The following.
He is a production of Dallascowboys dot Com and the Dallas Cowboys Football Club Cowboys. This is Girls Talkboys Talk, presented by Jigsaw of Dating, Preferred Dating, partner of the Dallas Cowboys and broadcasting live from Dallas Cowboys World headquarters at the Star.
Welcome into Girls Talk, Boys Talk the Thursday edition. Short week for the Cowboys, short week for us, but let's just go ahead and get into it before we start looking ahead. A lot of people have asked me about can the Cowboys beat the forty nine ers. My response is if Dak has the time that he had behind that offensive line and makes the decisions that he made against the Bucks, which, by the way, hell of a
defensive front. We talked about this the challenge that was the defensive line, then I think they absolutely have a chance. I love that Dak showed up to his scrum today when he talked wearing a hat that said Lineman lead the Way. And you know, I talked to so many
people around here asking them about the offensive line. At times it felt like Dak wasn't really trusting his production, his protection when Tyler Biottish was out and apparently even though we don't look at Tyler Biottish as a Travis Frederick. That's what he brings to that offensive line. Even when you lost Jason Peters early in the game, to have your rookie Tyler Smith come in and switch positions mid game, I thought was incredibly impressive. And I loved what Dak
had to say about just Tyler specifically today. He didn't realize he was twenty one, how young he is, but he said he's both a baller and a maller. I mean, we saw some of the cutups of him going up against the Vitavead. This week, it's gonna be Nick Bosas, so a big challenge. But my point in saying all of this is I just thought that was the best offensive line play we'd seen all season.
Yeah, from a pass blocking standpoint, they were definitely out there fighting for every yard, and even with the interior you look at Videvea Hicks, those guys, it was a boxing match in there, like when those when Tyler collided. I was just watching that on film, just how much they were fighting to the last second to make sure that Dak had his time.
And that's half of the battle.
Like the way that the playoffs is gonna be You're gonna be going up against better players, like every time, there's gonna be better defensive linemen, and for your lineman to just hang in there.
Well, Tyler dominated, but for.
The interior to just at least hang in there with some of the most dominant DT's in the game.
Oh heck.
Yeah.
I was impressed by the offensive line play too.
Yeah.
We talked yesterday about like the physicality, how surprising it is when you see it out of Tyler Smith. Zach Martin also didn't know that Tyler's literally like the youngest guy in all of the building. So it's fun just to see his development. And we've talked about how it's hard to consider him a rookie anymore because of how well he's played. We joked about the Devin White throwing
him around like a sled. So it's just it's so interesting to see his development and how he's become a staple in that line, how he's become one of the leaders, one of the guys that you want to have on that line. And I love that you brought up the lineman lead the way. I interviewed Aviant Collins, who is the creator of that brand, and I asked some of the guys Connor McGovern, Zach Martin in the locker room what that brand means Lineman lead the way? What that means.
AVIANC kind of explained it to me as we get dirty, so Dak can stay clean. And so it's just the idea, the notion of that. You know, the linemen are the ones who are kind of dictating what happens. And what we talked about yesterday was how long Dak had to throw the ball. I think it was what like his time to throw the ball with when he had two and a half or more seconds, he had so much
more time, has had more completions that way. I think he had an average throw time of let me see, two hundred two point eight four seconds in the pocket just to throw and make those decisions. So when you talk about the success of Dak Prescott, you can't talk about that without talking about how well the Linemen were leading the way. So I'm really excited for that story to drop. It drops in Pregame Live on Sunday, So thank you for that.
I can't make use that as one of my hits. I can get a copy of the the Hat because I thought, I loved seeing them give the shout out, especially because it was the fifth offensive line combo they'd had this year. They decided to go with Jason Peters at left tackle in this one to give Dak the best chance up front, and then he went down early and then you know, we'll talk about entries a little bit.
But Jason Peters seems like the one that there's still like a big question mark on him as relates to Sunday, and his availability was off to the sides. He wasn't dressed out but working on the resistance chords. But it felt like they had an answer in this game even when he went down.
Yeah, I was talking to Tyler bi Ottisch in the locker room today and I said, how does it feel to be so good at communicating? That's not a skill a lot of people have. And he said, it's my job. I take pride in that. And so when I was talking to him, I said, as a communicator, you have to communicate with different people in different ways. How do you know how to do that when the O line is constantly shifting? And he said, that just goes back
to the chemistry with the guys. He said that goes back to OTAs that goes back to training camp and all this time that they've spent together outside of being on the field. And something that he said, Mike McCarthy stresses is with every rep, whether it be in practice, a walkthrough, a full practice, what have you, that the
mindset has to be there, that fast paced mindset. And he said he takes so much pride in being that one staple that communicates yes for your front linemen, but also everybody else, he said, because it ties back to your backs, your tight ends, your receivers, he said, everybody kind of relies on him, he said, and I take so much pride in that. And so as far as him communicating and shifting how he communicates, he said, you know, how I communicate with Tyler Smith is different than how
I communicate with Jason Peters, he said. But it's knowing the guys so well that are next to you, and you know how to communicate with them individually and knowing their tandems, is what he said. So I thought that was a really interesting little nugget from him, but it showed it showed that the communication was back to back, and it also showed the confidence that they were playing with. I think this was a different kind of confidence that you saw from this O line on Monday.
Credit to Joe Philbin too. You know, there were times at camp and even endgame where we would see some of these different offensive line combas and you sort of find yourself going, what are we doing here? Wehre aren't you just rolling the best available? But we had talked about this ahead of this game, how they were very particular about making sure that each week they were getting ten to twelve reps at different line combinations, and like
I said, it paid off. I mean, when you typically are going to lose your starting left tackle and a game against the Bucks in that front seven, that would normally be a bad thing. Yeah, But the fact that they were able to adjust on the fly as well as they did. Now you lost an element of having Connor McGovern be an having him available to be a fullback for you into some of those jumbo packages, so it sort of took away a little bit of a
wrinkle in your offense. But the fact that they were able to go in there and stabilize and fortify that line. I just remember watching the game in real time, going, it feels like he's got forever in the pocket, particularly on what was it that fourth and Ford to see Lamb when the protection brote down, he had all the
time in the world to throw that ball. And so I think all of these things go hand in hand, and it was nice to see these cowboys kind of put this together, particularly against what felt like a boogeyman heading into this game.
Yeah, I agree, I think the challenge will be a little bit steeper going into Sunday's game. I mean, like, I don't think you can talk about defense without mentioning Nick Bosa. I mean, he's insane the things that he's able to do. Mike McCarthy talked about his ability today and just what he brings to the table. So I feel much more confident going into this one from an offensive line standpoint, just getting you seeing that you can lose. Adjason Peters and we talked yesterday like it didn't even
feel like there was a change in the line. It just they were like, all right, next man up, let's go. And I feel like because they had all of that experience, all that resilience as they like to use the word around here, in those different combinations that they were like, well, this isn't anything new, like let's do it again. So it makes me feel better when you have that protection and you're going against a Nick Bosa and some of those other guys on the San Francisco forty nine ers line.
So the other thing that stood out to me in this game is when we're not talking about you, it means you probably did a really good job when we're talking defense specifically, Yeah, Xavier Roads, Yeah, I thought he did a hell of a job filling in there in the sense that we aren't talking about Xavier at all this week and he had only been here what eight days.
Before he got the start, and I think he had three practices prior to playing.
Which is wild. Yeah, I just felt like I felt, And they need that answer heading into this game because we talk about the challenge of the forty nine ers, Brandon Ayuk, Deebo Samuel, particularly those yards after the catch when you're talking about Christian McCaffrey. They need guys that are going to tackle, that are going to not allow these guys to get those extra yards. I don't know
about you, guys, and I'm curious your thoughts on this. Ayisha, Xavier Roads, do you think they found an answer there.
I honestly think.
That it might be easy. I honestly think it might that. I mean talk about a wrinkle. We had none of us.
With the for safeties that they decided to employ in this game too.
But he played as a corner.
He played nickel corner, and again, like we had talked, I know, I had talked to Israel multiple times this season, and he felt like he was equip for the job.
And for dan Quinn to just be like.
Got you you guys thought it was gonna be on the sideline, just kidding because when that an active list came out.
Yeah, we were weren't you shook? Like I was shocked by that.
It's happening right now.
And but they had a plan and they just moved Israel back to his original position, you know, playing corner. But I think they really found something with him specifically in that nickel spot, because that's it looks like that's going to allow drawn Bland or or Xavier Roads.
To go outside.
But at the same time, like when talk about Branda Ayyuk and those guys that really play in the middle of the field, you're gonna have guys, You're gonna need guys that are okay, we'll get in through the trash because they have a lot of crossing routes. They do pick stuff, they do all this stuff and to throw off their timing. So I like, I actually like this group of young dbs and Deron Bland, Donovan Wilson, all those guys who are willing to come up and tackle because this is.
A YAK team.
Donovan Wilson's the guy we don't talk about him MVP. If you start looking at you know, if you guys are following the game and you start going by, you know, the plays and you're tracking, He's in on everywhere almost every other play. And we really don't talk enough about Donovan Wilson.
And he's gonna be needed in this game with Christian McCaffrey running the ball him Micah, maybe a linebacker like sedding the tone early for those guys those because Christian is a once he gets started, he's difficult to slow down. He's very much so a momentum runner. And so I'm looking at Donovan especially to be in this box and really be trying to shut down.
How about Jonathan Hankin's first sack of the game. Yeah, the guy that's just been literally saying for a couple of weeks, I'm ready to go.
Yeah.
I thought he did a lot to fortify I mean the run defense, because when you talk about this team, you know, we had talked, even talked to Mike about this today. I said, have you faced a player like Christian McCaffrey yet? And he said no, and particularly not
a Christian McCaffrey, Deebo, Samuel Combo. That's why to see Layton Vandersh play lights out and his first game back, the fact that jay Ron's not having to come back from the secondary to set the defense, you just you felt, not that I was surprised by this, but when I heard Mike McCarthy the week before tell me Late into the quarterback of the defense, I always kind of thought of Micah as that. But I thought that was interesting
that he called it. I mean, obviously you wear the green dot, you're typically the quarterback of the defense, but always kind of looked at Micah. So I thought that was interesting and the way the guys talked about Late and because look, there were some years I think that were tough for him, particularly finding his way when the Jalen hype train was you know, running down the track. It was kind of what was his role, right and
then he was dealing with the injuries. So I loved seeing that game from him, but I also loved just seeing Jonathan Hankins back. It gave you a little bit more confidence in what they've been able to do at the run, because I think we still had a lot of question marks about that heading into this postseason.
I also think too, with the Xavier Roads though we didn't get to see much of him because the D line was in tom Brady's face. There was never time for him to really shine during this game because business was taking care of right in front. The pocket was collapsing, they were batting balls, they were in tom Brady's face, which is exactly the quickness that they needed to shut him down. So that way tom Brady didn't have time to bully those CBS. He didn't have time to do any of that.
I just wanted to go back to Donovan Wilson really fast. Next Gen has become like my off season project to get proficient at. This is his tackle chart. So when you talk about like a guy played all over the place, he is from literally sidelined to sideline it's hard to see on the camera, but he's been a guide to me that has just quietly or not so quietly, been
the MVP of this team. I think when there's been issues at that set cornerback spot, like he's the guy that you go to, I think every week other than like this past week with Leyton vanderash he's led the team in tackles, He's getting sacks, like. He's just a guy who I think is going to be so beneficial in a game like this where you're trying to limit the YAK. I think when you have a guy like Donovan who's not afraid to be physical, who's not afraid
to get up in their face. Me and Patrick always describe him as like a rocket because like you watch him and he's like and so it's just really exciting to have a guy like that, especially in a matchup like this where you're gonna need some help in that area.
Particularly before I wrap this Sep Jay Run Curse. Even when you saw him come off the field, you started to feel like that defense sort of let up a little bit. I don't know what it is about j Run Curse, but he's a little bit of that secret sauce when it comes to defense. And you know, look, he didn't practice. He's very limited today, sort of off on the cords. But he told reporters he's going to play on Wednesday, and I was told he's expected to play.
So I think that's good for the Cowboys. You know, one of the other concerns we talked about the corner position, We talked about the offensive line. One area that has not been a concerned for the Cowboys all season has been Brett Maher and then, for whatever reason, in this game, and I know you guys talked about a little bit yesterday, Brett Maher had an epic collapse. I have good news for the fans after scouting him in practice today. We'll
have that on the other side of the break. This is Girls Talk, Boys Talk, brought to you by Jigsaw Dating, the official dating app of the Dallas Cowboys.
At Jigsaw Dating, we obviously want the Cowboys to bring that sixth ring home, but to be honest, we're more focused on finding the person who will put a ring on your finger. That's why we created a dating app that reveals your face through meaningful conversation so you can date deeper. Because it's personality that matters the most, not looks. Join Jigsaw Dating Today Dating partner of the Dallas Cowboys.
All right, Pepsi love and football fans, it's time we had a lesson in trash talk. And I'm not talking about that stuff that happens on the field. What I'm talking about is trash, and it's the only thing that belongs in your garbage can. No. Recycling might not be his thrilling, it is converting up fourth and long. But next time you're thinking about throwing that Pepsi zero sugar bottle away, just cap it back up and pretend you're
down by six with a recycling bin wide open. Know the difference, make a difference, be a team player and recycle. Visit Pepsi trash talk dot com to learn more.
I'm Dak Prescott, quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys.
And they snapped the.
Fresh guy who looks right, it's not there. He escapes left, he'll run for a first down.
Just like football, when it comes to crypto, it's important to have a team you can trust. With blockchain dot Com, I know I'm in good hands. Since twenty eleven, they've been trusted by millions around the world to buy, sell, and trade cryptocurrency.
Prescott's gonna run this himself, run it up the middle, and he scores.
Whether you're new to crypto or an active trader, They've got you covered. What are you waiting for? Get started at blockchain dot com.
Welcome back to Girls Talk, Boys Talk, brought to you by Jigsaw Dating. But first, the.
Dallas Cowboys are heading to Santa Clara to take on the San Francisco forty nine Ers in the Divisional round of the twenty twenty two NFL Playoffs. Come out to the Miller Lighthouse at AT and T Stadium for a free Divisional watch party on Sunday, January twenty second. Cheer on the Boys alongside the Dallas Cowboys, cheerleaders and rowdy will enjoying five dollars Miller Lights, lawn games, food trucks, and more. Gates will open at four pm and kickoff is it
five point thirty. For more information, visit Dallascowboys dot com, slash Playoffs and Go Cowboys.
Well, guys, I decided that I am too emotionally weak to be a football player in the NFL because the criticism that can be lodged at some of these guys in real time is rough, and it seems like it doesn't go away until you. As they say in journalism, you're only as good as your last story. You're only as good as your last good game. Right, And so for Brett Maaher, it's one thing to watch it on TV, but to be in the stadium and just the it was just the shock throughout the stadium, Tampa Bay and
Cowboys fans alike. And then to look down at the bench and then to catch even Dak in a rare moment of frustration about the need to go for two. It you watched him actually unraveling on airon I don't know if you guys have ever had just a bad day at the office where you find yourself going I just want to go home. Nothing is going right. I felt like that was a sort of day for Brett Maher.
They told us they were going to explore options. They bring in Tristan Vscano is what we've decided his actually visit and I was out of practice today. You were there, weren't you. Yeah, let's hope it's not Tristan, because Tristan is first and fourth didn't go in his second, third, and fifth. Y'all, it went left, then it went right. It looked like my golf swing on a tough day with the wind, and it was. It was roughly about twenty miles per hour out there at times the day
it was going. But the good news for Cowboy fans, Brett Maher nailed every single one. He was six for six for what we saw from the open portion to the media, and I loved that. You know, Mike McCarthy said he was in the building early on Tuesday immediately working on this. You had John Fossil saying he wanted him to be his guy, that he was distraught. The first couple were seemingly mechanical. Then it really got in
his head. But everyone around the building seems to think that money Maher is going to bounce back, and I think it's true. Right, Yeah, everybody has an off day. He was fifty of fifty three in extra points this season. The only guy that was better than him though, was Robbie Gould with the forty nine ers. So Cowboys cannot afford to miss that extra point. But I will be interested to see if they actually travel with this guy or if they brought him here to kind of push Brett.
I just I hope he just was. Maybe it was first day out there jitters in front of the media, but it didn't give me a lot of confidence.
Yeah, where I get where I lean more towards this feels like a insurance slash. We need Brett to just have that motivation. And we talked before the show started. It was very similar to the OBJ chats that kind of motivated CD. Whether he admits that or not, it
motivated him. The timeline matches up, so I kind of feel like it's similar in that regard, but also too you have to think about it from a logistics standpoint, like at this point in the playoffs, like you can't afford to just be elevating guys and putting them on the game day roster just to have them on there as insurance, right, because then what are you sacrificing. You're putting two kickers on your roster and losing it where you're gonna have to go to special teams.
Well, not to mention how physical this game was last year, how physical this game could exactly forty nine ers.
Yeah, so to me, it doesn't feel to me, this feels like, Okay, Brett we love you, We need you to have a push out there on the practice field, get it done. Remind us that you're our guy because you've been that all season. And then in the events that for whatever reason, if they play on or if he plays and they win and he still has a bad game, now you go to that insurance and now you say like, hey, like we've got to figure this
out at least for this next game. So I don't know that we see him, uh viscano is how we say a viiscano viscno miscano. I don't know that we'll see him on Sunday on the active roster. But it was refreshing to remind all of us, like Breads still that dude. He had a bad day, like you said, but it had a bad day also too.
It's interesting because Brian Inger spoke earlier this week about what a bad field it was. He used to be in Tampa, so he can speak on this specifically as somebody who worked on that grass, and he said it's just a bad turf overall, and talking to a couple of people too who confirmed it's just not a good
place to be kicking for kickers. It's very patchy and something that people don't consider about Tampa is the humidity and how that soaks into the ground and that that impacts the grass in itself because it's not just a top level of moisture. It's soaked into the dirt under and that's going to make it more slippery to begin with, which makes it more patchy and just easier overall to become more messed up field.
I'd be curious how. I'd be curious how a background and points have happened in Tampa this year.
Then it would be interesting to look.
I don't know that.
I want to say Bobby looked at the statistics for this, maybe give it, But I think I heard him talking about that on the radio earlier in the week about kickers in Tampa.
That's interesting.
Maybe shoot imitated.
Yes, Brian Inger I thought it was interesting too. In his locker room interview mentioned how the NFLPA is this is something that's been brought to their attention, specifically about Raymond James Stadium because of the grass and just how bad it is condition wise for kickers in general.
That's fascinating I learned, just like I never knew And shout out to Christy Scales I don't think people understand how good she is on the sidelines. Yeah great, but just bringing up the Wilson footballs and how they get there two and a half hours ahead of kick each team gets three balls, and how they were literally going to have to go to Tampa and borrow one of their footballs because they were getting lost in the stands. I thought that was fast.
I never knew that.
I never even think to ask that. I also learned from Manning this weekend during the Manning cast that halftime adjustments don't exist. So now don't expect me to ever ask a coach, so tell me about your halftime adjustments, because apparently they don't exist. Quick turnaround. There's not a lot of examples that exist of Cowboy or any team for that matter, going on the road for a wild card game or a playoff game in general on a Monday and then having to turn around and play on Sunday.
What does that actually mean for the Cowboys? Not only the fact they just got back from a West or East coast trip the last three weeks in a row, I'm exhausted, but now having to fly West coast, you're getting fifty two less hours to prep for this one. I joked with Dak. I said, Mike McCarthy said, a number of these players were already on their iPads checking out game tape. I said, were you one of those guys? He said, Nah, I was looking at the cutups from
this game. He goes around two o'clock the next day, I got myself two beers, some chips, and saw started digging at the table. That sort of gives you the mindset of these guys. I don't think they're taking it lightly, but they're not pressing, if that makes sense. And it sounds like a lot of I mean, we've talked to
guys in the past. They hate practice. They just want to play the game at this point, right at this point, I think in the year because I had asked a couple of coaches, I said, is Mike not you know when the guy when the guys were struggling last couple of weeks, is Mike not pushing these guys enough practice? What's with all of these like in shells? And I sold, no, that's normal this time of year. It's just a lot
of teams don't really talk about it as much. Where the cow where the Cowboys beat, we dissect every single thing. But my point in bringing this up is talking to Heke and to talk to the other guys. I think it just it requires you to focus more. Yeah, and I don't think that's a bad thing. I mean, even this week I am locked in because I've got a shorter week. I'm on a plane to Santa Clara on Saturday. So I don't think it's a terrible thing for Dallas. What do you guys think?
No, I mean, and also too, I think people have been saying I've been hearing it all over like this is the same team from last year, from the forty night.
It's about the same team beside, Okay, well good, we know that we have, you know, the.
Matchups together then, so it's kind of like, even though it's been a whole year, if you're playing the same team, like I would assume, like it maybe isn't as stressful. I think they're also very confident in whatever game plans or whatever they're putting together. They like you said, they don't seem like they are pressing the issue. This does not feel like some unattainable feat like oh my god, Like it does not seem like they're going up against
some Juggernaut to them. They they're like, it's another team. We're preparing the same way. And I like that from them because I think the outside is panicking and they're not, so I.
Appreciate it and I love that they say they wanted this opponent. Yeah, it was quick, because let's talk about last year, guys. I remember if there was trash coming from the stands, some of that was directed at the refs. An uncharacteristically frustrated Dak Prescott was at the podium. It came down to the final play. Such a flute deal not getting the ball back, And I love that. Dak talked about this today. He said we're more mature this year.
He also talked about the culture and the brotherhood is so different too. You know, he had said to us a couple of weeks ago, this is one of those years where I don't remember ever talking to the defensive coordinator as much as I have a defensive line coach and the idea that and even talking about his age. He's one of the oldest quarterbacks, which is kind of funny. He was like, you know, thats changes. I do think there's some wisdom from last year. Of course, that's something
they had to deal with all last season. We talked about Mike McCarthy's job security, the Dan Quinn rumors, you know, is Dak the guy. They've heard all of it, and this is their chance to sort of return the favor. I love that they're drawing this one early.
I think you have to remember too, that the whole theme of the team this year is that word resilient. And where did that word come from? It came from this game. Mike McCarthy literally said, when I was coming up with this idea, the only thing that I could think of that would encompass what this team should be is resilient. How they all felt after that game, they knew they underperformed, they knew it was it the performance
that they should have had. And so the fact that even in the off season that this game was maybe not their focus, but it was for sure something then they've talked about it. It's something that they've kept in the back of their mind that this is kind of the goal to get to this so they can continue to move past. I think that speaks volumes to them getting here and then being in the matchup. And when you talk about the short week too, like the Cowboys
are four and oh on short weeks this year. They beat Washington, they beat Philly, they beat the Giants, and then they beat the Titans again, all on a short week. And so t Y Hilton kind of explained it to me best. He said, there's not a whole lot we can do about it, right, these are the cards that were dealt. If we wanted to be better at it, then we should have performed better in the season. But this is the reality. This is what we have. So
this is all we got. There's no sense in stressing about the fact that, oh, they have more time to rest, they have more time to because that doesn't do anything except waste those fifty two hours less that we have. So I just think, kind of like you were saying, they're just they're so dialed in, they're so locked in. I've said it since the moment I've stepped into the building working for this team. It they just feel different, like they're you can't describe it. It's just they're different.
They're not not taking things seriously, but they're also not over analyzing the matchups that they're drawn. They're not over thinking, you know, about what's next. It's just like all right, like.
They really have a panic dog year. I mean, think about it when when Tyron Smith went down, there felt like a little bit of panic cutting. And I remember interviewing the guys with the Blue carpet the day after, and there was just a little bit of uncertainty because you didn't quite know what to expect from Tyler Smith at that point. Right, this poor kid was a rookie. Dak goes down didn't seem to waiver defensive linemen. You've
lost corners. I just they haven't really flinched. The only time, I I gotta be honest, I question the little bit was after that Washington game.
They just the one that just happened.
They felt stunned after that one.
For me, it was the Jaguars game for me. And I say that because that left them all in such a funk for so many days, you know, like even the Eagles game, Like after the first loss of the Eagles, like they were like, yeah, this sucks, but onto the next like, yeah, Jaguars game, they were upset about it until Thursday, you know, and then even still it was like you were nervous that they were gonna have that streak snapped of not dropping back to back games, and
so to me, that's the only time where I really kind of felt.
Like, oh, but the fact, like I said, to start this game against the Tampay Bucks and start with two three and outs, I was like, here we go again. And it was the fact that those guys, yeah, they just they stayed with it, right, And I thought that was huge. So when people ask me, why are you so confident you think the Cowboys can win? I think
they've been through a lot this season. Now, you could argue so has the forty nine ers, right, I just I tend to think that the Cowboys have a little bit more of a chip on their shoulder right now.
I just feel like they're not trying to overcompensate for anything. Yeah, they are truly just so zoned in on what they need to do. It's not this over focus and stressing out about their matchups. I mean, they're calm, they're collected. And even when Mica talked today, somebody asked about Nick Bosa, like is this a competition between you and Nick and who's gonna play better? He's like, no, Like, I'm focused on me and what I'm doing. And specifically he said,
if I play into their game plan. Of course, I'm not going to be good. I'm playing into my own game plan so I can be my best at what I'm doing. So they're focused on their own stuff. And I love that mentality because once you start to focus too much on something else, it eats at you and
it gets in your head. And I think what Mike McCarthy has done with this team mentally is just so important in how they're staying locked in and focused, because I don't think i've ever seen this this team be so mentally locked in and not let the outside noise get to them, and that's hard to do when you play for the Dell these Cowboys, there's a lot of outside noise.
There was a lot leading up to this one. They like each other. They get along, kid.
I know it sounds redundant. I know it sounds like whatever. But to me, in any of these type of settings and team settings, liking each other is half of the battle.
Mike McCarthy's first year, that defensive group did not like each other and it showed, and you.
Can see it on the field that they play for each other.
The celebrations, I mean shout out to uh it's Alex for sALS of the sideline because it gives us such a unique view and to them like you you brought up jay Ron Kurtz, I mean on souds of the sideline.
He's talking to Michael.
Like you run this thing like we go as you go, like keep going, keep going.
Like that energy.
I don't know if I'm maybe I'm new, maybe I'm new here, but I ain't seen that.
I think they were really good in free agents this year at free agency this year, bringing in some veteran guys and now the guys that, yeah, the guys, but the guys that they've brought in off the street, the Jason Peters, the the t Y Hilton, the Xavier Roads. I think that's been huge for these guys because they have postseason experience, right, And so I felt like for a bit, it's funny watching because as Dak said, today, you know s changes. I remember his twenty sixteen year
like it was yesterday. It's hard for me to believe sometimes it's been seven years. That's crazy, but that is such a young locker room. And sometimes I've watched his maturation this year, moving from like there were years where he was such a quiet leader and I don't think he quite knew what his how vocal. He wanted to be same with Zeke, But the way both of those guys has sort of turned the corner this year and the way that they've really led, I mean even Dak
talked about it today. After a bad game, it's important that I show up and show them the way, you know, like I can wake up from a bad game and be in here, and he thinks that it matters, and I agree with that. I think a lot of these guys believe no matter what the scorer of the game is, if Dak Prescott is their guy under center, they still have a chance to win it.
And that's hard to do after a loss, especially when you go back to the Washington game where that was just frustrating on every single level for every single person. For Dak to come in, wake up the next day and say, all right, we're.
Gonna behind you and we're not gonna way. We're not going to do it from the worst game to the best game. That's what was crazy about it. And I think it helps to you that the Cowboys are heading into this one as underdogs, because I don't don't that right, but I truly believe that Dak thrives on that.
I did too. I have just been so impressed. I mean, obviously, as someone who's like grown up with this franchise, you have that attachment to whoever's playing quarterback for this team, right,
but it's just been so impressive to you. He is one of those people to me, very similar to Dan Quinn that he doesn't necessarily ask for your attention, but he definitely demands it quietly, just in the way that he leads and just the way you see some of these guys, I mean, even guys on the defense talk about how instrumental he is in keeping them up, or you know the fact that when he's throwing two interceptions a game, he's throwing a pick six, he's the first
one to come over and say, hey, that's on me. I'm going to do it. And I know, like it's your job to as a quarterback to take some kind of accountability.
But Jack Wilson wasn't doing it with the Jets this year, right.
Don't get me started on Sack.
So we've got plenty of examples in the league of guys that don't do that, and.
I just think it's such an important part of being a quarterback that, just like you said, not everyone can do, not everybody wants to do. And the fact that he is constantly, you know, put in these situations where people are trashing him. I mean, like respectfully. Dan er Lawski had him listed as the third worst quarterback in the playoffs right now.
And Dak says he's not saying attention to the noise.
Yeah, he sees that.
He totally sees Yeah, and it just you've got to be able to respect that.
Yeah, You've got to be able to respect him. I'm not trying to say that this has been like an MVP caliber year for Dak Prescott. We know this has not been the performance that we expect from him. But the third worst quarter back in the playoffs.
Dan, and.
I mean, what's incredible. So I was watching RG three talk about Dak coming back from even just the thumb injury and how the mechanics of even just returning from that and playing like he was even this far out from it. It's still an injury that happened on your throwing hand, and people forget that that there was still a lot he had to learn to readjust throughout the season.
I'm not making excuses for the interceptions or anything, but he still came back from a throwing hand injury and got this team right on track to the playoffs with a winning record, which if the NFC East wasn't so competitive, easily would have sealed the NFC East in any other season.
So that's what I keep saying. The respect on the quality of opponents they've had this year has been tough. Now look this backstretch, I think is why a lot of us sort of had a big TVD on this team because they were playing I mean, teams that were rolling out backup starters and it just it didn't feel like things were clicking. But when this group gets things to click, they feel uns stoppable, and I think, I truly believe they get past the forty nine ers.
That's what I said. I think that you win. On Sunday, We're pack your bags, We're going to Arizona.
Okay, But ladies, we were talking about this in media Mash. It would be such a cowboys thing to do. And I've said this on the show before. This is the way that they would beat the forty nine ers, beat Tom Brady Giants, beat the Eagles, and then they would lose it home to the Giants. Can you imagine I was.
I was just having that conversation with Marcel Uh, my boyfriend, the other day, and I said, honestly, like I'm more afraid of the Cowboys facing the Giants and I am the Eagles. And he was like, what do you mean? And I was like, well, obviously the Eagles are the better team right on paper, like they look better, their record is better. But there's something about Daniel Jones that that flusters this team. You've seen it every time that
they played Fire. Yeah look different, Yeah, playoff different, playoff Daniel is different. And so I love that you brought that up. I was literally just having that conversation the other day. It's like that would be I would rather play the Eagles, I think.
I'm like, no, Jane, I don't want to deal with my angry dad. You get your your angry text from your dad.
I do too.
I don't want to deal with my dad coming all the way over here to watch them lose at home again in the playoffs. It was a very long car ride when we would drive back to Los Cruises. I don't have to do that car right anymore, but my mom does I don't want.
Her to have to go through that again. That dads are so silent emotional.
It was no kidding me do it.
I can't say I think the Giants are good. I just can't like they Dak Prescott, I just he just plays so well against them typically.
I just I don't know.
I don't I'm also too like I agree with y'all that if they get up for the forty nine ers and they they can beat Philly, like they should be.
A dang Then everybody that's been posting on their Facebook statuses for years this Cowboys going to the Super Bowl.
Like I've done that every year. I love doing that. It's just like people get so mad at me. They're like, you're so stupid, your team's gotada. It's just like a really, I.
Just love that people bring the Cowboys the last time they're super Like, Hey, by the way, the forty nine ers, last time they went was ninety four.
Right on the.
Other teams get the Raiders.
I mean, it's a lot of people, it's just the Cowboys. Everything's blown out of proportion all the time.
Well, let's take our final break and we'll have final thoughts on the other side of this This is girls Talk Voice Talk, brought to you by Chicksaw Dating At.
Jigsaw Dating, we obviously want the Cowboys to bring that sixth ring home, but to be honest, we're more focused on finding the person who will put a ring on your finger. That's why we created a dating app that reveals your face through meaningful conversation so you can date deeper, because it's personality that matters the most, not looks. Join Jigsaw Dating today, dating partner of the Dallas Cowboys.
All right, Pepsi love and football fans, it's time we had a lesson in trash talk. And I'm not talking about that stuff that happens on the field. What I'm talking about is trash, and it's the old thing that belongs in your garbage can.
No.
Recycling might not be as thrilling as converting up fourth and long, But next time you're thinking about throwing that Pepsi zero sugar bottle away, just cap it back up and pretend you're down by six with the recycling bin wide open. Know the difference, make a difference, be a team player, and recycle. Visit Pepsi trash talk dot com to learn more.
It's Smoothie King's Original Angel Food and New Angel Food Slim without added Sugar. You no longer have to choose between treating yourself and hitting your goals this summer. You don't have to choose between great taste and feeling great because that's Smoothie King. Every blend is made with whole fruits and no syrups, so you can satisfy your cravings without compromise. The only choice you will need to make is which one is best for you.
Try our Classic Angel.
Food or the New Angel Food Slim Blended without added sugar. Smoothie King Rule the day.
Welcome back to Girls Talk, Boys Talk, brought to you by Jigsaw Dating, the official dating app of the Dallas Cowboys.
But first, Jess James Wright is your twenty twenty two Cowboys Fan of the Year. James brings the spice to every Dallas Cowboys game, and now he needs your help to bring him to the Super Bowl. Vote for James to be given the ultimate title of the NFL Fan of the Year, presented by Captain Morgan by casting your vote at NFL dot com Slash Fan of the Year.
Well, ladies, you were talking about Cowboys Dad before the break. I just have to say, I'm really excited for this game for one very specific reason. I reached out to my bosses and I said, you know, my dad is the biggest Cowboys forty nine ers fan. The reason why I do this is because of watching so many of those epic matchups in the postseason with my dad. So do we have any tickets laying around NFL Network, because
from time to time they'll give tickets to staff. I had no idea that one of my colleagues, Steve Wisch, who I love, reached out to the forty nine ers and y'all, not only did they get my dad to tick to the game, he is in the end zone four rows up, which is incredible. He's say got him
a sideline pass. So my dad, he was God. Had such a tough year with my mom, gotten up four o'clock in the morning, taking her to countless chemotherapy appointments, And you know, I think we talked about this is going to be a hard year towards the end, the fact that I'll be able to experience this with my dad, just because I know you girls have talked so lovingly about your father's and sort of leading you to this career path. I'm really really hyped up for it, so
it'll be special. I hope my dad for that reason, gets to see it win and you.
Get your picture on the sideline with him and just enjoy every moment because I'm after from a father's perspective too. Just watching you do your own thing is going to be a really proud moment.
For I just got to watch him because when I took him to Kenny Chesney Man, he kept harrassing Parthy and Britt Brown.
It was like, Mike, let me.
Get you a drink, and he's like, oh, literally, like this guy's a fame monster. So I'm hoping he behaves himself. I told him now Newes. He didn't know that high noons.
Were alcohol and not like a seltzer, they will get you.
So he had like he had like seven of them before we even got there. So I'm like, listen, listen, young man.
Think like white Claw, but with tequila, Barnacles or vodka which I don't know what it is, but it's like vodka. It's like straight vodka alcohol white clause more local ish.
Oh god, it feels like an adult for local.
But you know what ifking.
Those high Nuns contributes to a win, if it's if it's in his u Anti Cursed book or it's his tradition. Let him do what he's got to do, Jane. Let the man get his win how he feels he needs to.
Well, how do you think the Cowboys are going to get a win? That'll be our final thought for the show today. I know, heading into the break, you love seeing Dak get mobile again.
Oh yeah, that's that's a big deal, like and it opens up things. And with this San fran defense, they're so fast, their linebackers are fast. I think the way that you beat them is right now, looks like their secondary has some issues you can you could take advantage there.
CD I think has.
Some favorable matchups back there. Also, your titands are gonna have to come play. They're gonna have to be ready to be pass catchers to go up against these linebackers, but also to be ready, willing to ready to chip and be active.
I talked to Jake Ferguson and those guys about.
It, and they're like they know that to get Bosa off his game, like, you're gonna have to and honestly, just get your playmakers involved Like last time you see you saw these two teams battle. CD had one pass, Tony poll or Pelley had any carries.
Cowboys had almost one hundred yards of penalties.
Go play your games and it's gonna change things.
I think, and Dak talked about that today. He said, Ceedee Lamb was not gonna have he was gonna be getting the ball to seat lad.
Yeah, and when you watch their like again we watched the forty nine or secondary, there's opportunity there, so find a way to lame vendorush those guys.
You know, CMC. It's the matchups.
There stars on every level and it's up to who stars are going to be the stars, Like it's gonna be power for Palasis, Like I'm I'm wait and I am ready for this game.
For me, it feels like you're gonna have to recognize that you're going against those playmakers, right Like you're gonna have to you know, Christian McCaffrey is gonna break off for some yards. You know, Devo Samuel's gonna get some yards after the catch. Right that being said, it becomes even more important for the Cowboys to focus on their ballgame and capitalize on their opportunities.
I know.
That's something I asked t Y earlier in the week. I was like, you know, I know you didn't play in this game last year, but you're a part of it now. You know what changes? How do you guys keep focus? And he literally said, we can't divert from anything that we have done, Like, we know what our strengths are. So to your point, like adding the titands in. They're seeing the success that they had. You're facing a tough run defense, so that might be a struggle for you.
So any other way you can get the offense involved taking advantage of a little bit of a busted secondary so to speak. But for me, the big thing is the turnovers last week and not having them was game changing in my opinion. So taking care of what you can control, limiting those turnovers, and then, like I said, just recognizing that big plays are going to happen, and it's not how you necessarily contain the big plays, but how you bounce back or how you recover from them.
Maybe forcing some turnovers.
Yeah, yeah, always this young rookie quarterback, and I keep forgetting I think people forgetting is a young.
Dude here, So yeah, for sure, yeah, Dak is you mentioned earlier. Dak is the oldest quarterback in the playoffs. Brock Perty is the second youngest. Oh, they go.
I think for me, it's gonna be the competition of the tight end groups on both sides. Whichever tight end room is going to get their versatility out and get their blocking better is going to be the better team. I think a lot of people forget that. The forty nine ers also have a very versatile tight end group that can do exactly what we've seen success on this side of things with their tight ends, the blocking, the past pro I mean, gosh, there's so many things they can do here.
It's it's scary.
So whiche tight end room can be the tightest if you will, that's gonna do it for me. Also, an emphasis on tackling for the defense specifically, obviously we know those yak The yak factor of this game is going to be huge. Forty nine ers are just so elite when it comes to those yards after catch and they push and they fight for every yard. So the defense, though they've had some slips with the tackling, they've gotten better throughout the season. Tackle your guy down the first time,
no mistackles and get him down. That's really my point of emphasis is the tackling and no penalties. I want a low penalty game once again.
I think we all cringe when we saw the Hot Boy chains ahead of this one. I loved it, but you guys don't. You guys don't remember being around here and covering this team during the Hot Boys days. Different And then do you remember forty nine ers also had the Hot Boys debate? They were the Hot Boys. It was so much drama, but I think it. You know, I talked to Marcus Lawrence about He said it's all about establishing their identity, and that identity seemed to work
against Tom Brady. Uh, So I think they're gonna need that sort of pressure against this young guy, brock Party. I don't think he's faced a defense quite like Dallas's. Nope. I think if you get him off his game, I think the Cowboys can have a lot of success.
The best defense they've faced, or brock Party is faced, is Tampa Bay. Yeah really, or even just Washington when you look at different stats. This this will be a test for brock Party. So yes, don't count him out, but also don't count this defense out. For testing brock party and what he's.
I'm proud of you for not using a brock party pun.
Honestly, I was gonna say, not pretty interesting what happens.
And that's what we call an ender. Thank you for tuning in to you girls talk, Boys Talk. Hopefully we are talking victory Monday on Monday.
This has been a production of Dallascowboys dot Com and the Dallas Cowboys Football Club
Ye