Hangin' With The 'Boys: Asking The Wrong Questions

Nate Newton, Jesse Holley and Shannon Gross discuss latest Dallas Cowboys news and notes on Cowboys Break.

Who Plays? Who Doesn't? With two games to go, should the Cowboys think about sitting players? Make sure Dak Prescott is healthy for next while letting Joe Milton get some experience? Or does that send the wrong message, especially for a team trying to rebuild its culture. As Nate tell us, losing can become a culture too. Plus, Jesse's stat and our predictions.

It's not coaches make players, right? So would a different defensive coordinator really produced different results? Perhaps, but probably not in a big way. Plus, could Tyler Smith moving to left tackle become permanent? Let's hope not. He's a Pro Bowl guard, after all. And has this team struggled to make in-game adjustments on offense as well? Where are the counterpunches?

It wasn't that long ago that the Cowboys appeared to have the best cornerback combo in the NFL. Now, DaRon Bland is out again with a foot injury, and the status of Trevon Diggs is still up in the air. My how quickly things can change. Plus, for all the criticism the defensive line and secondary have received this season, are the linebackers the real problem? Plus, Jesse's stat and our predictions.

How are we watching the games now that the Cowboys will likely miss the playoffs? Want them to win? Lose to get a higher a draft pick? Plus, has Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert lived up to his billing? Can the Dallas defense slow him down? What about their receivers? Keenan Allen and Ladd McConkey are some of the best route runners in the business. It's another tough task ahead.

Don't look now but the Chargers are coming to town with one of the best defenses in the league. And they're physical. What can the Cowboys do to attack them? Will head coach Brian Schottenheimer be more aggressive? Will they try to get George Pickens more involved? Plus, could we see more opportunities for Dak Prescott to run? There just might be some openings there for the taking.

Just when we think the Cowboys are going to get on a roll, they instead stumble. What happened against the Vikings? No pressure on defense, no success on third downs, questionable coaching decisions. Is this team just not what we thought it would be? Dallas is on the brink of elimination after another disappointing performance.

The Cowboys have got to win the rest of their games to get in the playoffs. Does that add more pressure? Hey, if you can't handle the heat, better get out of the kitchen, right? But do they know how to win? Do they have enough players who have made playoff runs before who can lead the way? Plus, Jesse's key stat and our predictions.

Nate speaks out about what we're all thinking – why aren't there more Cowboys in the Hall of Fame? Or the Ring of Honor, for that matter? There are some deserving guys being left out. Plus, we get into the Minnesota offense. Is Justin Jefferson still the man? Better not sleep on him. And definitely don't forget about Aaron Jones. About their quarterback, though …

Know what a cross-dog blitz is? You will if you listen. It's all about creating confusion, and Minnesota likes to blitz more than any team in the NFL. But does that actually play into Dak Prescott's hands? He's been good under pressure. The Cowboys will also have to get the run game going behind Javontae Williams, which won't be easy. Don't let their record fool you – the Vikings defense is a concern.

Want to know what goes on behind the scenes? Jesse and Nate are here to tell you. Like, how much are players paying attention to social media? Why do they bother responding to criticism? And is the veteran leadership the same as it was decades ago? Who is providing guidance, motivation? Do players today communicate as much as they used to? Even with each other? It's a fascinating look inside.

Let's talk offensive line today because, you know, we've got a six-time Pro Bowler, 2-time All-Pro and three-time Super Bowl winner hangin' with us. Are the tackles struggling with their technique? Is it a coaching thing? Nate breaks it down for us. Plus, college experience, slow starts, the outlook for the rest of the season and more!

Nate Newton, Jesse Holley and Shannon Gross discuss latest Dallas Cowboys news.

One key to stopping the Lions? Limit what they do on first down because this is a team that won't hesitate to go for it on fourth down. So can the Cowboys' rebuilt defensive line stop Jahmyr Gibbs and the Detroit ground game? How will things change if star wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown doesn't play? Plus, Jesse's key stat and our predictions for Thursday night's showdown.

Was defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus ever really the problem? Or did he just not have the right players to run his system? Well, drop in new guys like Quinnen Williams and Logan Wilson, get injured players back like Malik Hooker, Donovan Wilson and DeMarvion Overshown and suddenly his defense is working. Plus, despite falling behind early, the Cowboys have been able to battle back. Are they learning how to win?

The Cowboys are coming off a big win, but it's not getting any easier. In fact, they have yet to play a quarterback like Patrick Mahomes this season, a guy who only seems to care about winning or losing, not about stats. Is that a rarity in today's NFL? Also, can Dak Prescott handle the Chiefs blitz? He's been great against it so far this season. Plus, Jesse's key stat and our predictions. Happy Thanksgiving!

With the big trades made this year, and Jerry Jones saying George Pickens will be back in 2026, are the Cowboys finally going to go all-in? Or will it be business as usual? Also, everyone knows CeeDee Lamb is still the man, but does he know it? Plus, fingers, knees and, um, other places, Nate and Jesse talk injuries.

Head coach Brian Schottenheimer has talked about changing the team's culture. Does the big come-from-behind win over Philly help with that, or do the Cowboys have to take the next two as well to really make things different? Plus, the exceptional play of the defense, what's going on at wide receiver and Dak Prescott's mastery in the pocket. It's Victory Monday!

So was last week a defensive mirage? Or is this unit really as good as we think it is? It's safe to say things are headed in the right direction, but will the Cowboys show up in the pivotal moments? And can they stop Saquon Barkley both on the ground and in the passing game? Plus, Jesse's stat, key players to watch and predictions!

The Eagles have a good record, but are they really that good? With their troubles on offense and the Cowboys improved defense, could Philly be ripe for the picking? And with more push coming from the middle of the defensive line will Dallas be able to contain Jalen Hurts? It's time to find out how good this Cowboys defense really is.

So Jalen Carter will be playing in this game. Just how big of an impact does he have on the Philly defensive front? Like Quinnen Williams, he makes everyone better. And after spit-gate in Week 1, could that ramp up the rivalry another notch? Plus, many are asking if George Pickens has become the No. 1 receiver? Not so fast. Don't let the numbers fool you.

Can one man change an entire defense? In the case of Quinnen Williams, it sure seemed like it. Along with several players returning from injury, the Cowboys defensive unit put on a show against the Raiders. Plus, was not starting CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens any big deal? Regardless, it was a perfect tune-up game in Las Vegas. Let's discuss!

Nate and Jesse dig into the mental intricacies of the game and how players are constantly evaluating their performance, even between snaps. Everybody is fast, everybody is strong, so intelligence and situational football is often the difference. Also, will the Cowboys be re-energized after a tough bye week? Plus, Jesse's stat, key players and predictions.

With all these stud defensive tackles on the roster now, there's been talk about playing some 5-2 alignments on defense. So, should they switch to a 3-4 base to get those guys on the field? Also, how much can we expect from both the new guys and those coming back from injury? Is the defense overall going to look vastly different?

So are the Raiders really as bad as their record? If not, why are they losing? They've got Maxx Crosby, after all. What do the Cowboys have to do to negate him? And will having the game Monday night with an extra day to prepare help much? Plus, after playing themselves and knowing the intricacies of football so well, Nate and Jesse explain what it's like for them watching games live.