Talkin' Cowboys: Finishing Strong?

let's do that again. Let's say it with your Chest Friday here on Talking Cowboys, presented by Tocidos, helping fans get in on the game and our favorite ship and our favorite dip of Talking Cowboys. Glad you're with us here from the s WBC studios at the Star in Frisco. Glad you're with us as always for this Friday, because guess what, We've got one last say it with your Chest Friday prior to the regular season finale. Then we get in to say it with your Chest every day

because it's playoff time here in Dallas. Alongside heck Ma Harrison, Isaiah stand back. We've got Rob Phillips back on the virtual side of things. Glad he's back today, and of course we've got Cowboys Nation about to have some fun with us over the next couple of minutes. But gentlemen, how are we doing? Good? Good? Yeah, I've got something eye okay, well, you sound like you about the cuff up a fair firball that also, yeah, I've got a little bit of both going on. It's not necessarily the

best best start for me, let us know. Yeah, No, I'm good. Goodness, gracious, Rob, how are we doing today? Doing all right? We already have that drop somewhere, Chris. I know you said, hey, say it with your chest. It's already done. I don't think this one was as bad, but it's early in the morning. And it's funny because I had a radio call already, and I had no problems on the radio call, and then I step in here and it's nothing but just coughing, and I don't know,

maybe I'm allergic. That's okay, Yeah, that's fine, Isaiah. How are you? I am doing? Good? Man? You know, Rob here's giving me, uh some Billy Billy Hoyle type vibes right now. Looks like he about to go play a pickup game from from White Man. Can't Joe damn run? You mean play basketball. Yeah, that's yeah. I just I'm only missing my parental advisory T shirt right exactly. Oh, I love it. Rob was a hooper back in the day. He still could probably hoop if it wasn't for the

knees in the back. Oh man, Rob, he would be to be a sleeper, just like white Man Joe Rob. How how many of Billy Hoyle. I'm sure if Rob actually wanted to get out and actually play, I feel like he would probably guy a game. He probably wear the high socks, putting, the putting, the cash in the socks and everything. Oh goodness, I want to see that

so bad, two different socks. That's did you if we ever have this fake uh inter show competition that we were always talking about, and I'll just I'll be the free throw guy. I'll just stay at work. Now you you did see chef that just pulled his blew his mcl doing doing the gritty. He did the gritty. So so that's Rob p Rob Pie's gonna pull his back out. It's called so don't even Rob. Rob can play. He can play like horse or something. That's what it'll be.

It'll be a shooting contest. Yeah, where you're standing still and you choose a spot and then you shoot, so that that'll be what Rob's able to I'm gonna leave the running to you guys. Yes, is that ever gonna happen? Probably, I'm not fooling a Rod p Rob Peel like, who just pulled some straight damn Marley out and just start busting from it from just the half half corps. That would be so, so fantastic. But all right, let's talk some cow Boys. It is a Friday. Cowboys take on

the Eagles tomorrow, which is wild. That's a Saturday game. Cowboys are fifteen and fourteen all time in Saturday games. For those wondering, Robbinny news and notes coming out of yesterday, I know there was a couple of big names put on the COVID list. We'll get to that in a moment. But what else came out of practice yesterday? Well, I'll

say I'll save the COVID news for you. I was I think, honestly, maybe the rest of this season into the playoffs, maybe we got to start news and notes with the COVID news, because that is the elephant in the room, hanging over the Cowboys, hanging over the rest of the league, and all the rest of the teams that have made the playoffs. Man, just who can stay healthy beyond injuries. As far as injuries go, the Cowboys

are relatively healthy going into this game. They've got a couple guys questionable, Tony Pollard with the foot and jay Ron Curse with the hamstring, so both guys would have been limited on Thursday if they had had an actual practice. So that's encouraging going into the game. But again, you know, the Cowboys have said even as far as yesterday, Mike McCarthy said, the plan is still to play the starters.

You know, if guys are banged up, though, we'll see what the playing time will look like for guys dealing with stuff, and that includes z you know, maybe Zeke. We'll see. I mean, he says he's playing. He's not on the injury report this week in terms of game status designation, but something to keep an eye on with guys who've been banged up. Do you expect that to happen, Isaiah? I mean, we were just talking about this a couple days ago, and I believe it was the Tuesday Show

about whether or not to rest guys. But you also didn't have your starting left tackle out, you didn't have potentially a couple other players not playing in the game as well, So does that change your thinking at all on the way that you attack this one Initially? No, I think I say, I believe there's going to be there's going to be a point in this game where you do pull your starters out in preparation for the

following week. But I think that you need to be in a good place in terms of the win and you know, you're presenting your opportunities to win that ball game at that point in time in the game, and then also how you're feeling about the execution of your of your game plan at that point in time. So I think it's kind of twofold. You need to be in a position to win the ball game, and then you also need to be feeling good about how you

guys have performed. Yeah, my opinion is that this team that the coaches look at this as a preseason game, especially with what's going on with COVID and ECHO and everything that you just basically said, uh and pulling guys after you know, hey, you've seen what you needed to see. Obviously, there have been coaches in the league like Belichick even in preseason games where he doesn't see what he needs to see and guys stay out there for a whole

four quarters. But I think with a talent depleted team due to covid uh do the guys being on the little knickknack injuries that they have right now, I think it's no no sense in risk it at all in this game, especially knowing what you may potentially have coming to at and T Stadium next week. Yeah, and it's such a fine line that you have to tell because if you treat it like a preseason game, you still want to win the game. I mean, it is a

regular season match. You need to win the game. You want to win the game to get into the momentum

and the playoffs. You need to win the game because even though it's a ninety three percent chance that you're gonna hold where you're add in terms of your positioning in the playoffs and you're ranking, you still need to you need to win a game because if as you mentioned yesterday, there's an if, there's an if factor, and that if factor is a huge if because if if the situation, if the situation plays itself out, now you're going from the four seed all the way up possibly

to the two seed. That's major in this NFC. Yeah, that's potentially another home game. It's another home game, that's cool. But I'm talking about the type of competition that you're gonna face in the playoffs. Is a huge difference. You're talking about the Eagles as opposed to the rams of the Cardinals. Absolutely. Yeah, we knew that last week though, right did we not? We knew that the seating, that there would be a seating difference. I mean even the

way now they lost our opportunity last week. They screw it up, right, And what I'm saying is even the Eagles, if they lose, they could potentially go from seven to six because there's so many other games that are contingent on one another. So I'm not looking all I'm handling this cowboy business and saying that right now, with what p just said, we're relatively healthy. Besides the key the injuries,

the key individuals. We have to understand Jeron Curse, if he doesn't play, he's the guy that wears the green dot as well, who's gonna who's gonna take up the mantle on that? There's just so many other things that are going I want to see this defense obviously get some turnovers, do some great things, but I want to see him get off the field as soon as possible.

And all of that's going to be contingent on Hey, if we could go out there and get a big lead and get our guys out, Yeah, go and smack him in the mouth real quick, Rob And did those guys in Philly did they get off the COVID list yet? Yeah, it's well, I'm not sure about everybody. I think Nick Sirianni said that at least a couple of guys, including Jason Kelsey, we're gonna be good to go for this game.

But but you know what we're talking about right now is the same questions they're talking about it Billy, Like, how long does Sirianni plan to play his starters as well? So this game may just come down to availability who's out there and you know who, how many key guys

were playing? How many snaps for both teams in this game? Well, and we know at the moment, at least as of Thursday, heading into Friday, the Cowboys will be without three of their starters, Micah Parsons and then yesterday adding Tyron Smith and Anthony Brown to the mix as well in terms of COVID list. So that's the COVID news today. Tyren Smith, we've seen what this offensive line looks like without him. It's gonna be Terrence Steele Tian Secki at the left

tackle spot. One of the two probably gonna be Tyansecki at least that's what it was lately for the Cowboys, and then Anthony Brown. I don't know if we've really seen a depleted cornerback room outside of the one game where Jordan Lewis missed. So Kelvin Joseph time, Kelvin Joseph available to try and take some significant STAPs here. Rob, Yeah, I think that's definitely a possible. Well, I don't think

it's a possibility with no Anthony Brown. I think absolutely is an opportunity for him and they the Cowboys have been very impressed with not only his production in the in the low amount of snaps he's gotten on defense, but just his approach to everything. You know, he wasn't He wasn't a big special teams guy in college and didn't expect to be a special teams guy when he came into the league as a second round draft pick and he's embraced that role this season after he came

back from the growing injury. So they've been really happy with him, and you've seen it and these some of these snaps that he's had. You see his talent, you know, and his ability to cover. So I'm excited to see him out there and get a full dose for sure, Isaiah. I think he has to. I think he needs the reps. As you started talking about some of the depth that you're going over that you're going to require going into the playoff run at that position, specifically because of the

type of receivers that you're going to be facing. He needs the reps. We talked about it all the way back in camp, how he needs to get some exposure, and then obviously throughout this regular season he didn't get enough raps. Over the last few weeks, he started getting back on the field and starting get into his legs underneath them coming off the injury and all that jazz, But it is a necessity for him to get some form of wear and tear on him. He needs to

get his feet underneath him. He needs to get a sense of confidence because when he steps on the field and make his contribution in the playoffs. It's gonna be against the best dudes this league has an offer. And I think we're all surprised that Kevin josh did getting more run than what he's been seeing here lately. And you're right, I meaning of coming out of camp, you thought that Kelvin Joseph was going to be a part of that rotation. That's the testament to Jordan Lewis and

the job that he's done. But you know, I'm with Rob too. You know, better late than never, better get in here now. And let's let's take the same approach with what we said yesterday about Michael Parsons being out and other guys like Luke Gifford. Obviously, these are not names that you're used to saying, hey, let's get these guys some playing time. But you know you're gonna need all of these guys in the playoffs, especially if you make a deep run, especially if there are injuries and COVID.

That's another thing that's kind of worried about about the fact going into this playoff run and you saw one guy, now it's two guys. I mean, this is how those types of things begin, and it's terrifying honestly to think about how a playoff push could be upended by positive

COVID tests. So, Rob, I mean, you haven't necessarily been here, but you've been plugged in on what is happening in that regard of the cowboys taking any extra steps in terms of trying to slow down what could be a COVID spread, well, I mean they're they're doing everything they can in terms of the proto following the protocols. They've gone virtual recently with meetings, you know, and and guys are trying to you know, take their own steps personally.

You know, you hear guys talk about that. You heard Dak talk about that. Um, So you know they're doing what they can. But as we know we see it in society, this omicron variant is so contained just um that you know, you can be fully vacs, you can be boosted, you can get it, and that you know, the good news about it, if you want to call the silver lining, is that, uh, it does appear to

be milder. Guys are getting over it faster, and that's one reason why I think the NFL has changed their protocols that allow guys get faster, get back faster, it's not a guaranteed ten days anymore. And so that's encouraging, you know, for you guys, you just mentioned that Michael Parslons, who's on the list this week, you would think, no problem and hope he gets it, feels good, feel gets back quick. He should be back for the playoff game.

But like you said, I mean if this happens next Thursday or next Friday to somebody, that certainly puts their their availability in jeopardy. And that that is the that makes this playoffs the ultimate crapshoot right now, because it can really happen to anybody. And uh, and you're just crossing your fingers. And so you know, Trayvon Diggs you mentioned, uh, he's on the He's on the list with an illness

non COVID. The same with David Wilson. So just keep an eye on anybody who's feeling sick and just see how see how it develops. And and you know, you just hold you just cross your fingers. That's all you can do. Oh man, I hate every single part of that. Well, I'm not looking man, It's true though. He Keep keep up with your workouts. Get you some thigh pass, get you a couple of knee pads, get ready to hit this thing just in case they got a call on you. Heck,

one's got that linebacker. And if they had to call you in right now, heck, but what position are you going in? At? Hey? Just how much is the check though? Oh? You getting? You get? You getting about a good five for the game, seventy five five for the game? Whatever?

Then back wide receiver. You know, I'm not gonna get on my soapbox about this, man, I've been so pissed off at everything when it comes down to this variant, this virus, and you know what our players are doing, what other players around the league are doing, They're saying, look, I got to Look, I'm just I'm just not gonna do it. All I'm going to say right now is that the our window of opportunity just open. It opens next week, it does, and whistle right through that whistle,

all right, and that's all. We have our opportunities and we have got to have They got to take this thing serious right now, and whether it be look, four weeks of isolation. I've heard saying like you, saying like you want them to go get go on lockdown for four weeks. Heck, all I'm saying is you know what you have at steak. If you know what you have at steak, then you take the precautions. Like you heard guys talking about through Thanksgiving, through Christmas, family wasn't coming in.

Now we have a situation where man, we're paying for the Lombardi. The Omni Hotel is right over here, is beautiful. I need you, I need to hear you said, lock it down, he bubble everybody. You have the opportunity, and you talk You talked about this all the way back in the early parts of the season. You talked about it. You get one shot at this, one shot at it, and you don't want to mess it up. I mean, how easy would it be for you to make that decision.

I mean it's easy for us to sit in this room and talk about it because we're not on the team. We're not the ones that are having to bubble up. But if you're a player, where should this be on your priorities? High? Very high. I played six seasons, I had I think five five playoff opportunities, and probably there's two teams that I felt like I could have walked out with the ring. You know too, you know, two opportunities out of those five opportunities, I think we could

have walked away with the ring. I was blessed to be one of the individuals in this league that walked away with a ring. And I know there's a lot of players that I know personally that are way better, that were way better players than I was, that did not walk away with one. And you know, they walk away with their stats, they walk away with their experiences and their memories, but they don't walk away with something significant to say that that they were a part of

the greatest thing that ever happened. And I would hate for guys to miss that opportunity, which is very prevalent right now. It's definitely on the cusp just simply because of come fruit or simply because of convenance or inconvenianced. Right, take advantage of the fact that you're playing for the

Dallas Cowboys. The Dallas Cowboys have an amazing resources. Jerry Jones has laid things out here perfectly in terms of being on a walk over to the hotel, walk straight into the practice facility, walk straight into the meetings, have all your food at your disposed of everything that you

need right there. You don't have to do anything. You're gonna be saying at the Omni well, the band through the fruity right, You're not staying at anything else the Omni okay, and you have the top of the line facilities. Take advantage from us if there's an opportunity to lock this thing down. Lock it down. You have all four

or I'll take it back. After this week. You got a five week stretch, five week stretch where you can go out there, shoot your gun and hopefully walk away with something because this team will not be the same next year's. Man. That's the God's unerst truth man, and lock it down. That's all I have. And I think the only as you were saying all of this, I'm thinking about, you know, being secluded from possibly my family from man and my wife wouldn't forgive me, but she

will forgive. The vacation after the super Bowl, that's true. That's true. I wonder where we're at in terms of the offense and defense and their vacation. Bet that they made with the touchdowns versus turnovers, I have to go back and look at that, well, the offense had three touchdowns that good. Yeah, example, when we went to the Super Bowl when I was with the Giants. We went and my wife was sure she was nine months pregnant. Nine months pregnant, okay about the pop okay, And I

told her, I said, hey, chill out, like I'll be back. Okay, I'm gonna go out. We're gonna go out here and take care of this game, and then I'll be back to take care of you. Just chill, I don't We don't need any accidents, no no pressure from the airplane, none of that stuff, you know, bringing on you know, bringing on your your delivery too early. My wife looked at me like I was crazy. She said, you think I about to miss this. There's no way in the

world I'm about to miss this opportunity. She dumb, And to come on, my wife was, I'm talking about stuff way out here. She hopping over the front dog on, you know, hopping over the dog on the seats, hopped onto the after the game, because you recognize she recognized that this was a very important opportunity. This was a once in a lifetime chance that I had had all the great teams that I was a part of, this was one shot, right, and she was not going to

miss that. So she was really willing to go through whatever it took to handle, to handle all the different inconveniences on being uncomfortable, all those things, you know, risking you know, the pregnancy in terms of coming earlier than you want, simply because she knew how important it was going to be. That's that, I mean, that's one way to put it. That's that's a great way to put it. And I think the Cowboys should certainly have that in

their thought process going into this final week. And can you if they haven't already, can you imagine what Jerry would do with all the parade, the ring we were watching, of course, Dirk retired as Jersey a couple days ago and they had had his whole thing going on at the American Airline Center and they were showing all the footage of the parade. I was like, Wow, that parade was nuts, man, that was crazy. That's my greatest memory.

Could you imagine? It would be ridiculous? Could you don't get him at It would be ridiculous, But the ring would be even more insane. Jerry would spare no expense you've ever seen, like a china plates. It would probably be the first three ring, like even like brass knuckles. You have to probably put it on y'all. Y'all are doing what I've been doing all week with the Powerball of deal. So stop man trying to win the lottery, just imagining that all would happen here. All right, Let's

take our first break. When we come back, we'll tell you how to make some money on Draft Kings. Who is your Draft Kings player to watch? We'll hit that and tell you who else you should be looking out for in the Cowboys and the Eagles when we come back with more talking Cowboys. There's nothing as unique as our eyes, which is why SLOR pioneers ways to make lenses as unique as you. Very Lux for super sharp vision, Essential Blue for protection, and Crisolve for freedom from glare.

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Friday and it's a great people, great pay replay. And you've heard it already. Jason Witnes has joined the Caliber Collision team. You can join him to do great work with great people for great pay, and apply right now at jobs at Caliber dot Com. That is jobs at Caliber dot Com. Flick at our wrist, baby, stop it, I quit it. Rob Phillips back again. We've got Isaiah Stanback, Harrison, Chris Beam. We're sorry everybody at home listening. We've got

some inside jokes and we can't we can't share it. Nope, we cannot share that. I will not not this one. All right, Let's take a look at some of our DraftKings players to watch this week. Of course, DraftKings you can compete every week for over a million dollars in prizes on DraftKings dot Com. And this is not against the New York Giants up at the top. But this is against the Philadelphia Eagles. We promise these are our current picks. Tony Pollard up there at the top, which

is six thousand dollars along the way. That's my pick. And the reason I say that is he had sixty yards in a touchdown in Week three against this Philadelphia team. If they do decide to limit the workload of Ezekiel Elliott, I think Tony Pollard will see a ton of time out there at the running back spot. Heck, my Harrison, who'd you have? I have Malik Turner. And the reason

I went Malik value pick? Yes, value pick, but also this looks like a game for the value pick because he may get a number of reps in this game due to the fact that we're gonna pull like our guys after the first quarter. What are they gonna pull it because of score? Because of score? I'm on there. But are they going to pull Darius Slay? Probably they need to, they should if they knew what was good for him. I mean, they have a secondary beside, that's

the only big name they have. So I figur if you're going to Tampa, that's gonna be your first game. You may want to have Darius healthy. Just saying Malik Malik Turner in you think about the games where he has played significant snaps. I mean he's played exceptionally well. So hey, I like it. It's a fantasy value pick from heck Ma Harrison. All right, Isaiah, who did you have? Well, there's no discounts over here. I'm going with the old

Dalton Schultzenegger. You gotta see him fifty three hundred dollars. But there's a reason why I'm picking mister Dalton. Shows Dalton has had He's fell off, all right, He's fell off, and he wants to get back up on that thing. Anybody ever fell off a jet ski before you hurry up and you can you climb back up on the thing because you're not sure what's in the waters. So Dalton Schultz is going to climb back up on that thing because he knows that Blake Jarwin's in the water,

and Blake Jarwin is on his way back. And you see the opposing rank right there, thirty one. The Eagles suck against those guys against tight end positions. So Dalton wants that old thing back. He's gonna try to get it back this week. Can we take a second, So your fear when you fall off a jet ski is what's in the water, not necessarily just getting back on the jet ski, and give me about the water you

can't see in there. Chris Beam has the kind of jet skis that will pick you, scoop you up out of one's arm and retractable arm and it just goes out amazing. Yeah, I don't have that. I usually just rent mine. That's what. What do you think he does after the shows? He just goes all the way out to the laking gret so the Lion's jet ski. All right, Rob, who is your pick here on DraftKings? Yes, Chris has all the jet skis. I like. I like that analogy.

I'll go with Cedric Wilson kind of the same reason as Heck, we'll see how long the starters play in this game. I mean, I you know, I don't think we really know for sure how it's gonna go. And is there a more efficient player on this roster than Cedric Wilson, then targeted fifty five times this season, has forty catches. He's like a high efficiency player in the NBA, you know, a solid three and D guy, he's gonna

be efficient from three, He's gonna d up. Cedric does all those little things at the receiver position, plays special teams as well. Uh. And he saw what he could do with Michael Gallop out last week. So I'll take set. I love it when you talk basketball boy, Billy all right, Billy Oil gets all show, all show. Did you hear

Chris there? He said you could get some passing yards out of him too, because he's thrown a couple of passes throughout the season, had a completion yeah for five exactly, So hey, maybe you could get some some dual threat.

That brings me to the to the topic of conversation though, and the reason why we had Rob kind of bring up the rear though, but without Michael Gallup, is this Cedric Wilson's best opportunity to try and make some money, maybe not with the Dallas Cowboys, but to really put some good film out there and allow him to try and get out of the shadow of the Big three, because that's what he has been throughout his career. He's

been productive, he's put up numbers, he's been successful. But if you're not ceedee lamb Amari Cooper Michael Gallop in this system, you're not going to get that same type of praise. So I'll start with you. Heckma, is this his best opportunity in a playoff run, final week of the regular season to finally make a name for himself and try and propel his career forward. Yeah. I mean, if you keep it real with yourself view, you will say that Cedric has already done that. I mean, he's

shown you that he's a valuable four. Michael Gallas already missed some time. But also he's shown you that he's just the four. Right If you're if you're gonna try and vault him into being a two or anything like that, that's just putting way too much on his plate, I think for what he does for special teams wise, but that receiver, I mean, he's he's definitely a guy that can make some plays for you. I question whether he can do what Mike g does as far as take

the top off of a defense. It's the speed portion of it for me, because you see that from Michael Gallup, and so you know, like he does have an opportunity that's in front of him to earn some But again, man, there's no replacing Mike Gas. I hope that he goes out there and balls out and does you know, has a heck of a resume, and he already has a

great resume. I hope he adds to it. That's my hope for all these guys on on these rosters in the NFL and Dallas boys, go out there and do the best that you can't have amazing film so that you can position yourself for the best opportunity going forward. I do hope that Dallas will retain him. He is a huge part of this of this roster. He makes huge contributions obviously offensively and special teams wise. And if he can't get the bag here, then I hope he

goes and gets it back somewhere else. Rob Yeah, for sure. Like he's got the skill set in the game that you can play ten twelve years in the league and if you're not a star, you know, starter Pro Bowl guy. But the fact that he can play all three receiver position, you can put him anywhere. He plays special teams. He's virstal in that regard. He's just he's quarterback friendly. I mean, that's a guy that can play a long time in the league and may make a good amount of money

as well. I don't know what his market value is gonna be after the season. But and I'm with Heck, I mean, I think I think Michael Gallup brings you, you know, some some game breaking potential in terms of that deep ball threat. But but set has been huge for this team this season. Well, where does his relationship ship with Dak Prescott and the way that they've kind of clicked on the same level rank in terms of

how successful he has been here? Because I agree he has all the intangibles, he has the consistency and the speed and the receiving ability. But Rob, I mean, he's he's about as tight with Dak Prescott as anybody else in that locker room. How much does that help him out, especially whenever you are thrusted into a role like he has been with the Michael gallib injury. Yeah, I'm I'm not sure what it is. You know, they just do

have a nice report together. He was asked about that last week and he said, it's just, you know, it's been repetition over the years. He said, there's been some situations the last three years where he's been asked to step up and weigh more so this year. But I don't know. Maybe Isaiah could speak to this for sure, But but you know, there's just certain guys that you have a connection with and and you know, I don't

think that's that's the case. I think Dak's got a connection with all his receivers, like you're seeing him to take a step forward with CD this year as well, But it's definitely there with Cedric. You know, there's definitely a trust there for him. I agree. I mean that it shows on the field, and there's some guys you

just click better with and that's just a reality. There's whether that's more time in the offseason, maybe that's you get them hanging out and being better friends, you don't know, but but it shows up on the field and it's always the benefit. It's always a beneficial to the Dallas Cowboys. Man, if I'm Cedric, if I'm Cedric Hell, I'm outside of the Dak's door. I'm waiting on him. Hey, I'm handing him at football every time he walks into the Star, I'm trying to get every rep I can from the

starting quarterback. So to me, it's just this is just a guy where opportunity has met preparation and you see what he's able to bring to the table. There's no mystery about it. But I'm I love what you said, Pete. You know, Dak has a relationship with all of his guys, but I think with Cedric Cedric Wilson, he's probably the guy that's waiting around saying, Dak to me the ball

in practice. So I mean, if you go back to last week prior to the start of the game, the Cowboys are missing four starters this week, Tyrn Smith, Michael Gallop of course Anthony Brown and Michael Parsons on the defensive side as well. They're missing four starters, two on both sides of the football. How much does that play a factor into their matchup solely with the Philadelphia Eagles. We talked about a lot of the decision making from the coaching staff, but Xes and Os wise, how does

this change things? By the way, before we answer that question, give us a call if you want to be a part of our pickham segment coming up in about five minutes or so eight eight eight eight five five two two ninety seven right now, be a part represent the fans. We'll pick some games coming up in a minute. But how does the missing pieces affect the xs and o's of this matchup? Michael Parsons is the biggest obviously dismissal for this game, being the fact that we're already short

linebacker position. Right you lost jayleist May do you know duty for releasing him? Then you also lost am I blinking out right now? Lsu Cox Cox? Yes, you lost, You lost Jibil Cox. You lost him to his injury. So now you're ready shallow at that position. You've been very depending on Michael Parsons and the contributions he's made this year. Neil's coming back, that's awesome. But now with with Parsons being gone, now you're relying on some guys who just haven't had reps. You just call it how

it is. They just haven't had game reps at the linebacker position. They've had special team reps and Louke Gifford, m Bernard, all those guys, but they have not had playing reps in Dan Quinn's system in the actual you know game that matters. So this game matters. They're gonna be thrust into that position. The strength of the Philadelphia defense is on the interior defensive linement. It's not on

the outside. They do have sweat, but he's usually on the right side and not so much on the left side, so that won't be a problem in terms of missing tyrant and offensively, you know, we should be we should be fine. You've been hard grave Yeah you said sweat, Well I'm saying sweats yeah, yeah, Okay, I got you. So here's my my thing is this when you Michael Parsons is the guy that you have to look for on defense, but I think I look at this as an opportunity for the defense as well, because this is

a running football team and so your interior rotation. I think dan Quinn is gonna take a good look at that interior rotation going into the playoffs, and you get an opportunity to look at guys up close. He you talked about the job that Carlos Watkins, Neville Gallimore did and also Diggi Zua did last week versus Arizona didn't get a whole bunch of pressure of up the gut, right. But when you have a team that's running the way that the Eagles have, you want to see these guys

get off the ball. So this this ball game, regardless of who plays, how many snaps they play, is gonna be one in the trenches. And that's what I want to see from our defense offensively, I'm I'm right with you on that. Our offensive line isn't gonna change in their interiors where they're the most strong. So yeah, I think we still we still line up perfectly from an

XS and O standpoint. Rob, Yeah, I can't disagree with thing that I agree with you guys in terms of you know, they've Teras Steel's been playing a lot of tackle there. If he's the left tackle in this game, then they're used to that. I mean, you wonder what you know, without tired in there, does that change how many how much Dak plays. I mean, Mike McCarthy says no at this point, Um, we'll see. Yeah. I wish we could have see Micah in this game against Jalen Hurts.

And because he can be that spy, he can also be the rusher. So I think that's probably the one that stands out the most. But you know, I'm just interested to see how both teams handle this because you know, there's you can sit guys at a certain point in the game, maybe, but there are only forty eight active for the game. So and you got a factor in special teams and all those things. So how both coaches

juggle that. I'm very curious to see which player would you pull first, Dak Dack or Martin Dak Dak still yeah, especially without Tyron Smith? Can I say both? You pull him at the same time? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, I can see that. I don't think you pulled You don't pull Martin before you pulled Dak. There's no way you would ever do that. So if it is going to be simultaneous, then that that would work as well. Let me in the rup guy. I gotta ask you all,

you guys this question. Obviously, this is the game we just need to get through healthy. What is your You've asked this question before. What's the temperature of the team? Yeah, going into the going into the playoffs? Literally, what's the temperature of the team for you? How do you feel about this team going into the playoffs? There's been a lot of scenarios, this is a one and done team. How do you do you believe that this is a team that can make a push? Do you believe they're

right on the customer? Do you think they still need some pieces to ultimately make the push that you want. So I like loose leaf tea, Okay, drink it every single day. I drink a whole cattle all day. You know, are usually white Tea's kind of my thing, white peach and white white peach. But you know, you need to make sure that the water is boiling at one seventy five before you put before you actually put the loose leaf tea in the actual water. Okay, you gotta get

the temperature up first. Okay, you can't put it in before. I feel like Dallas is at about one forty five. Gotta heat it up. It's not heated up. It's not heated up enough. Right, it's at one forty five. I needed at one seventy five before I put my teeth for actually with my t in, and it starts steeping this thing. I need at one seventy five. Ballaces at like one forty five. So it's just not ready in.

It's not cooked all, isn't it. You know, if I was cooking some food, it's not cooked all the way through. And I feel like they need to continue to raise this temperature. I mean, that's why I ask a question about dak and Martin because do you pull Dak out the game knowing that he right now is not where you need him to be going into the playoffs and obviously,

and what's yours on that? Yeah, No, that's that's the balance, right because I'm sure Mike McCarthy's still looking at this like, I don't want to go into the wildcard round without us feeling better about things offensively, you know. So it's it's a tough it's a tough balance here, and and that's a great analogy, like you don't want you don't want lukewarm tea, you know. Um, So yeah, it's it's

it's tough. I mean, I heck, I mean, I feel like they do enough things from a take a drink complimentary standpoint where they can go win a playoff game or two for sure, because defensively they can turn you over. They can they can make your quarterback extremely uncomfortable. So there's those things that that's how you can win in the playoffs. But they've got to be more efficient for

sure in the passing game with Dak and everybody. But I think the run game too is where it really stands, especially depending on where they might end up playing pass Round one if they get pass round one, they have got to add some balance to their offense because you just I just don't see a situation where if he's got to throw at forty times a game, that's not going to look good for your offense in a playoff situation. Yeah, and I agree, I think to answer your question, I

still think this team can make a run. And I said it yesterday. If they play to their ceiling, there's nobody that's going to beat them. Facts, there's no one that can beat them. If they play as good as they can on the offensive side of the ball. There's nobody in the NFL as good as the Dallas Cowboys. However, that is the biggest if in the entire sport right now. Yeah, because you're not facing anymore Washington's no, you're not. There's

no Yeah, there's no more Washington. There's no more Falcons, there's no more giants along the way. You've got nothing but dogs. And it's gonna get better and better and better. This week, playoff team, next week, playoff Probably playoffs, well I mean it is playoffs, but probably a team with ten plus wins. Again, with with either the Rams or the Cardinals for the most part. It doesn't get easy from here on out, and if they play to that ceiling,

I think they can. They can beat anybody. That's my temperature, right, I like it. And look, I just want to make sure that we're on the same page coming in here Monday. I don't want to hear nothing different. All Right, you're one seventy four, I got y'all five, need gonna get up to what seventy five? Seventy five? Oh yeah, well okay, you got thirty degree. Yeah. But I think that's a that's a great question to ask, and we'll we'll ask that also going into the playoffs. I think as well

try and figure it out going into that first round. Gaelo. Sorry, I think you know, going into the season, you felt like, well, they could they could win playoff games because they can score forty yep. But I think not only defensively, could they grind it out. They've got a feel positioned weapon at punter. You know, they've got great coverage units, they've got other aspects that can you can say, well, I think you go to a cold weather game and win

something ugly. So I think that's why you should feel good that they could make a run still but again offensively. Well know, they got to play better and they're capable playing better. Do we want to talk about kicker? No? Okay, were you talking about to throw it out there? Yeah, let's go to a break though. We've got to We've got to get our pickums here in a second. Don't worry, Chris, it was a joke. I'm getting into it when we come back. Give us a call eight eight eight eight

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up a cowboy by three simple factors. The crease at his hat, the bend of his brim, and his unbending attitude. A man stetson didn't just protect him from what life through at him. It projected a rugged, unstoppable spirit. Stetson hats are still American made with pride. Right here in Texas. There's still the unofficial crowd of all self respecting cowboys, and Stetson is proud to be on the field with

America's team. Find a retailer nearest to you at Stetson dot com slash Cowboys to talk in Cowboys, whether you're watching from home or you're cheering in the stands with lindsays, you can see every exciting play book an appointment at your local Esselor Experts and see what Esselor can do for you. See more, do more or on Talking Cowboys. Final segment. Great job as always, you filled in the shoes of Rob Phillips quite nicely out right there, no

doubt are you bouncing that? You? Are you bouncing like that? Uh man. We are excited to get Robb back next week and have him back in studio. But we've got some games to pick today as we are in our final week of the regular season. We'll pick playoff games too. But this is this is pretty fun because it's the last time we have the full slate of the six games to pick. What was that? Okay? Uh? Sergio in New Mexico is our guest picker today. Sergio, how's it going?

You're on talking Cowboys? Fantastic? Ready to get going here in just a second. So we've got six games, as always, five of them are non Cowboys games, and then, of course the Cowboys game is the final one to tap it all off. We'll start with Sergio on this one. It's the Steelers at the Ravens. Of course, Big Ben closing out his home career the other day with a win, but now he goes on the road to face a Lamar Jackson lists Ravens team. Sergio, who you got? I'm

gonna Steelers? Okay, I believe you said Steelers. You kind of broke up there a little bit. I want to clarify just to make sure Steelers right. Awesome, all right? Isaiah? Who you got? I'm going with the Ravens. With the Ravens, how long the Steelers Steelers steal City? Rob Phillips, No, Lamar Jackson, Kyle, thank you for the scoop. I'll go with the Steelers. Okay, I'm gonna go with the Steelers as well on that one. Now moving into the Bears at the Vikings. Who you got here isah Vikings? Okay,

heck yeah, I'm gonna go Vikings too. I'll go with Minnesota. You know what, I'm gonna flip it. I'm gonna say the Bears. You're gonna get a win here on the road against Minnesota, rob wow, right, rifle, Vikings at home, Vikings at home? And then Sergio, who you got I'm going with the Vikings as well. Alrighty, very quick, going with the Vikings. I'm all alone on that one. I was all alone last week, by the way, with the Chiefs.

I chose the Bengals, and everybody else chose the Chiefs and the Bank You make wolf that burns burn me, boy, You're darn right about time they get me back, because I they I've picked them on multiple occasions, and they have lost a ton of games. All right, Washington football team at the New York Giants. Giants, believe it or not, have won five of their last six against Washington. I

don't see anything changing. Give me the Washington football team on the road, Isaiah, give me the Washington new name. On February. Second team the Admirals, Uh Sergio Uh, I'm gonna go with the Washington team. I guess there's gonna be a snooze fest no matter what. Yeah, that's right, snooze fests in the NFC stack. About who you got? This is one of those toilet Bowl games that you love to have us pick. I'm gonna go with the Admirals. Okay, it's probably going to be the name. Rob. You guys

just break news on their name. I'm a football team. What if it's just the football team on February second, that'd be That would be pretty hilarious, honestly, if it If it does end up staying that way, Okay, Saints at the Falcons. New Orleans is allowed nine point eight points per game in the last four weeks. That's the fewest in the NFL. Do the Saints defense keep their

streak rolling? Heck, moa, who you got? Saint's got to have this game and I'm going with the Saints like the good time in roll all right, Rob, Yeah, Saints have more to play for. Give me the give me the New Orleans Saints, Sergio. I'm gonna take New Orleans. Yeah, I'm gonna take the Saints here too. Isaiah can make up a game Yin yang in this thing, you're going with a ying yang in histing going with atl No, man, the Saints that they stand up and get club. That's

what they played down there. Yeah, that's that's what I was thinking. They don't play their music in Atlanta. They played their music in the That's a super crowd. Yeah, that's that's Yeah. You think that was a very confusing pick you used. You used like the only artist that could apply to both of those cities. No, that's that's that's like the opposite of that. John. Yeah. If okay, if it's a tie, If it's a tie, Isaiah, Isaiah gets doubles on my wave. If a tie Isaiah gets too,

don't do that. It's true. He's behind by like twenty five games right now, so it's fine he can do that. Probably Chargers at the Raiders winner goes to the playoffs. If the Colts losing, they tie, they can also both go to the playoffs. But who wants to hear about that? Winner gets the sixth seed in the AFC LA versus LV. Who you got, rob Man, I'm gonna go with Justin Herbert at the end of the day, find a way on the road they advance, Sergio, Yeah, some some of

go with Rob on that one. Going with the Chargers there, Isaiah, so far, Okay, call with Vegas. Wow, go on with Coachsacia on this one. Man. Yeah he's done a great jobs too. Yeah, Yeah, he's done a fantastic job. Uh. Man, this is a tough one. I think the Chargers are a better team. Good them, but give me the Raiders at home at Allegiance Stadium in Las Vegas. I think the Raiders get it. I think, man, that's crazy that

the Chargers could miss the playoffs. But everything that Vegas has been through, if they make them playoffs, that's that's gonna be crazy magnificent. So yeah, give me the Raiders at home. I think it should be a fun one in that regard. All Right, the final one we've all been waiting for. It's the Cowboys at the Eagles. Sergio, will let you start us off on this one. You got to give us a score prediction as well. I'm gonna go ahead and go fool with the Boys, even though, yeah,

I mean, they're still the better team. It doesn't really matter what. So let's go twenty four. We'll go fourteen, all right, Well twenty four fourteen An ugly game from Sergio. Sergio, thanks so much for being our guest picker this week. We will talk to you again down the line, and thanks for your support, my friend, A thank you for having me. Absolutely Sergio from New Mexico, the Land of Enchantment here on talking Cowboys. He thinks it's gonna be

an ugly game. I don't necessarily disagree with him. The way that he sighed going into that pig, Babe, it sounded like a heck my Harrison Tostitos Championship Plaza two to nothing win over the Eagles. It's what it sounded like. But I don't know. I don't know if that's what it will be. But Rob, who you got on this one? Man? I came in saying I was gonna say a tie, but you know what, I'm not gonna do that. I think, Look, it's a toss up because we don't know lineups and

all that stuff. At the end of the day or playing time, I'll go with the Eagles at home, just in a toss up kind of low scoring twenty one twenty Philly, What can you say that again? I'm going with Philly in this game. Cowboys are a better team, but they're already missing key guys. They're going on the road. Yeah, I'll take the Eagles, Okay, all right, Isaiah, Barbecue over Chief Steak, Going Dallas, Going with Dallas score twenty four seventeen,

twenty four seventeen. I'm gonna go with the Cowboys here, but I also think it will be an ugly, gross, downright weird win. Give me twenty three to sixteen the final score. Cowboys get totally those Plaza once in again, and I'm predicting Boys win twenty seven thirteen. That's my score. I think defensively we shut them out, do a really good job against them in the running game. But I'm giving them thirteen points. At least give him thirteen maybe

a little bit late, something like that. Yeah, all right, Well, there we go, guys. We're done with the regular season. Sounds good to me. Done with the regular season. We've got playoffs next time up on Talking Cowboys. It feels oh so nice to get to this point in the campaign, but that does it for us throughout the regular season. When we come back, hopefully it'll be a victory Monday, But no matter what, it is a playoff Bundy on

Talking Cowboys, presented by Tostitos. Hope you had some fun with us today for Chris Beam, for Isaiah standback, Rob Phillips, for Kyle Yeoman's and for Heckma Harrison. Heckma, everybody turned down your headphones because Heckma's about to let it ride. Because what do we say on Friday's Cowboy Nation, I hope your team wins. This has been a production of Dallas Cowboys dot Com and the Dallas Cowboys Football Club.