Cowboys Break: Time to Pick

to the latest edition of The Break. We're lying from the s WBC Mortgage studios at the Star, presenter by mill of Light, the o beer of the Dallas Cowboys, and today we get you ready Cowboys versus Bucks beginning of the playoffs. Hopefully not the end of the playoffs, but we'll get you ready for that game. Lets you know what we're thinking. I also let you know I'll make sure to capture that moment. I'll have my phone ready to capture you and Nick getting emotional. Oh, I'm

happy I have already. First of all, we're taking an off air conversation onto the year. Nick and I were talking about, like if the Cowboys actually get on a magical run and should get to a super Bowl. The question was would we cry? And I told Nick like, yeah, I thought about it, and I do think I would probably she had a tear. I'll have my phone ready. You don't need to capture that. Once in a lifetime. You'll be so overwhelmed with all the things that you

have to do to get ready for that game. I'll be crying for that. That's that is a true statement from what I hear, like my colleagues around the league, ye've experienced. Yeah, that's why I hear why it takes two weeks to go play that game, right exactly, all the things you have to do. There's a lot to do. But trust me, I will be happy to take on

that task. But those tasks because we have well, I get emotional every year when there's like a team that wins a Super Bowl and they have like some story like behind a player or a coach and they're like super emotional just watching them on my couch. Of course getting emotional too, But you know, honestly, part of why I would be so excited would be because and I really and truly believe this is not me kind of

pumping you guys up. But I think I have the best media team in the country, and I think putting the creativity of this team to work on that kind of stage where you can tell those kinds of stories, I think you guys would do some phenomenal work. And we've never had an opportunity to really do that. And and that's where I'm just like, man, I would love to see this crew, this group right here, put some content around a Super Bowl, around even a championship game.

I think it would be phenomen It's why you do it. I mean, that's why the players play so they can go and play in that game. But that's why we do what we do, so you can experience all of that and the ride with them. And we haven't we haven't done that. We haven't been able to so who knows just talking about it. I mean, let's just so it's like that lottery ticket, like, oh man, if only I could win the lottery. Baby steps though, and it starts this week because it's also something we've never seen

and it's been thirty years. I mean, I remember, I remember it was probably my favorite game of all time. You know, Brian just said it that the Super winning the Super Bowl, I mean, getting to the Super Bowl was almost more enjoyable than winning it. But my favorite game of all time for the Cowboys just when they beat the forty nine Ers in nineteen ninety two for the NFC Championship game, which is the last time they've won a road game in the playoffs. How was that

the game was parking? I was working. It was my first year of scouting, and I was sitting in the box with San Francisco fans. John Dorsey, former general manager, you were scouting with Green Baths. I was scouting my first year with Green Bay and John Dorsey and I are out the East West game out in Palo Alto, California. Dors goes, Hey, man, I got two buddies. I got buddies to have a box here for the candlestick for this game. You interested. I'm like, man, I'm from Dallas. Yeah,

I gotta go right. So I sat there, had all my Green Bay gear and all that. These fans from San Francisco were going in on Dallas. They were going in on people from Dallas. They were saying alk and I sat there the whole game, the whole game, the whole game, the whole game. When he caught that ball and took off running Alvin or Harper. I started in I go run un run, and everybody turned and looked at me, and I said, you m Effers had been all talking about Dallas all day and what a terrible

city it is. I'm from Dallas. And John Dorsey looked at me, go it's time to go break And they were not expecting that because your Green Bay I did. I had all my Green Bay gear and when I was quiet the whole game, and when he caught that ball, I started screaming and and he you know, it turned out well, and literally John looked at me and he says, we gotta go, and I said fine, And I just I didn't even thank the people. I sat in the box with the whole game. It was just constant, well,

Dallas is this and can you believe it's about? You know? And I just as a as a guy growing up season tickets for twenty years, I'd had enough. I'd had enough of these fans, you know. I thought, you know, that to me is my number one play of all time, to Alvin Harper. But because the forty nine Ers had come back in the game, they cut it to four. The crowd's going nuts. It's four minutes to go. It's like four minute offense? What do you do with four

minute offense? Here it is and I mean Summer all Madden. They're like, this is a championship game. This shopped up field. Yeah yeah, and this is it's four minutes to go. You're on the twenty yard line. What do you do? And you throw it? You go back to pass and you throw it to Alvin Harper on a twenty yard slant and he takes off for seventy yards and it's like you go right at him, know, and that's the epitome of like trying to take this game over and and playing to go win, you know, win a trip

to the super Bowl. It reminded me because San Francisco had given me heartache before and eighty one with the catch Dwight Clark, because that was a pretty good cowboy team that you know. I mean, if you remember how that game ended, Drew Pearson gets horse collared before there was horse collaring, I mean, they're gonna he if he breaks free, Dallas is gonna win that game a game. But everybody just remembers the catch, and you talk about crying and getting emotional when that game was over. I

sat there in my you know, my friend's apartment. I mean, like tears were in them. I'm like, man, what just happened? This is what just happened, you know. And that's the kind of thing these fans, I mean, we just cowboy fans haven't experience I mean, they've experienced the heartache, but you know, to experience the joy of a ninety two game or something like they are a super Bowl win or something, it's it's it's it really really is amazing. And that's the part where you know, we talk about

how emotional will be. There a lot of people out there listening right now that if you're listening to The Break, a lot of you guys are listening to us on you know in June, right you're still listening to our show every week. And those fans talk about emotional because they're the ones that have had to listen to all the criticism and all and they're the ones that are saying, oh, my team's gonna be good this year, my team's going

all the way and then get disappointed. Right So for them, it's gonna be that same sort of emotional release of finally but you know, they got a lot to do to get there, and I guess let's talk about that. Let's start talking first about Xavier Rhodes. He's obviously the Cowboys picked him up last week. How much is he gonna be able to Like I heard somebody say yesterday, you don't pick up a player like that for him to set on your practice squad. You pick him up

because you think you can use him. Is he going to be able to be used this weekend? And how do you think they'll use him? I think he's gonna play. I mean, I think I don't know if he'll be the starter on the other side or on Bland will be and thrown Bland on the injury report, so that's a that's a good sign, not even on the injury report from the injury from last week. But I think I think Roads will play a lot. And you know one thing, Well, I'll get into a story in the

locker room a little bit. I'll let Brian kind of talk a little bit more about him and what he might be able to do. But I think that that he's definitely pretty comfortable in this situation right now. You got you gotta thought him this one No, I just gotta I liked his input when he was talking to the media, just his attitude. You know, he's he keeps talking about being ready to go, ready to go, and so far the guys that they have brought in have

seemed to be ready to go. So that's the upside, or at least a positive sign that I'm like, Okay, maybe he can be similar to a guy like t Y that came in here and was plugged in right away and effective. Yeah, fresh, the fresh body, and he's he says he's ready to go whenever, and he so physically he seems to be there. So I'm excited to see what he can bring once he's put in the Yeah. I was listening to Nick on the radio one oh five three this morning driving in and you said something

I thought was really good. I just need him to be good one time, you know. I just need him. I mean I need him to you know, I need him to find a way to be a savvy veteran. Much like what you said about t Y Hilton. What was t Y Hilton's first impression that we got to him. It was a fourth down pass interference draw on a huge play and then a huge play down the sidelines.

That was our impression of him right off, to jump a guy like he hadn't played all year, and now he's playing in a meaningful game and helping you win the game. And so to me, that's all you have. That's that means. It's it's sad that it's got to the point where Kelvin Joseph is not as good as dron Bland. It's it's it's sad that that happened, you know,

And but you have to there. The one thing this team has done a great job of this year I think of the coaching staff is if somebody's not good enough, they don't keep playing him. You know, they realize, hey, they're throwing everything they can at this cornerback spot and hoping. You know, Xavier Rhodes has the length, he has, the toughness, he has, the veteran intellect that they need. He just

can't run as well as he once did. And so if you play on guts and guile and toughness and everything else, that's what you're gonna probably get from Xavier Woods in this game. Rhodes. Excuse me, Yeah, So let me ask you this, if if what he has his size, physicality. Yeah, and what we saw in that last game of Tampa Bay, which is they're gonna try to challenge your corners on the perimeter with the run game and their ability to tackle.

Does he then become an asset to you if they're doing if they if that is the game play and they're trying to employ, has he become an asset? I feel like that they're better. I feel like that the Cowboys are better now playing perimeter defense. Just because the corners are different. It doesn't help you covering. You know, Anthony Brown could retreat, Digs can retreat, you know, in a playoff game. I just love to see Diggs just

like you know what, I'm not going to retreat. I saw what happened to me last time we play these guys. I need to play with force. I need to play forward. I need to make that ball go back inside to vander Esh and those guys, you know are Wilson. I need to make this ball, you know. I need to, you know, make sure that my force doesn't give them reason to capture the corner. I think this team plays better perimeter defense because you've got guys that are willing

to do that. Bland's willing to do that. Right is willing to do it. Right doesn't always cover, but right will at least step up, you know, And that's all you need. You don't need somebody retreating at the point. They're going to challenge Digs in this game because what they figure out is if they can run the ball at Diggs and get him war down, having to deal with that, he's not going to be able to cover

as well. It's just like it's like past It's like when you run the ball successfully on offense, it wears pass rushers down. Look at Michael Parsons, you know, he gets war down and he has to continue to deal with that kind of stuff. So, yeah, it's gonna be a challenge. But I hope that Digs remembers what happened in week one and then makes that decision to come and try and help. Let's take our first break when we come back. I ask some questions for you guys

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dot Com a fanatics experience. Welcome back into the second segment of the break Life ins WBC Mortgage Studios at the start segment brought to you by blockchain dot Com. All right, let's let's get into some matchup questions and some game type questions. Here's my first question for you guys. Which is more important for the Cowboys to fix. They've been having some issues with both of these things. If they're gonna win against Tampa Bay run defense or rushing offense.

I need him to run the ball. I need him to run the ball. I need to find ways to I need to find ways to keep drives going. I need to find a way to stay ahead of the chains. Quarterback plays so much better when they're playing ahead of the chains. Offensive coordinator gets in some rhythm. You know, Tampa is not a great running team. They're gonna try, and they probably feel like they can. They have confidence

that they can. I kind of feel like you're a little bit better prepared for that to play the run defense with vandershback Hankins. They didn't see Hankins the first time around, and they're dealing with some issues at center Tampa Bay with Jensen. They don't know if Jensen's going to play in this game, and they're other guys are nicked up too as well, So I would kind of kind of keep an eye on that. But I feel like if you let me, if you let me run the football, my offense is going to be able to

move the ball and score points. Yeah, I think it comes down to, you know, who do you want on third and nine? I mean, what makes you feel better Dak completing the third to nine or tom Brady completing a third of nine, And I think it would be tom Brady. So to me, if you stop their run, you still got to deal with them, which yeah, you can rush the passer on them, but you still got to deal with him as opposed to if you're in

third and nine situations. I don't like that. I don't like the way they play defense to try to disguise things for Dak. I think a have to run the football. I think that I agree with Brian running ball. Well, were you asking defensively? I'm saying both, Like what's more important for the Cowboys to fix their rushing offense so they run the ball better, or for them to fix the rush defense they can stop Tampa Bay from running the ball. I would say stop Tampa Bay more than

the running the run defense. I would like them to

be able to rush the passer a lot better. Get back to pressuring the passer, because even though they've been struggling with stopping the run all year long, I feel that they were a lot more successful when they did find a way to get to the quarterback and I kind of slowly started fading away and they started dropping down on both things, like now you don't have a line that's rushing the pass or and now you don't have a line that's being able to stop the run either.

So if they're able to just kind of get back into pressuring the quarterback Micah parton being the problem for Tom Brady, I think that automatically, quote unquote, they should play a better game defensively and therefore also help your

offense to get back hopefully to what they can be. Yeah, if you flip the question and told me would you rather have pass rush or run offense, I'm gonna take pass rush because to me, I don't think Campa can run the ball there passing game there first in the league in attempts, their first in the league in yards.

You know that's they don't score points. If I could, if you told me, I could get after them and affect the game one way, give me my pass rush, because if Tampa's not gonna run the ball, I'm gonna need to stop them throwing the ball. But no, no, no, go ahead. I was just gonna say, but I think this is a chicken and egg kind of thing. I actually think their ability to rush the passer starts with can you stop the run? Yeah? And I think that what we saw earlier, the team throws the ball, they

abandon the run. Yeah, But I get My point is people they don't even try. My point is, though, in games where the Cowboys have lost this year, and specifically games where they typically it goes hand in hand, when they haven't able to stop the run, then what ends up happening is because they can't stop the run, they kind of get worn down, they get a little frustrated, and then their pass rush slows down, and then they're

not getting the pass rush. To me, if you can stop the run and they talk about it all the time, you earn the right to rush the pastor earning the right to rush the pastor is about stopping the run.

Once you stop the run and you make the other team one dimensional, now you have a chance to just let loose and go get the quarterback there comfortable earlier this year because I mean every time after every show we would say, if one thing that the defense needs to fix is the run, stopping the run, So what's

the difference? My thing is, I think as the season warre on, teams started realizing if you just don't abandon your run, like if you just stick with your run, this team will give up yards in the running game. And what we started to see is as a season went on, more teams started saying, you know what, even though we're down, we're not gonna get away from the run.

We're gonna keep running the ball. And I think that's how the Green Bay game played out, Like they just kept running, They kept running, and they didn't get out of it. They were like, we might be down, we're gonna keep running the ball, and they got right back in the game. And so I think what happened this team's realize this team is more concerned with getting after

the passer. And if you stick to the run and you keep pounding at them, eventual it's gonna hit and eventual it's gonna work, right, And I think if they want to be able to be good rushing the passer, it starts with can you stop the run and force a team to get so frustrated to where they then start feeling like they gotta throw? And then you got just feel like by doing that, at the end of

the day, you kind of get neither. You're still having them run on you, like run the ball on you, but then also not getting to the quarter but not if you stop the run. That's the point. If you're dedicated to stopping the run, then as the game wears on, the hope is. The hope is as you as you stop the run, eventually they get away from it and then they become one dimensionally. And when you know that that's what they're doing, I'll put this team up against

any team going to get the quarterback. Well, yeah, that's the thing about this team though in Tampa. They give up on the run. They give up, so you're immediately from the word go they're one dimensional. So yeah, you know if you if you told me getting after, if you said, hey, get after the passer. Yes, yeah, I've watched enough game. We've all watched this quarterback play Super Bowls,

things like that. When he has grass stains on that jersey of his, it's usually a bad day for them because the more you hit him, the more it affects him. It's forty five years old. Just keep hitting him, you know, that's the idea in this game. Brian, Earlier this week you said you were going to steal a question and from Derek and use it on the radio. Did you do that? I did? Okay, So I don't mind stealing something that was presented to me today. Did you hear

on the L five three? Really really good question? And I don't know, I don't know. I used it yesterday in our show. Okay, they stole it from y'all. I

think they did. That's fine scenario. And they asked McCarthy this too, which he didn't play along of course not you know, but you're up six and Brady has the ball at the twenty yard line and their own their own twenty gotta go eighty yards to win the game, but three minutes to go four minutes to go, or you're down six, you've got the ball at the twenty yard line and Dat they got the ball and they got to go go win the game. Which scenario do

you like the best? It's gotta be Dat has the ball because you give you give three minutes to Brady. I've seen Brady do it a minute and a half. Okay, you give him three minutes that week one game, minute seven. Yeah, I ain't trust that. Like you're one of the best in the league. You talk about giving them ball at the end of the game. Now, the only thing that that I do like about that, let's say it is four minutes. The way I look at that is maybe scores in a minute and a a half and Dad gets

the goal, right, Maybe that works. Maybe that works. I don't know. He's not, but you know, but I don't. I don't love the idea. I was just telling you guys upstairs, I don't love the idea of a close game. If it's a close I don't feel like I don't feel confident in the fact that most any team in the NFL, if you're playing a close game against Tom Brady,

good luck with that. I just don't I don't I'm never gonna bet against that because I've seen too many times when that twenty eight to three lead ain't safe. Like I don't. I just don't trust that, you know, No, I took I took defense though giving the league you did, just give me the lead. Yeah, I don't. I don't like it. I said it. That's what I said. Like there are no fingernails. You know, you'll you'll, you will be nervous as hell. But the one thing he might

be confident is when the game turns into that. We've seen Dad huh, move the ball, move the ball, move the ball, and now we've also seen interceptions and stuff before the half and things like that. But I would be comfortable with Dac playing in that type of a setting where it's like, I got to move the ball. I don't have time to think. I just keep throwing the ball, you know, and it works out the other guy.

You just know when you're on that sideline and it's all right, well, you know field goal is good and you know the score, and then you're like, okay, he's got a minute forty one time out and all he needs a field goal and you see that look on his face. They always show him on the sideline that look on his face like, oh yeah, I got him. Yeah. It's like, remember the first time, the two years ago, what did he do? He kept throwing the ball out of bounce on purpose, just to keep eating the clock up.

Do you had nothing left? That's the kind of that's how he manipulates things. That's that's the problem you have when you play him and Rogers and guys like that. They're thinking, wait, Manning that fifty one to forty eight game that hadn't down. These these quarterbacks are thinking, okay, I'm gonna milk this clay. And he just kept throwing it out of bounce, you know, just to get time off the clock. And then all of a sudden, you're just now you're kicking a field goal and you're going

home unhappy. Yeah, it's it's hard to play these guys, even if as old as that guy is, because they got playmakers on the outside, and they could throw the ball to Fournette on the screen or white and go, you know, first play they get the ball, they throw the screen to Fournette for eighteen yards and you're like, you know, now you're you know, it's just tough. I'm with you, Derek on this one. I think I give me Dak. I'm taking Dak every time. I don't want

nobody wants. He's forty five years old and we're acting like, I mean, he's to play defense. I'm just saying, I trust my best player and that's what it is. And I don't have You're not stopping the run. You're not going from stop against Philadelphia, not gonna go on a sweep. You're not gonna you know, it's not gonna It's gonna be Digs covering their best guy, Micah Parsons rushing. And I'll just take my chances. I mean, and if they score,

I'll take my chances. They missed the extra point. I don't Xavier Rhodes is playing the game of his life. It's going to be Joseph Joseph. I don't know how he plays. Yeah, you think, yeah, I mean, we'll see Rhodes got to be active for somebody. Let me throw this question at you, guys, Typically successful playoff teams, we'll do something a little different in the playoffs. You'll see something different about them. What's more likely to happen this weekend?

Turpin is used on offense Gallup has used more downfield on some big plays, or t t Y has a phenomenal game, has the game of his life, and they use him a ton. What's more likely to happen? Why? Yeah, I think any any play that they had for Turpin, I mean after the ball hit him in the face, like they're like, yeah, it's got that one. I don't know. But even then, Like, has there been a successful play

where Turpin has been on offense? Yeah? Couple, couple. I mean the option play they ran against tamp in Week one where Dad got a first down. He faked the option running it moved White the linebacker, and he went up inside for a first down. That was a team in the average for rush. Yeah, five point six. That's it with two? Are you very serious? Yeah? Five point six? At least a team he gets the corner on those Jets.

I mean, Ballard's like five three. I mean it's really good. Yeah, I'm saying I would have thought there were some other guys like I would think CD, for example, he's had those runs where he's you know, so I would think his average would be a little bit high. I think I think, Okay, I'm gonna say some different here. We've We've thrown a lot of dirt on Gallup. Yeah, a lot of dirt. I'm saying they're gonna go vertical game

with him. I think you're gonna this is gonna be one of those games where you're gonna finally see a smile inside that helmet, you know, with the ball going down the field and him catching the ball. I don't think they're gonna use turpin. If they use turpin, it will be in some kind of we haven't seen the fake anything yet or the throwback, you know. I mean, Bones has got something that's gonna Television games like this,

the coordinators always have something they're gonna gallop. This is the time for Michael Gallup to bear ry everything that everybody said negatively about him this year in this game. That's if they If they're gonna do something, it's gonna be a downfield shot couple of them on the second. Do you expect um that if beyondat starts, do you expect McGovern to be the left guard? Yeah? I do.

I expect everybody to go back to their spots. Yes, yeah, Lets I just need that right tackle to say, well you are applying something, but um Tyler Smith said in the locker room yesterday that he doesn't know where he's gonna play, and I don't know if he's just being coy as a rookie. I don't know if he's doing that. But he's like, I'm not sure if I'm gonna be playing guard or tackle? Is that because they don't know about Beyandnat yet, Like they don't know for sure if

he's gonna be playing Maybe? I mean, I just I don't know. I don't know what the what the setup is going to because I look at it like this, the fact that he was full yesterday, full practice, I would say that they're probably and just talking to folks, they're getting him read. If Tyler stays a guard, that means that Peters is still at left tackle that I don't know how that could be the scenario that they think is the best option for this offensive now. Probably not.

I just I'm just not sure what they're gonna do. And and when you say different packages, it makes me think, what if what if there's something for McGovern as a as a lead blocker? You know, what if something like that, if you if you get in a situation where you where you're trying to get short yardage goal line, maybe that happens, but I think on other plays he should

be in their guard. I think it should be honest in McGovern and McGovern has played a lot against the Bucks because even last year when so he's played some and I don't think you're gonna have that that, you know, scared to do anything in the middle. I mean, it's gotta be they've got to be able to move the ball some way in the middle. You know. Let me throw this one other question. It's kind of on the

same vein as the as the last question. But before we go to break um we somebody mentioned a little earlier in show that you just need that one player, you need that one game. From from this vet, they got a lot of guys like that that a little long in the tooth, and if you're gonna need a game, this might be the game. Which one is more likely to have that kind of game of these guys Tyrn Smith,

t Y Hilton, Xavier Rhodes, or Anthony Barr. I would put Anthony Barr fourth on that list, unless the ball's going right at him. Yeah, I would say that probably from what I've seen so far from Tyrn Smith, I would probably put him second on that list. Xavier Rhodes third, t Y Hilton first. I like that. I'm sorry, I jumped around all over the place. We got you, said,

t Y tyrn Um, Xavier and Anthony Barr. Yeah, I think I think the thing with Anthony Barr that I having vander Eshbach really helps Clark in my opinion, because Clark needs Clark needs him telling him be ready for this, be ready, this is that run play over here, could be ready, be ready, and you know you need that. We saw it last week the first touchdown the Commanders have.

If vanders just there, he is not going to let Terry McLaren run across the field untouched Clark did vand Rush is going to step up and smash across or on that play. That play is not going to happen with him standing there. You know who who I think is another X factor. I don't know how about how old he is, but he's a veteran. Is Brian Anger's got to do well. I'm glad you said that. He's got to do a good job because yeah, and it's not just him Overton, Let's not. Let's be clear about

this one. Yeah, miss extra point was on him him. Yeah, the block, punt, the block, but also when he's dropped the snap, yeah, I mean, should have caught it, but it was why I mean, he's having to move. I mean, you know, that's when your eyes start coming off the ball because if they are rushing from the right and from his right side. Now he's kind of thinking about that because now you're you're kicking right into the teeth

of it. So the balls need to be where it. Yeah, be so Overton, but really Anger, if you can pin him back and play some field position with them, and Tom Brady could drive ninety nine. I'm sure he can, but put some pressure on him having a stand in the end zone. It's a little bit different. You check down a lot quicker, you can get off the field. Anger and the special teams. I think it's gonna be big. I'd like to see it where Dallas can find ways to make them have to run the football or try

to run. I mean, make them make them prove to you that that you know they haven't run it all year. They ran it on you in Week one, but since then it's been you know, White has been better than Fournette when you watch, but I mean that's to me, if you pin them back at least they're gonna have to use some place to try and maybe create some distance there. I think Hankins is the bit you asked it the other day. Which guy coming back to me? It's Hankins more than be Oddish, that's close but in

vander But I like. I think Hankins. I think that's a that's an element we haven't seen against the Buccaneers, and I think that it'll be it'll be a little bit different there within there they're banged up at center two. I mean, let that big man eat inside with vander Esh behind him. We're going to take our final break. When we come back, I'm gonna ask a simple you had very complex question. Have you lost faith in dac Well? Do that woman come right backhouse? Cowboys dot com right,

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and more. Gate to open five thirty Kickoff fifteen. For more information, visits Daskawoys dot com Slash twenty twenty two Playoffs Welcome Back, final segment of The Break Life from the s WBC Mortgage Studios at the Star. I let off with this as we were heading into the break. It is a question that I think has been asked around every show, national and local this week, and Chuck

Negren asks it on Twitter. Have you guys lost faith in dec I haven't lost faith, but there's a side of me that when I kind of looked at the coaches would be a value in twenty twenty two, and then you would evaluate Dak in twenty twenty three, and then by twenty twenty four you needed to figure out if you needed to use a draft pick on a quarterback or where you were you're going to extend this guy.

The thing that bothers me the most is just the it's just it's the decision making that it's it's not the it's not the trying. It's or not the you know, it's not the it's just sometimes you make those throws and you're like, you, as a quarterback, you can't, you just can't. So I lost faith in his decision making. That's where I've Sometimes the decisions are brilliant and you're you're just like, Wow, what a great play, and other times you're like, you can't throw that ball. You can't

throw that ball, and I don't think you. I don't know if you could get that out of him. I really really don't, because he's always I've said this before, he's always going to live to He's always going to live to fight to keep the play going. You know, that's his belief. That's the way he's playing. That's way he leads his life. You know, he's never told he could pass. He you know, his college coaches they didn't think he practiced well. He didn't throw the ball well.

I mean, he's developed along the way, but what he hasn't developed is the decision making. And I think that's the thing that I've lost faith in. I haven't like lost more faith in him. I mean I've you know, I've always been somewhat critical of him at times, but as just standing in the pocket and throwing it's not his thing. It's not his game. He gets confused with coverages and stuff like that. He's got to go be a football player that plays quarterback, not a quarterback playing football.

If he's a football player and he's running around and he does a little goomb every now in a game, they get off me. Go make some plays. That guy has got to win the game. That guy that's flipping over Seattle to go get to get those extra yards to win his playoff game. That's the guy be fearless and go out there and play. I don't I don't have. I have lost faith in that. They've got to put him in the right situations. But I think he can go win games in the playoffs. I believe that still. Yeah,

I think so too. He can. He can win games for you. Again, he just does. He does need the supporting cast, he does need the old line to be working, he does need the running game to be working. He does need those receivers that can catch passes. So it's it's a tough one because where were you rating dak to begin win with. And it's one of those like, Okay, it is what it is is. You can't keep thinking that he's going to become that Aaron Rodgers, that Tom Brady,

that Mahomes. He is what it is. And if that's the quarterback you decide to have, then you gotta make sure you give him the support that he needs. You gotta make sure you position him in the right position, like call the right place for him, try to cater to him. Have the tight ends working for him because he seems to be really, really good with the tight ends. So it's it's it's just a tough one. But at the end of the day, I do think that he can be the type of quarterback that can win games

for you. Yeah, the fact that we're all kind of I mean, I think Nick was far more positive than I know I was about it. But the thing about it, we're all struggling with that right now, we're all struggling with you know, you want to believe, you want to believe there's so much to love. Yeah, from him, there's no question, but there's I don't want this to be one of those games where it ends up and then all of a sudden, the turnovers of the factor in the game and he has to stand up there and Nick,

for the eighth straight week, ask him the turnovers? Can you, Dak, can you address what happened with you know? And then he has to know I've got to be better. I've got to be better, you know, and we're all we're all kind of like we're losing faith on I gotta be better. You know. That's where I I amber's right. You want to just love the player because of where his background and what he's where he's come from, and

what he's overcome and all that. You want to want to love the player, and the reason why you're in the playoffs back to back is because the guy. You know, if if if he had half the interceptions, if he had half, we'd be talking about what a great year Dak Prescott had. You know, if if you believe in analytics and numbers and all that, the numbers will overwhelm you.

But the one number that really overwhelms you or the turnovers, you know, and a lot of that has to do with there's just there's balls that bounce off people the volleyball players we have sometimes, but there's a lot of it has decisions, you know. I mean that throw against the Commanders last week on the outside was one of the worst throws. You can't make that throw, and that's that's the that's the thing that we all struggle with.

I think watching him play that one more question for you, OK ahead, I was gonna say, I also think there's some blame to be put on like Kellen Moore and the coaching because and I'm not saying you can't go through a whole season, playing like how you were playing with Cooper Rush. At some point you gotta be aggressive

and you got to go for it. But at the same time, how comes Again it's a bad comparison, but you were playing such a more, more much game, yea more cleaner game, being more okay quote unquote conservative, but it was kind of working. You were moving the chains and doing Again, I just forgot for a moment. A lot of it had to be because of the defense and what they were doing for you at the same time. So that's the only reason I want. But that's to

your point. You need people around him, not only the offensive players, but the defensive players were you know, I mean, you got to have that kind of help. But just there's some type of game that you can construct that it works better for a guy like Dak that is more aggressive than what you got with Cooper Rush, but also kind of keep it tighter and cleaner for you. All right, one more question before we take our get

our predictions for the game. Andre Britton says, who outside of Dak do you think us to play with the as the best version of themselves for the Cowboys to be successful this week? Oh? Well, the best version of themselves would be Ezekiel Elliott. I mean, if he could be the best version of himself, I think that would be I would be great. I mean because the best

version for him, like like ever or like this season. Now, I'm saying, like, if you're gonna get one guy that's gonna have that game, give me who is that guy? Give me Zeke because not only is he running the ball and he's being efficient and he's being physical, but he's taken it to their ass. That's what he's doing, and he's eating. He's eating every every play, he's going looking right at that ship and he's eating and he keeps doing that. Yeah, give me that guy. Give me

hall of fame. Tyrn Smith, you know on that right side, because I know that right I know, I know that right guard will do his job against Fiedavea the best he can't. But he's gonna need seventy seven to slam that guy in those that number fifty in the ribs a couple of times to get him over to move him and then he can go. Give me hall of fame seventy seven at right tack. Well, let's take it to defense. Give me Michael Parsons and be the best

version of himself. Last couple of games during the times you can see he's kind of off his game, like not playing at the intensity that he usually plays in and sometimes kind of feeling a little lost at times. So typically when you got a game where Michael Parsons is just killing it, you tend to win that game. Not only that, but I'll say this, and I agree with you and Bro I would have said Michael Parsons.

But one thing that we haven't seen as much here down the stretch is earlier in the season, there'd be times in games when you most need a big defensive play and he just showed up. That's what they need this week They need if you're gonna get to that scenario where it's that final drive and you gotta make a stop, I need Michael Parsons to be Michael Parsons.

I mean the Michael Parsons is so disruptive that every play, like Tom is as he's getting up off the ground, he's slamming the ball, He's looking at his left tackle like, what are you doing Smith? Playing over there? They need Michael Parsons to be Michael Parsons this weekend. And I think if he can do that. I think this is a this might be a blowout type game if Michael Parsons can be a Michael Parsons that we know under

the radar players like that. You know, you want everyone to play their best game and and the obvious answer like when you're back other than that, But you know, I'm out a guy like Layton Vanderesh, Yeah, we've seen his best game. Ye his best games would have been you know, three or four years ago. But he can come back and play to that level. How about Minnesota Viking Xavier Rhodes Okay, whenever, you know, whenever he was, whatever game did Xavier Rhodes played where? Yeah, exactly, But

I know I know that one guy's gonna have to play. Yeah, tell you a story on the locker room about um Xavier Rhodes, UM from yesterday. I thought it was interesting. So, you know, first first week here, first couple of days, he's talking to the media, you know, and had long conversation and it was good. And then he kind of

see that jay Ron Curse. Everyone's gathering around Jayron Curse making an announcement that he is the twenty twenty two season Good Guy Award and that's that's something given from the media to the players. Guys, great interview letter not only accessible but gives well thought answers. Is you know, accountable um and and not afraid to say some things. And so he was getting that award and all that.

Well here comes Xavier Rhodes who knew him from a couple of years ago at Minnesota, and he comes in and breaks the whole thing up and he says, wait, does he went an award? Yeah, just takes his water bottle and just dumps it all on that, all on his phone, all on the next guy next to him, his clothes and phone and all over Clarence Hill, which was funny. And so the way, yeah, he's got the microphone.

Clarence made the announcement. So he was actually okay but for that one, but not on media match or anything like that. But it's just funny how he's been here like six hours and he already like dumping water on people. So whatever I mean, hopefully he's comfortable, he's back to his his uh you know, he's feeling good about playing and all that. So fun to see him. All right, it is time predictions. Let me say real quick and use that wait till last. But it's kind of hard, Nick,

you saw me this morning, you walk in. It's like it's kind of hard not to Cowboys. So let's just say, okay, my pick Cowboys. I actually think Cowboys win this weekend. Now let's get to the other predictions. Nicho, let's start with you. Um, I have a hard time to live. Yeah, I have a hard time. I've never seen them win a game on the in the road. I've never seen beat in playoffs, and I've never seen him beat Tom Brady. And I've never seen all these things. And I'm letting

all of that. I'm letting Quincy Carter's struggles and and Romo's struggles and all of them, Wade, Phillips, Garrett, all of that affected me here. And that's not really catch them. To catch all of these things. Um, it's not their burden. What it is is this is a better football team than the Bucks have shown this year. They've been better. We've seen them play great, we've seen them play bad, but we've seen them play great a little bit more. I'm gonna go with Dallas to win this game twenty

nine to twenty. I'm not making it a one possession game, because I don't think that's good for the Cowboys. So to win it, they're gonna have to be on them all game and hold on for dear life. Hamper, Well, you know, I've always had this battle of like my heart and my logic. My head says, but I'm gonna go with my heart. I just even though I can see every single possible scenario happening this weekend, I still think that they typically come back better after a loss.

They bounce back and they're focused, and they're gonna go out there, and some magic tends to happen at different times. When you get into the playoffs. You never you can expect the unexpected at time. So I think that they're gonna bring it and they're gonna end up winning twenty three twenty one. That's what I had in my head. A closer game is going to be one of those where we're just kind of sweating, but yeah, Dallas wins, Amber's gonna get her wish uh. Michael Parsons is going

to go after Donovan Smith in this game. That's where that's where this game can hinge very well. Knocking Brady down the grass Stained game, that's all I talk about all the time, Dallas twenty seven, Tampa Bay twenty three. All right, guys, that is a rap. We will not be on the air Monday because a lot of us will be in Tampa getting ready for Cowboys versus I'll be one, five three. The fans. Absolutely, you can listen to seven. Yeah, good show, thank you. Check that that out.

You also got a pregame show. Sorry, four o'clock. Yeah, okay, four o'clock all right, so you gotta check it out. We'll be back on Tuesday. Hopefully we will be talking about a continuation of the playoffs. That would be very exciting. Either way, we will be back on Tuesday. We'll tell you what went right and wrong for the Cowboys and break it all down for you till and for Nicky. Mbrian brought us an Amber Garcia. I'm Derek Ekleton. 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.