's already been a Bengals pick. I'll just let just let you know. So, oh nice, Okay, Well, maybe

I'll pick the Cowboys, but Mickey pick. No. No, Mickey just conveniently forgets to send me his pick sometimes if he doesn't want to pick, if he doesn't want to, like if it's like Cowboys at Ravens or Steelers, like, I don't get one from Mickey, I don't know, I'll get it. I'll probably get one, all right. Uh Well, I'm just gonna say I hope the Cowboys win this weekend. But you know when you love someone and they hurt you and it's just too reason for you to forgive them,

and it's just like you just can't do it. I just can't do it. I just cannot do it right now. So I cannot forgive the Cowboys for the pain they've put me through so far. So I'm I hope they win, But I'm gonna have to go with the Bengals winning this game, especially because of the short week. I don't know if I quite trust their ability to utilize this time very well and do what they need to do and come in prepared and regardless of the Bengals being

so bad right now. But I'm gonna go with the Cowboys. I don't know the score, I don't care. Maybe a bad school, I don't know, seventeen fifteen, don't really matter. But I'm just gonna go with the Cowboys losing and back to you, Dave. All Right, So now I picked the Cowboys. Cowboys win thirty five twenty one. Offense looks great. No, I'll stick. I'll stick with a g I don't. I don't want her to ride that train alone, all right. I just you know, I've seen I know the Cowboys.

The secondary is gonna be really it's gonna be bad. But who's gonna throw the ball to him? If it's Brandon Allen. I mean, I've seen Brandon Allen play every college game of his career, and I never thought he would actually play a game on Sunday, and he does, and he's playing, and you know, and we know why. There's been injuries too. So I just don't think the Bengals are gonna be that great on offense. I don't think they're that great on defense. I think it's gonna

be kind of an ugly game. I don't know why. I just feel like it's gonna be like rainy and overcast and just not is it. I don't know. I just don't think it's gonna I just look at it as my lass and say, I think the Cowboys will win, though I do. I think they'll win twenty six seventeen, and you know, I just I just think they're better. They're better team Zeke doesn't play though I really want to change my pick. Nope, But what do you mean?

Will you've picked? I picked this game? If this happens this, Derek's like, I'm gonna make two picks based on who might be available. I think everybody here, including Dave just now, ye see, everybody has made two picks. Amber does a week at least you've done it. Does y'all used to make fun of me. Y'all used to make fun of me, especially Dave talked crap about me picking both sides. But look at y'all now, yeah see it's funny when Yeah, it's fun when I do it. All right, So here's

we go. Here's I actually think this is gonna be a high scoring game. Like, I think there's gonna be a lot of scoring on both sides because I think the Cowboys secondary will basically. I mean, we saw Tyler Boyd go for seventy two last week. They got some receivers over there, even with a quarterback that's not great. Like if you got receivers that are getting wide open, you can throw. That's the college game. You can throw to a wide open wide receiver. And so I think

this game is gonna have some scoring in it. I do think the Cowboys offense played pretty well last week against a much better defense. I think both these offense are actually gonna play pretty well. I think it's gonna come down to a very close game. I think the Cowboys get the edge. They win twenty seven twenty six in a barn burner, a barnburner for the ages that we'll all be talking about all next week about how great a game it was. I'm just playing. But the

Cowboys will win this game. It'll be a sporting game and uh and we'll tell you what went right and wrong for the Cowboys on Monday till then. For Nick Eatmdave Helm and Amber Garcia. I am Derek Hilton. 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,