Hangin' with the 'Boys: Friday Picks & Fun

The Cowboys have an interesting matchup tomorrow in a Seahawks team that has one of the best receiving corps in the NFL and probably the best secondary. With the Eagles looming, is there any risk of looking past Seattle? Plus, the latest on the Shaq Leonard courtship, Aaron Rodgers jumping on the Dak Prescott bandwagon, a locker room bug going around and, oh yeah, a guaranteed prediction from Jesse.

Every free agent wants to be courted, which is exactly what Dallas is doing with Shaq Leonard right now. But do they really need him? You bet. Also, as the Cowboys enter the tough part of their schedule, let's take a look at where they sit in the playoff picture. Can they still take the division? Or is fifth place all but locked up? And can they get over this longstanding playoff hump?

Is Shaq Leonard the missing piece? Maybe not, but he can help. Plus, looking back at another blowout for the Cowboys, will they keep this aggressive offensive approach when they start facing better teams? Speaking of which, lot of talk about the tough schedule in December, but does it really start now against Seattle? And hey, it's time for Dak Prescott and DaRon Bland to get the recognition they deserve!

Let's kick things off with some holiday talk as the boys share some of their memories being with the Cowboys on Turkey Day. But there's plenty of football to discuss as well, including Jesse breaking down just what goes into those scripted plays that coaches start every game with. There's more to it than you may think. Plus, what plays are working best for this team (as Nate asks where's the lead draw)? Happy Thanksgiving!

The Eagles just keep finding a way to win, so are the Cowboys now playing for the first wild card spot? Regardless, it starts with taking care of business against the Commanders. What should we expect from quarterback Sam Howell? Reception or interception, he's going to keep slinging it. But is running back Brian Robinson the real threat? And, uh-oh, CeeDee Lamb has got a bum ankle. Time to worry?

Jimmy Johnson is going into the Cowboys Ring of Honor and our man Nate happily shares his memories of playing for the Hall of Fame coach, including what they both really cared about – winning. Plus, the game against the Panthers was close for most of the day, which is how it usually goes in the NFL. Hey, they took care of business, though. But, oh my, there was nothing routine about the DaRon Band pick-six.

The Cowboys are entering their stretch of three games in 12 days. Since the toughest of those is that third matchup, are the coaches making plans now to perhaps rest guys in this first one, which is the easiest? Do they game plan any differently in an effort to keep players rested and ready? Plus a grab-bag of Friday topics from callers (hair color in Germany?), our predictions and more. It's a Friday fun day, for sure.

Dallas is facing Carolina quarterback Bryce Young this weekend, this year's No. 1 pick. But are the Panthers using him the right way? Or are they setting him up for future failure? Also, the Cowboys are facing another bad team. Does this really help them prepare for when they have to face opponents like the Eagles? What should they work on now to be ready later? And, oh yeah, is Micah Parsons headed for a prove-it game?

It's a blocking clinic on today's show as Nate gives a detailed breakdown of zone blocking vs. man blocking. So which scheme is better for the current offensive line? How about for the team's running backs? Are they best when they put their foot in the ground and go? And would the Cowboys rather face a 3-4 defense or a 4-3? Plu, is there a play to beat every defensive alignment? You about to learn!

With Leighton Vander Esch now out for the season, are the linebackers going to be able to hold up against the better, more physical teams? Markquese Bell has been good, but does he have the size? With that, Micah Parsons has been playing more linebacker and he doesn't sound real thrilled about it. He can impact a game from anywhere, so is he bringing the right attitude to the situation?

The Cowboys completely dominated the Giants, but because New York is such a bad team, how much can we actually take away from it? Do they have to win the next three (or five) to really make it mean something? And Dak Prescott is as hot as they get. What changed? Is he finally comfortable with the system? Plus, CeeDee Lamb said he's the best receiver in the NFL now. Is he right? Regardless, got to love that swagger!

So if the Cowboys don't beat the struggling Giants by double-digits on Sunday, is it a bad day? And is the Eagles upcoming schedule that tough? Won't they be favored in at least two of them? Also, one caller asks if they should use Hunter Luepke in short-yardage and goal-line situations? He's bigger … but is he better? Plus, how would you grade Mike McCarthy's offense through the first half of the season? Oh, hey, it's the head coach's birthday. What are we getting him?

With the Cowboys heavily favored to roll over the banged-up Gaints, can they use this matchup to work on things? Maybe get the running game going, which might include giving Rico Dowdle more carries? Or should they try making some changes along the offensive line? If not, can they at least get some help for Terence Steele? The pharmacy is coming to town on Sunday. Time to get right.

When are the Cowboys going to win one of these good games? When will doubt stop creeping in? Can the switch be flipped? Because if you're not learning through winning, you won't learn through losing. Plus, Nate and Jesse look back at their own careers and share who their mentors were, the teammates who really helped them become NFL players (and their answers might surprise you).

The small things matter. Like challenging the placement of the ball, kicking it out of bounds, dropping passes, getting slapped with penalties and on and on. Dak Prescott played championship level football and the defense largely held the Eagles in check, but in the end, they couldn't get the job done. Why in the biggest games, do the Cowboys always seem to come up short?

The crew is joined by special guest Nick Eatman to discuss this Week 9 matchup and make their predictions for Cowboys vs. Eagles.

Speed is always good when it's going in the right direction, and the Cowboys have plenty of it. But what does that mean, and how do they use it to attack the Eagles' potent offense? Can they use the stunt to get Micah Parsons one-on-one battles in the pass rush? Plus, A.J. Brown will be the toughest receiver they've faced, but is it the run game that really needs to be shut down?

Their secondary can be beat, how does the Cowboys offensive line keep Philadelphia's vaunted defensive front in check? And how do they prepare to do so not knowing if Tyron Smith will play? Plus, how about a ground game? It may be more important than ever to at least make them think you might run. And that goes for Dak Prescott too. It's time to grab and go.

We're feeling a little spooked on this Halloween. The trade deadline is upon us and moves are being made around the league (much to Nate's dismay). So should the Cowboys be wheeling and dealing as well? They're contenders, aren't they? Their window is open now. Why not? Plus, there's a big game ahead. What's it like in the locker room this week? It's all in the details, crossing those i's and dotting those t's.

The Cowboys took care of business in a big way on Sunday, dominating the Rams on both sides of the ball. But what did we see different about the offense? Getting Lamb more involved? Finally using more of the vertical game? And on defense, DaRon Bland's position flexibility is paying off big-time while DeMarcus Lawrence continues to fly under the radar as one of the best in the NFL.

It's a fun Friday with fan phone calls as Nick steps in for an ailing Kurt. So will we see any adjustments to the offense coming out the bye week? Should we? Who's set to have a big game come Sunday? And we've got Jesse and Nate sharing thoughts on DeMarcus Ware going into the Ring of Honor and who some of their favorite teammates were, plus predictions and more!

The Rams receivers are not particularly fast, so how do they get open so often? How is Matthew Stafford leading the league in yards thrown before catch when they rely on a quick passing game? It's all about the route running. So how do the Cowboys defend that? And is now the time when the coaches really need to coach? The film is out. Are adjustments coming? Should they be?

Here comes that man again, Aaron Donald. How do the Cowboys keep him from disrupting their plans? The Rams secondary, however, can be attacked … if the wide receivers can beat their press coverage, which is something they've struggled to do this season. And is Dallas' short passing offense one of the reasons the running game is struggling? Time to break it down.

As the trade deadline nears, does this team need to get a second wide receiver? Or is he already on the roster and they're just not using Brandin Cooks like they should? Are there any other positions they need to look at bolstering? Plus, are there any tweaks to the offense coming after the bye? Was Dak Prescott's aggressiveness against the Chargers a sign of things to come? The Cowboys need his "whatever it takes" mentality.