Hangin' with the Break: Forces Collide

pretty sure that. And I'm talking quickly because I'm pretty sure there's a lot of people that tuned into his real show and then they heard that and they were like, I'll come back later, but maybe lay let him know. This is the break. Yeah, we have a special guest with us today, So feel free now to say whatever you're gonna say. This is the break? Then why am I hosting? Because I didn't want to have to do it.

That's why. This is where I said at eleven thirty, Yes, where he stands out, that's where he sits at eleven thirty, and that's not where you sit at whatever. Anyway, this is a special day. This is a special day, Nate. It's sounding a big ball. You look really good from this out of the table by the way, I might have to change my spot. Hey man, I'm just glad to be here. Man ah Man to the right of me.

How you doing, Nick? How you doing? Welcome? Welcome to Hanging with the Boys at eleven thirty with special guests Nick Eatman and Derek Eaton from Cowboys Break. How are you guys doing? We're doing good. Nick's already tuned out, He's a seven. I think Kirk talks more than you have. The beginning of the show, missus her feels like, how are y'all? Man? This is awesome? So what's going on

is Kirk's been out all week. Ambar and Dave from Your Show are out, and we were gonna do two separate shows, and and Derek was gonna sit in with us, and we were just like, why don't we just do one show, knock it out and big show, be done? The big show, Big show. So we're gonna do things. We're gonna do some fun stuff today. We're gonna take a lot of calls. How about that. Y'all ever take calls on your show? We try once, twice, we try, we never get to it. We're gonna take a lot

of calls, so call us. We got Nick and Dave on my show, there's way too much commentary. There's not a lot of room to get calls in. No, so call us if you're a fan of The Break or Hanging eight eight eight eight five five two two nine seven, and Nate's gonna cut you off because we're trying to get through as many of these as we can. We don't need to hear your life story. You can say hi, you can tell us how much you love or hate the show, but we're gonna try to get through these.

So tell us. If you have a question, get to your question. If you have a point, get to your point. We love you, and then we're moving on. How's that that good? That's a good host though, all right, love you, that's a great host. All right? Yeah, yeah. What do you guys normally talk about on your show? Football? Talk about football? Alright? Novel, idea, little works, you've been doing it for fourteen years, kind of books, kind of kind

of an important game tomorrow kind of yeah. Yeah, so what so we gotta listen to y'all because how do y'all start a show talking about football? So we got because we don't know how that work. You know, we typically do on a Friday. Okay, it's gonna start by talking about the guys we think are going to play versus not going. Okay, good, good, Okay. You look at some injuries and how much we'll go along with that

might affect the team. So you want to tell us what the injury report looks like, Nick, Well, I want to know about one guy who's sue Fela. What is the word? Hasn't done anything, don't look positive. So it's gonna be your n you know, well, actually, let me do Yeah, yeah, my my Longhorn. It's a good week for long gratulations. By the way, I'm just saying it's a good week for long right now. I'm riding a high when it comes to sports between my Long Horns

football and basketball and then the Rockets last night. Yeah hard, I'm feeling really good right now. So let's see. Yeah don't oh man, Oh my god, yes, sir. But anyway, um, Nate, Actually, it's interesting we talked about that. I was on cover four this morning and Taylor was saying that she was worried about Connor, and she said, I was worried until I talked to Nate, and Nate told me something that

made me feel less concerned. So for me and for all people that listen to the break, can you help us feel less concerned because we've been talking about this week and that's been a big I think it's a big concern as far as the way we look at it. What are your thoughts? My thoughts was and then Broadus came in and added even more to her confidence. Is what I believe there is that he's gotten stronger in

this short period of time. He's he's the thing about it, he's played it ain't like he's been staled just coming off. He's gotten stronger, He's gotten more experience. And that's what I believe can help him is that he knows how to play this game now. He can make some adjestments as the game going. Now, will he be get overpowered?

Not as much. I don't think so. And then when broad Est came in was talking brought us and looking at the film, he'll believe he'll be a little bit more athletic than Sue a Philly And we need to move around. We need to make this defense move around to give him a lot of misdirection. You know, we just don't try to run straight out. I don't try to take the game over because they got great linebackers that can float, So make give him from misdirection. We may do a couple of more polls, but I think

that this kid has gotten mentally tougher. That's that is my greatest thing. As a season go on and you have success as a team and as an individual that you lock in like man, I don't want that. My team may sound so sue a philler, gonna give excuse me, your home bull kind of whiz, gonna give everything he's got? All right? Who else we got out? Who's not playing? Tavan? What's the latest on him? It don't matter, Nick, Nick, what doesn't matter? Yeah, I mean, and I'm sorry to

see we do our show a little bit. I just you know, go ahead, I'm sorry. I'm trying. And it probably doesn't They don't use them much when he is healthy. Um, you know, I think he's been healthy for a month or two now, and you know he's he just hasn't been a factor for this for this team. And now they did put some things on tape last week. I think we'll see him return some punts. I think we'll see a couple of those reverse fake reverses. But he's not a gadget player like we thought he would be.

And you know, like we look at Seattle, Tyler Lockett is everything we thought Tavon Austin could be. Yea, they don't use them that way, They don't need to use them that way. Yeah he practiced yesterday, Yeah, yes he did. He was out there returning punts and so it was on the official injury report. Is questionable, I think, yeah, I think, I mean, I think they're giving themselves an out. I really believe Stua Filo is tied to Tavon this week.

I think if if Suffilo can kind of play and they go with eight linemen and make them all active, I think you gotta you can't have a luxury to have extra players. And I think Tavon would be considered an extra player. But the fact that he took all those punt return reps makes me think he's going to be active. Yeah, anyway, there's a linebacker that's inactive. Anybody else questionable or not playing tomorrow that we know of.

UM trying to look, I mean think, but when I looked at it yesterday, it was sue Philo was doubtful. You had obviously Irving out. Yeah, and then you had Tavon's questionable. I think that was it. I think everybody else was ready to go. Everybody else was full as of yesterday, I think, and we talked about this yesterday on our show. Been the safety that was also questionable. Yeah, you can look at it. Thompson. Yeah, we were talking

about this yesterday. This is and my recent memory, the healthiest this team's been going into the playoffs or at the end of the season. Because really, David Irving, which we haven't seen him around, he's out, Saphila, you know, that's kind of a big deal. But other than that, Tavon, I mean, everybody else is playing, So I couldn't really ask for much more. From a health standpoint. Austin, it's questionable, Darry and Thompson with a groin is le, so I

feel a little doubtful. Yeah, so you're right. I mean, I think right now you look at this and you feel pretty good about the fact from your from a health standpoint, but you look at the injury report for the Seahawks. They had a lot of guys miss practice this week, but they were the same way by the final designation yesterday. Most of the guys were full in practice yesterday. So both teams seem like they're going into

the playoffs. They got a couple of guys actually back this game that they didn't have the first game in kJ Right, some guys that make a difference, Doug ballwin. So so they're they're actually pretty healthy too. So it's gonna be a matchup of teams that are both sitting pretty healthy and we'll see who's a better team. Yeah, let's go to the phones. Our first caller, George san Diego. What's up man, Hey, good morning, everybody. Happy to do you're to all of you guys. Great job with the

show man. Yeah. Um, just a quick quick question. So when when the Cowboys played that that Saints game, Willia mc ginnis on the NFL Network made a comment saying that that that play at the goal line was a season changing play for a team and that that would change the whole dynamic of this team. And I would say that with that play that I think the defense

has stepped up a little bit. My question is, and this goes more to Nate uh Nate as a player, you know that you're the quarterback, will when you so many games the coach will when you so many games? How many games do you think Jason Garrett has won for us this year? Thanks for the call, George, This last one, yeah, this last one to put him in da What do you think he did to help him in the game. He got Dack on track, let him through the ball for forty plus times. They went into

this game with that in mind. Uh And and you know people said, well, hey, you know, all they do is let Shanahan called plays. But a head coach has to make some decisions too. And I think this this this last game where he got his players ready without without tying Ron Smith, without Zeke, without this guy, without that guy, with this guy playing limited amount of time. Okay, he made a move, a coaching move that everybody in

the world want to call meaningless. But somehow, some way he got his players to believe that this was a real game for them. So this is get this last game right here? How many games? So did the caller just asked how many games Garrett has won? You know what I mean? His calls inner game have changed the game to help the team, right, Yeah, because there's you know, I would say ten I mean, wouldn't y'all? Say you wouldn't say ten or ten and six and I would.

I mean, either he either they don't. You know, either you get the credit that he don't. Yeah, it's Berry switch. You can't you want to blame Barry Switzer or you want to call him a Super Bowl Champian, one of the one of the two, like he either you mess it up or you or you don't. I just don't

think it could be both ways. In the Tampa Bay game, I mean, we we know for a fact some of the things he said it and he called out specific players and meetings, specific players who have been doing some extra curricular things like hot boying around and clear eye viewing and wolf hunting and stuff like that, and he called them out and he basically told the team to get back on that wall that you've been your backs

have been against for the last few weeks. And so I think he did a nice job in the Tampa Bay game. And there's other games. I mean, I mean what we don't see. I mean, I think Garrett need either either you give him some credit for what he's done or you don't give him all the blame. But I mean, I mean, I think he's done a masterful job in turning things around. And that's the thing everybody

associates wins with the calls in the game. When you're a head coach, there's so much other stuff that goes on Monday through Saturday that fans have no idea what goes on behind these walls. You know, we get to pull the curtain back a little bit. We know a little bit about it. And that's why I've been a fan of Jason, especially this year, is because he's always consistent. You know what you're getting. It's just like your boss when you walk into work. We walk in and Derek's

all over the place. You don't want to go to work, right, but you walk in, you know Derek's gonna be the same grumpy you're guy every day. Oh yeah, sorry, I got y'all mixed up. But I mean, you know what you're getting with Garrett. You know what message he's preaching.

He's been preaching it ever since he's been here. And these guys, I think that's one of the upset right now the listeners because they come in at eleven thirty and they expect, you know, to have greatness, and then they come in and they're like, what is going on here. That's what I think. Let's real quick, though, And honestly, you made that point about You made that point about Garrett, and actually I actually think Garrett is a better coach

Monday through Saturday. She didn't say better coach. I think the best work that he does is Monday through Saturday. The reason why I say that is because, and again, I do have a perspective that's different than a lot of fans, because a lot of fans don't have access

that I have. But some of the things that I've seen, some of the speeches I've seen him give this team, some of the things I've heard about how he handles situations, sometimes situations that are not very good, how he handles it, and how he keeps his players on the same page. And after all the time he's been here. The one thing I have never seen him maybe you guys have.

I'm saying I personally never seen it. I've never seen the guy that rolls his eyes when you hear the Garrett saying, right, we know them all, like stick to the process and all that stuff. Like there's so many times I've seen players with pass coaches. There's stuff just where stin after a while, it's kind of like, here we go again. I've not seen that from these players. They typically buy into what the coach is saying. Now.

Don't get me wrong, there could be a player here and there that's just kind of like, yeah, I get it, but right now, that don't matter. We gotta go do, we gotta do. I get that. I'm just saying, though, he seems to keep his players on key with him, and what you tend to see is the stuff that he says to them Monday through Saturday is the exact same thing you start hearing from them throughout the week as they're doing interviews, and on Sundays after games you

hear those exact same monitors, those exact same things. He has a way of, I think, engaging with his team and getting his team to buy into what he's preaching. Now you can question his decisions on Sunday, and I think that's all fair game. And I think some of his decisions haven't been always the right decisions. But I think when you think about what a coach he does, like you said, the full picture of what a coach does, I think what he does Monday through Saturday is really

really impressive. Now the fans are rolling their eyes and we go again. Yeah, I agree. I agree. And that's all fair too, by the way, because they don't get to see all the other stuff. All they see is him go and stand in front of the elector and basically give them, give fans. Been a great player for a really long time, and so I get all that, and that's fair for fan to think that. It's absolutely fair. Nick, No,

I'm good. Okay, I thought we are. But let me ask you this from a player perspective, what do you see? What do you think Jason's most valuable asset is to this team? You know, it's consistency. It's consistent as a player, right, yeah, it's consistency. But but it just got to win a playoff game. You know, you got to win a playoff game in And that's been my deal since this started, you know what. And that's why I said this game here, this last game. You know, they saw as a CA

coaching staff that our quarterback needs to get going. I've been saying for about eight weeks. And he needs to move around. He needs to move around, he needs he needs for to get this eternal clock back in his head on a consistent basis. The coaches thought the same thing, and we all knew as long as that left tackle held up, he was gonna be in that game. And and we saw some nice things that we hadn't saw on a consistent basis in twenty and sixteen for our quarterback.

That's why I say when when When when Dak? When you see him talking between times, when watching the game, you'll see Dak go pass his quarterback, I mean his coach, and Jason would say something. He would say something. Next series, he's rolling out there, come out of halftime. Everybody like, oh my god, it's exploding over there. Oh what I'm like? Man,

he trying to get his quarterback right. And because if we all true to the game and Puri City game, we know it's gonna come a point where the quarterback gonna have to top this team, come on plays where he gonna have to say, Okay, now it's time. And this ain't ain't the regular season. This this is the playoffs. Because if you don't connect and don't make it right, you're going home and all the foolishness starts again. You know,

I call it foolishness, but ye'all may call it something else. Yeah, let's go to the phones former in studio guests of hanging with the boys. All right, Man, Ray in New Orleans. We know you love that music. Don't play that music. Don't play that music, not even next week. Then we're gonna advance. Look, there's a lot of different scenarios. Man, I'm already pumped in geeked. I kind of got a little waterflies going through as I'm calling the show. But

there's a lot of scenarios. I think it's gonna be like a chess match between our offense their defense. There's so many different formations that we can run from. Is Austin gonna play did he practice? Yeah? Nick told us earlier. Yeah, I think he's gonna play something. Okay, I missed that, Nick, I missed that part of the show. But if we run that formation where we have Cole Beasley and Austin in the slot to put a linebacker on him, boom, just just try to beat that linebacker. Try to go

to that matchup. But there's just so many My biggest thing is the red zone. Number one, our kicker and fifty two, and we can't have Connor Williams. I know Nick's not worried about him. I hear you, Nick, but he can't be getting pushed back in the middle there in Dak's space. And so let me ask you this right here, Yes, sir, who you got besides Connor Williams that I'm worried about? Not no who who don't play?

Who's playing? If he doesn't play, don't play? Because right now, sir, right now, like I told you Monday and anybody listen, it ain't about who ain't now. It's about who is there. And I don't think Connor gonna get pushed back that much to make it. It may make a difference in the game, but I just don't think it will go ahead on them, sir. About one of those things where we have like you talk about Nate, It's like, um, we can't have the big plays and we can't have

their We have to hold up a little bit. We can't just have their guys beating any one of our interior offensive linemen, like right right off the back. If that throws everything off, if we can have a chance to adjust either the running back or Dak and Dad has to get on the move. Man. Look at the Saints game, guys, even though we didn't score that many points. Look, how many drives who had a seven, eight, nine, ten minute clot chewing drives that kept fru freezes on the

field on the sideline. So we have to have some of that. Look, I'm pumped. Thanks for taking the call, all right, and our kicker, and our kicker now he already missed one, but we gotta go. Ray, thank you. Look get that bread? Yeah, all right, two points? Ray brought up. We'll get yours feedback. How do you feel about the offensive line? And how do you feel about red zone play? Coming off that last game? And I'll tell you what this made me so mad. In that game.

You got Zeke, You get Zeke on the four yard line, you all this fancy stuff. Rod Smith's in the game, four yard three or four yard line. You hand him the ball right up the middle. He scores. Why can we not do that whenever one of the best running back, if arguably the best running back in the league is in the game, why do they not do that? Why do they get cute and throw a little soft passes to the full back. It just frustrates the hell out of me. Offensive line, how do you feel about that? First?

You know, I think Connor Williams is going to be a key. I'm a little bit, you know, concerned about him. I mean, I think that he will see we'll see how how much better he is. But I think it's something to be concerned about. And you know, he got benched in the middle of the season. I mean, I mean, he got hurt, but he didn't he didn't get his job back. So I think that's something to be concerned about. But I do think it's a little different getting the

ball in the one than on the four. I think if they get on the one after that Alan hearns play, they push it in. But I think the defense does play it, play it differently than when Zeke's in there. But I would like to try it more and run the ball at the middle. They don't do that. They

do get cute. Let me ask you this question, do you think that maybe they should consider I know Zeke Zeke, but do you think that maybe they should consider going to going to rod Smith some of the time when they're in the red zone, just because he's a bigger body and maybe he can give you a little bit more push. I don't know, it's just a question. I

would say I would say absolutely not. Derek, I'm sorry asking the question now because it does seem and if what you're saying is that you get a different look from the defense when Rod's in the game versus when Zeke's in the game, didn't Does that make you say, Okay, give us that different look and we feel like we can run against that. Well, I don't think he gives you more of a push at all. I don't think anybody in the NFL gives you a little bit that

type of push. Um. I think he's one of the strongest back, especially with those legs, so I think he is in that head. Yeah. Man, he's got a good nose for it, but he's got a water Yeah. Now, I don't I don't think I would go that that round. I think, you know, it was just that was a kind of a different game, different circumstances I think would be different. I will also point out it was the Seahawks game last time when they used a little something

different with Tavon Austin in the little shovel pass. We talked about that earlier this week, and they actually got an end zone from the three or four yard line, So there that did work in that game. And we've had some some callers that have even called our show and asked, can they use that that a little bit more and use that in goal line situations or at least in red zone situations to give them a little

bit more some other opportunities to people getting zone. When you're running a six to two defense on goal line, everybody say the red zone, it is restricted space. Where that restricted space applies to the defense too. And as an offensive linemer, what you have to do is don't miss.

Keep your head up. Don't miss you guy. If you got two tight ends or fullback and you got Z and you're five four, five to four yards in from that's goal to goal, you get that ball to Z and all you ask from your linement is don't miss this guy totally. If you will the guy, nobody stands a chance. I don't care who you are. You gonna be walking to baby, it ain't happening. But if you get something on that guy, Zeke is smart enough and got enough wigger in power and explosiveness to get a

yard or two. Now, how you call plays now changes, you know, because now they're like you line up in that same formation again. It's like, hey, them Zeke again, they're getting pumped. Now. You can do play action, pass, you can roll out. It's too many things you can do. But if you line up and say, okay, Zeke you going motion, or Zeke you seven eight yards deep, and I'm back there, standing back here with the quarterback, I'm

like old, same old offense, same old garbage. We got this now this spaces are restricted because nobody's playing nothing. They ain't playing to run. So I say, it's the reason the fact that they haven't that they haven't run

it more when they get in those situations. Do you think it's because maybe they don't trust their offensive lineman or a particular offensive lineman to not with, because otherwise then it seems like they would always when they get in those situations, they would trust it a lot more. You know. Coach Melanahan keeps saying that you know, you trick the trick, the trick. Some things you have to do. You have to line up and try because it is your best player. And believe it or not, you trusted

your offensive line from the twenty five. You cross the fifty, you go down to the twenty five, you go down to the twenty. Hey man, now, it's signed to get six points. Y'all don't blocked all this time, but now we don't trust you. That's that don't sound right right, you know, and that you know that just don't sound right now all of a sudden, the closer we get to the reds, the closer we get from red zone to go to go, you trust Zeke less. You trust

your offensive line less. And the reason I'm not worried about Connor is if he if he has not learned bull rush me back. I rough for you the bull rush me back in a quick with If you bull rush me back, we can do some things as we should be as an offensive coordinator to be able to do some things. If you if you're gonna bulle rush me back, but just don't have the quick escape. That's

what kills quarterbacks. Yeah, you brought up Tavon. I wish they could find a way to get him more involved, get the ball into his hands five, six, seven times, because I think he has the ability to make big plays. Most of the time, he's probably gonna have not a big play two or three yard run if you do a jet suite. But I think he adds a wrinkle that really only two other guys on this team. Gallops starting to be one of those guys. But Cooper and Zeke are really you're only guys that can break a

play open. And I think Tavon can do it if they can just fight. It's like Beasley, you got this weapon. It doesn't seem like you can find ways to get him the ball enough. I'd love to see them get him involved. They like the caller. The callers said when they say the two slot guys, that's when that's when Austin is it's most dangerous for us to two slot guys because now you can't cover everybody with a corner. So now you got to put a safety or you got to put a linebacker on one of these guys.

So that that what he said is so true. Now it comes down to the fact is a quarterback gonna gonna make his read and throw the ball. This is a game where we give on average, we're giving up four sacks. That's with Connor Wiggins or that's without Connor Wiggs. We're giving up four sacks. What we have learned to do as a team. It's kind of play around that, but when the playoffs come, you can't ignore that. Because it could cost you some serious field position. He could

cost you some momentum, you know. So what what what we have to do is be smart and I play calling. Know what you want to do. This ain't a game where you can guess. You gotta know what you want to do, and you got to go out there and try to execute that game playing. Yes, you got to make a few adjustions as the game go on, but you take your fifteen or twenty best plays and you run variations off of that and all other stuff you

don't worry about. If we got plays that allow us to put two guys in the slot, let's use it because we can spread them thin that way. Let's go back to the phones before we go to break Tony in Atlanta. What's up, Tony, Get off the down, gentleman. How y'all doing great? How are you doing good? Doing good?

So my concern and question is since this last game against New York and you know, Lenahan and Garrett and them deciding to kind of have an air raid, you know, so to speak, without Zeke there, and it being successful, you know, for the most part, with getting a lot of passing yards and Dad getting out of the pocket

and making throws and being successful. Now that we've got Zeke, now that we've got a playoff game, I have a concern or maybe should I be optimistic that, okay, well, are they're going to get confused and forget that they got Zeke and decide they want to have an air raid all of a sudden against Seattle? Or should I be you know, optimistic and say, okay, well, they've implemented this passing game, you know, so to speak with Jarvin and getting out of the pocket or whatnot, and they'll

be able to mix it all up. So should I be concerned or should I be optimistic? Let me know what y'all think about that great question? And what do you guys think. I think they went into that game. We're trying to prove a point. We can throw this ball around if we need to, Dak, We're putting this in your hands. Let's see what you can do, just to show the team here's what we can do. I could be totally wrong. I think they're going to go back to Zeke is the bread and butter of this team.

But now you know, if you need to come back and you need to put it on Dak's shoulders. He showed you he could do it. Yeah, he showed you can do it if the Giants make the playoffs. I mean the Giants aren't in the playoffs. I mean their defense isn't very good. So I think you just kind of go game to game on what you can do there. And I know I don't think they're going to go around and say, why are we we can throw now.

I do think you take elements of it. You want to see if Jarwin can you find the holes and get open. But I don't think and Seattle's not there because they play defense like that. Seattle's in the playoffs because they're going to give you different looks. Yeah. I think the other thing to consider too is I don't think they needed this game necessarily to show you that Dak could do this. You go back to that playoff game they had against Green Bay. He did enough to

get them back in that ballgame. They just were playing Aaron Rodgers, right. His arm was good enough that day to take them from where they were. They had dug a pretty big hole for themselves, and he threw them back into that game. So I think they know that he can do it. I like the fact that like Nick said, they were able to just try some different things, and I think it creates these new opportunities. Maybe in

your offense puts a few more things on tape. So defenses have to consider the fact that maybe Jarwin now as a guy that they have to consider in the seams, whereas before that's not been a part of this offense. Like the opposing defense is probably could go into games most of the season and think, we don't have to worry about the seams because Cowboys don't really use them, right, So that is something they have to consider now that they didn't really have to consider four. But make no

mistake about it, this is a running team. They have invested all their money in the run game. That's what

they do, that's what they do best. Go ahead, Nate, you know, I just believe this right here, that you know, it don't make sense to sit Zeke if we if we're resting now most valuable asset, right, and so I go along with these two guys, and the fact that you know you were able to put four wide receivers out the tight end for in three wide receivers and putting him in the slot, and we all these things happen but it happened because they needed for Ford to

get into a rhythm because at some point in time, and you hear me say this open over, at some point in time, your quarterback will have to downs to the bill. Yeah, if you're gonna keep going downs to the bill, and and and if you want to separate yourself in this league. You know, it's one thing to get in the playoffs, but to get in the playoffs

and be blanked. That shouldn't happen. Yeah, you know, and so and to hear just to hear the conversation around the Giants game as much as people, you know, bag on this coaching staff and talk about the coaching staff and the head coach, an offensive coordinator. If they make a deep run into the playoffs, that could be from a strategic standpoint, one of the best coaching decisions of Garrett's career is to play that game, like you said, put stuff on tape, make people doubt. Oh, now we

got to worry about this rinkle. We gotta worry about this rinkle. Showing that you could throw the ball, getting Dack some confidence. Now he's moving around in the pocket, he's finding Beasley. You can win a game without Amari Cooper being a big factor, like psychologically and on paper and strategically, that could be one of the best decisions that he's ever made, is to play to win that game. When when you showed up in that stadium, it just

kind of felt like this is a throwaway game. But as that game started playing out and you started seeing the reaction of those guys and how much it meant for them to win, especially after that game, like that was a big deal. And I didn't get it until after the game. I was like, this is why he did that, This is why they played to win that game because of all these other things. So let's take a quick break. When we come back, we'll go back to the phones and we'll talk more Cowboy Playoff Playoff

football on hanging with the Cowboys Break. Yes, a man's stepson doesn't just protect him from life's elements, it projects an unstoppable and legendary spirit, just like the men wearing silver and Navy on the field every Sunday sends eighteen sixty five stetson hats are American made with pride right here in Texas. They are still the official crown of all self prospecting Cowboys and Stetson is proud to be

on the field with America's team. Find steps and hats in the pro shop or at Stetson dot com today. Want to use what the pros use? How about the official men's skincare brand of the Dallas Cowboys, Jack Black. Right now you can get the Jack Black Playmaker, a curated collection of Cowboys locker room favorites, for just ten bucks with free shipping. The Playmaker includes four Jack Black skincare favorites, plus a full sized intense therapy lip bomb

and a Cowboys can cooler. Go to get Jack Black dot com, slash Cowboys and use the code word Cowboys. The Jack Black Playmakers ten bucks free shipping. Star Sports Tours is the only official fan travel partner of the Dallas Cowboys, offering exclusive game weekend travel packages with sideline access and photo ops with current players, alumni and cheerleaders. That's not all, though, You'll get to talk x's and os with Senior Director of Player Personnel Will McClay and

of course with yours truly, me, Brian broad Us. You can trust the official fan travel partner of the Dallas Cowboys, and with us you'll travel like a pro visit Cowboys Travel dot com to book your travel package today. While a player can look good on paper, it's one he's out on the field that you really find out what he's made of. That's why the Cowboys rely on more than just stats and scouting reports when building their team. When picking a tractor, it's why you should rely on

more than just specs and features. You've got to take it out and put it to the test. The Cowboys did when they named John Dear their official tractor experience one for yourself. Visit my John Dear Dealer dot com. Slash Football back Hanging with the Boys, Tommy John gives you the feeling of freedom where it counts. With the Contour pouch at Nestles the Boys with over three million pairs sold. We put in the hustle to make sure

you're nestled. Shop exclusive Cowboys underwear at Tommy John dot com. Forward slash Cowboys. Actually have my Tommy John t shirt on today. My undershirt so strong at the ball, No, strong at the boobs up here up top? Yeah, Hey man, Hey, what's happen Derek? How are you? Oh? By the way, walk through the training table to grab a water brisket for lunch. Have you had the brisket here? Nate? Pretty solid, pretty solid going to watch after this, Man, I'm just

saying about Connor Williams. Thank You'm inactive. Right, Let's go back to the phone. John in New York? How are you? What's happening up? I am, it's not It's not Tommy, John, It's just John. And uh, I'm just kidding. I'm fired up, man, I'm nervous. I'm fired up. Like last week's game that was magical, Like it felt like magic at the end of the game, watching Dak do that, after watching Romo do that for years, and man, that's a brilliant thing.

Headed into the playoffs because we know what our defense can do. Like if you look at this roster they put together, Yeah, scale, scale, scim sir, you have a question. I'm just fired up, man, I'm optimistic. I'm no, I'm optimistic. I don't got a question. You got Nick looking at his phone over there, so working, Yeah, I mean, so we're trying to do a show. So you got Nick looking at his phone, So Nick, what do you think this? Dude? S fired up? I don't know. I'm actually trying to

figure out. Who's on the All Pro team for the Cowboys? Sorry, anybody made team? Byron Jones is on the second team. Uh. I believe Von Miller made it as an outside linebacker about the Cowboys. But yeah, but there was another guy, a rookie Byron Jones made it on the second team, Zeke and h Layton van Dress whoa second team All Pro,

which I think is remarkable. That's a big deal. He's rookie that he didn't that wasn't even starting it, by the way, I think he's He's probably gonna be about fourth and voting of Defensive Rookie of the Year, but that doesn't matter. I mean, it was a great rookie class. Two of them made it on the All Pro first team. Yeah, so those two guys that they thought would beat him out are both first teamers, Leonard and Dervin James. Hey, hey, John, before we let you go, what is your biggest concern

going into this game? I mean, it's clearly Russell Wilson and I guess number two. If I could say, it would just be Seattle's experience, Like they can make a long run. It's just about making a run. And obviously I'm nervous about playing Seattle, but anybody can make a run at this time. And I think going into the game with the momentum we're coming off of, you know, I'm excited. I'm just daydreaming about making that run. Do you believe in Dak? Do you think he can take

this team to a Super Bowl? I believe in the mentality. Yes, I believe in Dak. I believe in the mentality Dak brings to this offense. I don't want to win. What I want to do is I want to punch Seattle in the mouth and put everybody on notice. Run the ball down their throat like Zeke two Russian touchdowns, Dak with the Russian touchdown like defense, flying all over the field and put everybody on notice. Just punch them in the mouth. Everybody's got a plan until they get punched

in the mouth. And I'd love to see our offense do that. All right, man, appreciate the call. We're fired up too, be watching. You know what's interesting and Nick and I were talking about this a little bit yesterday. You hear all the teams talk about you here. A lot of people talk about how great the offenses are in particularly in this playoff. The teams that are sitting at the top of both the AFC and the NFC,

they're big offensive teams. But I was I was throwing this this theory out to Nick that if you go back and look at the Super Bowl champion, man, you have to go a long way until you get until you find a team that doesn't have that didn't have a defense that was either top ten as far as the number of yards they give up our top ten from the standpoint of it of turnovers or takeaways. At the end of the day, winning championships, I know it's

one thing in the regular season. In the playoffs, winning championships to me is all about how well your defense is playing. You need to have a good offense, and like Nate said, your quarterbacks is gonna have to win some games for you. They're gonna have to be some moments in some of those games and they run to the playoffs where your quarterback has to do something remarkable.

But I think that the most important part, and I think the part that the Cowboys have down is you gotta be able to play defense and you gotta be able to run the ball. And that's to me what gives me hope at least that the Cowboys have a shot this year to be able to make a deep runs because they do have those two things them one or two turnovers that main three and out and that and that's what that's if you get the one or

two turnovers. You know, Let's say you your offense going three and out and they body language ain't right, and all of a sudden, your defense just go out there and get a big sack or a big turnover. That that's where defense is doing. Are you kind of shaky? You know, uh, shaky defensive wise, you know, and all of a sudden you got zeke. You stopped punching zeke at them. See it all players hand handed. And that's why I said, it just comes down to can you execute?

And uh, if you can execute with a good with a great defense which we have in your quarterback and stay consistent, this is a good game now. And more to what you said, Derek, and we talked about this a couple of weeks ago. Seemed like all the top teams in the AFC are the NFC. They all high powered offenses, and all the wildcard teams doubt at the bottom offense defense, you know, so and most of them got started, like in the second half of the year.

I think about the Cowboys, thinking about Seattle cold. I mean, the Colts, like all these teams, like they started getting hot as the war on. They started off a little slow, but as a team as a season war on they got bers the only one that was steady the year. And that's why you can't count them out. But they got the best defense out. Yeah, this whole bunch, and that m is gonna make them a tough ou is just because they Yeah, the Ravens suit, but they are

just really, really really good on defense. Yeah. We talked about this this week. There's not a team in this group that would surprise me make the Super Bowl on AFC side or the NFC. The Ravens maybe, but I can see any any of these teams matter, even the Eagles sneaking in. I mean, you got Nick Foles playing quarterback. Hell, they won it last year. I mean I could see any of these teams going to the Super Bowl and

winning it. I honestly, if I had to guess right now, if it was just my gut field, I think in both the AFC and NFC, the teams that will represent those two conferences in the Super Bowl. Are not the two teams or will not be the teams that are

on buys this week. I think it's gonna be one of those other four teams, one of those grinders that just got I think, because I think that's how playoff football goes, like those teams that are able to play great defense, be able to have those those tough games

you grind out. The one thing that could be a difference there would be New Orleans because New Orleans they are the ones that's the most balanced, in my opinion, Like their defense is balling too, so they present a little bit of a different thing because their offense is so high powered or can be so high powered, and

their defense is really good. But I think that you look at all the rest of those teams, I think it's going to be one of those other four teams that are playing this weekend that ends up representing AFC or NFC. Yeah, I don't agree with that. I think it's gonna be one of the buy teams for both sides, just because you know, history usually says that that's going

to be the case, and for a reason. But I think the Saints that are the most balanced team, and they got the best home field advantage, and they got the best quarterbacks. So I think you had all those things together that I mean, there's a reason why they're in the number one seed. They are going to be the team to beat. And no one's really gunning in there and beating them since Tampa in their spot in their spots, So that's gonna be tough on that end.

But you're right. I mean, it's balance it all top to bottom. I mean, I don't see Indianapolis running the table and going from the AFC. But they play good, you know, good down football. So it's anybody's game. It's gonna come down to it like it's either who makes the best players, it's who makes the fewest mistakes. Yeah, I agree with y'all, man. I just love it. This

is one playoff. Normally I call this you know this week here, you know phony week, you know, we find out who's for real and it's not, you know, because a lot of teams get upset who you don't think can get upset. But this is one time that you can watch all the playoffs with just gusto. I mean, one game out of the games, that's what I like it. Ain't nobody in there that ain't earned or work their way into this playoffs? You know, nobody back then? This

is the funny thing. Can This is what amazes me, the Rams. If one if this one player comes to play, nobody's gonna beat the Rams. If this one player, if Sue comes to play, that would make a huge difference. Nobody can beat them, I promise you, because what Donald can do is outstanding. If Sue comes to play, but if he just be that same old guy that's just getting this thirteen meal ain't worried about I'm witch on that. Yeah, they will be a very tough out. If you put

those two guys play, who's gonna stop? Really tough Connor Williams and we'll do that good blow I gotta get. Let's don't do that. Let's take that last break. We'll get to Dylan. I am having a nightmare and we'll hear Mama gross on hanging with the cowboys break. You're like me and you love I mean, if you have a heart thing, then cutting the court is scary. But then I found out I could switch it or ACTV

now and still get the live sports. I love. No sat like needed no bulky hardware, no annual contract, just that the live sports who tried DirecTV now for ten dollars a month for three months. Visit DirecTV now dot com DirecTV now more for your thing that's our thing us called really a limited time price, a litle little page three months when he's my fat full price currently minimum forty dollars and less cans. Prices may change you subscribers on cancel any time. Content barries by package and

maybe limited districts is a pot. It's time for tailgating with the Outerbox Boys Otterbox, the overprotected phonecase company. Yep, and they've got an essential tool for your next tailgate party, the bear resistant Venture cooler. Now. Wait, in all my tailgating days, I've never seen bears tackling brots on the block top and you never will because a venture cooler with a locking kit is basically bear repellent. Can't wait to try it out at my next tailgate that's been

tailgating with the Outerbox boys. Visit utterbox dot com to learn more about their certified bear resistant venture coolers. You want the most interesting, up to the minute Dallas Cowboys news Straight from the Star in Frisco. How about exclusive and on command. That's right, news and nuggets you can't find anywhere else. With our exclusive Cowboys content on Alexa, you can have all the answers, secrets, stories and more. What's Stephen Jones thinking during a game? What's Joe Looney's

favorite pregame meal? We take your questions to Cowboys players and coaches and you can hear the answers directly back to you. Just say Alexa Open Dallas Cowboys. Now's a good time to tell you that sea geek is the new source of tickets for all your football needs this season. Sea Geek makes managing tickets easy, whether it's buying or

transferring to a friend. They even tell you the best deals for every game based on their deal score technology, which rates every seat on historical data, price and location. Download the Seki gap on your phone and take twenty dollars off your first purchase using code Dallas at checkout Seakeek. Life's an event. We have the tickets a man's steps and doesn't just protect him from life's elements. It projects an unstoppable and legendary spirit, just like the men wearing

silver and navy on the field. Every Sunday sends eighteen sixty five. Steps and Hats are American made with pride right here in Texas. They are still the official crown of all self prospecting Cowboys, and Stetson is proud to be on the field with America's team. Find Steps and Hats in the pro Shop or at Stetson dot Com. Today. Back hanging with the boys. We are back. We're gonna finish strong, just like the Cowboys will ride this thing out.

Here's what we need y'all to do. If you're coming too the game, or you're watching from home, wherever you view this game, we need you to wear white. Where white to the stadium, where white in your living room, white, wear white to the bar, whatever. We are whiting out the stadium and we're going just white it out everywhere. Kelsey says she's wearing a wedding dress. Hell yeah, I'm going all the I'm going shopping right after this to see if I can find a white suit. They're gonna

look right. I'm just saying. I mean, I know somebody's gonna ask you to park the car for him. That's fine. Maybe I'll get some y would probably just do it as a joke too, and he's like, yeah, tweeting the old thing or yeah, just give me the keys. No, we'll tell them where to wind up. Probably outside of Christie's at some point. Yeah, Christie's the bar not sponsored. Yeah, they were at one time sponsor. We don't have a bar sponsor. That's a good point, we don't. You've got

a happy hour though, we do. Concrete Cowboys shouts out, I missed that show. Dylan and Georgia might be our last caller. Make it good? How are you good? Good? Hey, I'm tuning in late today. So if y'all covered this, I apologize, But uh, do you spy Russell Wilson in certain situations depending on down distance? Um, crucial times in the ball game? And if game go ahead on my brother? I know? And if you do spy him, who is your spot? Appreciate it? Good question. That's how you do it.

You get in, you ask you questions, you get out what all. A lot of linebackers can do it. They can run, yeah, can run with him? Maybe not, but they can run. No, no, they they can get him, but they got to bring him to the ground. Yeah, you know it ain't at his straight line speed. He gets you just like he Yeah, you know, he got a little wit. You have to mix it up, you know. And I wouldn't be surprised if you see some Jordan Lewis, you know, do something like that like he did, you

know a few times with Kamar. I could see him. Yeah, yeah, and you know because it's I mean, he matches Russell Wilson athletically. Um. But you, like you said, if you're worried about linebackers, get them to the ground. I mean Jordan Lewis. But whatever they did, and whatever they did in week three worked because he was not a problem for them running the ball in that game, Like that wasn't That wasn't the problem that they want over the

top on Kvon Fraser. Yeah, that's the quarterback wants to run, but they can just throw. So you better hope that that Jeff Heath is playing the full game. Is the moral to that story, because that's when they gave up that big play and here you go. But I think that I think that Christoph Chard will do a good job of coming with up with the right game plan.

And like you said, at times, I don't think you do anything every time, but at times they're going to figure out the right situations and how to keep him and everybody stayed disciplined, and how you rush, make sure you keep those lanes claws so he can't squeak through. I think they do all those kinds of things. It helps out. I'll tell you what. Just do not turn that ball over that's up. Just do not turn the ball over, you know. And I hate to say this, you know. And let it come down to the wire,

you know. I think it's gonna get ten to fourteen. You can't get ten to fourteen points. Just play it right on down to the wire. Let's see what our quarterback and do it. Let's see what their quarterback can do. I can do. Stop it. Stop hey. By the way, Dave Hellman did text me a little earlier and he was like, just for what it's worth. His prediction is that does Cowboys win with a final kick twenty three I think he said twenty three seconds left was what

he said. The Cowboys will no, in the final seconds, the Cowboys kicker will make a twenty three yard field goal to win. That's his prediction. I kick your name, James Harden No, No, that's his prediction. Is he think it will be to see your point. He thinks it will come down to the wire. And and honestly, I do think this will not be a blowout. I think both these teams are even though I think it's gonna be a close game. And I think the Kickers are

gonna matter. They really are gonna matter in this game. We got Mom on the phone before we go to her, because we're gonna end the show with her. Let's go around. Let's go around the table. Start with you, Nate. What are your thoughts on this game, Who's winning and what are they gonna do to win the game? Don't look at me like that. I need some knowledge. All right, We'll go with Derek first. All right, I do think

this will be a close game. Like I said, I think I think this is gonna be ah, this is gonna be a very low scoring game actually, because I think both these defenses will play really, really well. I think at the end of the day, Cowboys get to

win mainly because the home crowd makes a difference. Um. I think that if you look at if you look at Seattle and their road record, and you look at the Cowboys home record, it says the Cowboys are I think that says as much as you need to know about kind of where where the balance lies as far as who has the upper hand, I think the Cowboys do have the upper hand being at home. They've played really well at home, so I think they end up winning, but it's gonna be a close one. I think the

end score is sixteen ten. Who who? I'm taking logic out the window. I've seen these two teams play. This year's Seattle was much better. Russell Wilson has more Super Bowl appearances and wins than Dak Prescott has games that he's won in the playoffs. Uh, Pete Carroll is more much more accomplished than Jason Garrett in the postseason. So all that being said, I'm gonna pick Dallas. Um, I think you're logic right out the window. I think Seadda

is a better football team. Yeah, I'm picking Dallas. So tell me why why if all that logic says one thing, and well, I'm just picking Dallas. They've they've done well at home this year, and they'll come this far and I don't really think that I'm ready for this thing to end. So I'm gonna pick Dallas to win the game. I think it'll be really close. I think the better team doesn't always win, and I think that they're gonna

find a way and win it. But all that history says you would pick the team with a bit more playoff experience and the better quarterback. But I'm gonna go with Dallas. You want me to go? Or do you want to go last? No? No, no, I'm with Nick, But you hit it over, go ahead home, Nick, with Nick just throwing all logic out. Oh man, I'm dying faith, you know how my heart sits right now? Yeah? There we go? All right? Yeah? Nick? Oh my god, I'm guys of Connor Williams versus which I'm I'm with Derek.

I think this is a totally different team at home. I think this crowd. The difference between a home crowd and the playoffs and a home crowd at a normal game at AT and T Stadium, huge difference. I mean this our stadium is one of the loudest in the league whenever it comes to playoff football. Now, we haven't had very many playoff football games in that stadium, but I remember Detroit a couple of years a few years ago that was one of the loudest games I've ever

been to a period. I think that's gonna be yeah, huge. I think if Dak takes care of the ball and does what he does so well, and that's not turned the ball over and he gets outside of that pocket and he gets stripped, I think it's gonna be bad news. No fumbles, no fumbles. And I think special teams needs to step up on the Cowboys side, because they special teams includes the kicker. I think if they take care

of the ball, special teams does a good job. I think this defense is good enough to win the game for you. I think it's gonna be in the low twins. I don't know if I'm going sixteen ten. I think twenty four or twenty one, something like that. But I also think it's gonna come down. It's gonna come down to probably the last possession, just because that's Cowboys football and that's Cowboys playoff football. Whoever has the ball last is gonna have a chance to win this game with

about a minute, minute and a half left. Whether that's Dak or whether that's Russell Wilson, I don't know, but I just hope it's Zack. I know here's the deal. I know what's gonna happen. I know this is not gonna be Cowboys jump out fourteen nothing and take over this game. There's gonna be drama. Y'all are gonna come down on the field with about six minutes left, and we're all gonna be sitting there, sweating and talking to each other and going is this really about to happen?

Is this how this is going down? I just want to see I just want to see Nick and Rob in the Beanies doing another show, a positive show. I can guarantee you that I won't be we won't be guarantee in the stadium. No, No, that was funny. Ask you this if if this just theoretically called down there, Nate, I know, I know, but it was funny. Man, Yeah, heretically that was a really nice beanie. I'm gonna take it from Nick oh because it plays music. Yeah, it's

pretty cool. We win the super Bowl? Will you wear a Hot Boys beanie in your postgame interview? Now? Last word? No, I don't think that will ever happen. No, William, William got you. No, I won't be wearing that. All right, Well, before we get out of here, we gotta close the show out. Welcome to the show my mother, Mama, Gross, Hi, Hi, say hi, Tod, Derek and Dick. Hello Hide Nick, Hi Derek. How'd you do last week? Year? Happy New Year? Yeah?

I hadn't talked to y'all since then night, Happy New Year, Happy New Year, Mother, Gross, I did well. I did five and two because we put in the two Bowl games. Yeah, yeah, split them. U. Kurt was right, but you need to do your disclaimer first before I get I am. You haven't picked anything yet. So this is for entertainment purposes only. We do not condone gambling in any way. This is just my mother having fun. Yes, all right? Are you picking all the playoff games? Is that what we're doing? Yes?

The four? All right? What do you guy? All right? The Colts and the Texans. The Texans are given up two and a half. I think the game's going to be twenty four twenty one, and I think the Colts are going to win it. Boom, all right, So the Colts plus two and a half. Right, okay, okay, Nate, we got some love from Vegas. Dallas. Is the no no, no, no, you save that for the end. That's that's the money game. Save that one for the end. All right, all right

to more in Los Angeles Chargers. The Baltimore is given up two and a half. I think that Baltimore is going to win this game. Baltimore minus two and a half. That's the game I'm on the fence about. But I'm going with Baltimore. I think they want it. I think they want it worse. Okay, the Eagles and the Bears, and the Bears are giving up five and a half, and Nate, we just got to stay with that Bears. We're just gonna stay with them, and I think they're going to ride this game out, and we just need

to get the Eagles out of there. I don't even have to worry about them further down the line. All right, So Chicago minus five and a half, yeah, all right, all right, the money game money, gawn, Let's go Dallas and Seattle. Dallas finally got their love. They're given up two and a half. They're the favorite, and it's probably because they're at home. I think the score is gonna be twenty one Dallas fourteen Seattle, and I think Seattle's

going down. Of course, Dallas is going to win it, all right, What do they need to do to win this game? Mom, because Dak's Dak and Coach Garrett are listening. What do they need to do to win this game? I think they need to run the ball and confuse people a little more. I know we're built around a running team, and I know it works, but every once in a while you need to throw that kink in there.

And I think that showed going downfield is possible with the Cowboys, and I think there's gonna be some deciding factors with that. And besides that night, this is no doubt, no doubt, no doubt. Where are you watching the game. She's a lady. Um, it's Tatty's sixtieth birthday. She's playing Saturday night at the Beechwood and Vicksburg. We're all staying at the casino and we're gonna be watching the game at UM Sicksburg. There's about twenty evers. Who you got

Bama Clemson. I didn't even look those up. Shan didn't tell me to do anything about the bowl game. There's no other game this week. The only game is tomorrow night. An that's all you need to worry about. Bama got five, they give him them. Okay, Bama. I'm going with Bama. I think they're gonna do it. Bamma. That's straight up. I don't like them, but you know that's the way it is. All right, Mom, we're gonna eat brisket. I'll

have fun. Yeah, continue, listen to the show. I'm gonna do a show by myself, going in a bonus an hour by himself. I'm gonna do album. Get all the callers that uh got missed, come on calling. I'm gonna do Alabama self. Who's producing dons. Don't leave me, I'll cover you. I'll cover your night the toiler. All right, mom, Well, happy birthday, Patty. Y'all have fun. I'll call you after the game. Hopefully we're celebrating the game. All right, Mom, you do by Derek Nick. It's been fun. We should

do this more often. He needs his head bashed in for talking to his mom now, he really does, like, I ain't the way you should be talking to your mama like that. I've heard the way she talks to him, So I don't care, Mama, mama, mama exactly, referring to the day I shaved my head. Yeah, let's not please out that. Wow, even if you take off and do them wrong, I know, right, even after she found out why I shaved it, she was still not real happy. Yeah, yeah,

that's just right. So Nick understands the relationship such a bad well Nate, thanks for bringing it, Thanks Douglas, thanks for pushing the buttons. Can't thanks. Man, look at this problem. Man, Let's get that bread, goose him and go get them Cowboys victory Monday is coming up. Show we have a while. We gotta do this thing because we're not ready to not have anything to do for about a month. Mexico.

Let's hanging with the Cowboys. Break Let's see you my Name production of Dallas Cowboys dot Com and the Dallas Cowboys Football Club