Hangin' with the Boys: The Most Important Piece

Were the Cowboys suffering a food hangover in the first half of that Thanksgiving game? At least they figured it out in the second half, getting physical and winning the war of attrition. And which victory was more impressive, the blowout at Minnesota or the comeback against the Giants? Let's pick through the leftovers.

Whether it's turkey, ribs, stuffing, sweet potatoes, greens, mashed potatoes and cranberries (out of the can) for Thanksgiving dinner or whooping up on those Giants, Cowboys Nation is ready to feast. Do our NFC East rivals even have a shot with all their injuries? Can the Cowboys keep it rolling? Let's get the party started!

The Cowboys are coming off a huge victory, but now they'll have just four days to get that same energy going again. How tough is it physically? How about mentally? Is it up to players like Parsons and Prescott or does it fall to the coaches? Plus, the disadvantages of playing on Thanksgiving.

Offense, defense, special teams … the Cowboys could do no wrong in their big victory over Minnesota. Is this as good as it gets? Can they maintain this level through the rest of the season? We've experienced penthouse to outhouse ups and downs, do we know who this team is yet? Let's break it down!

Will the return of Zeke make the Cowboys tougher? Will it get the offense to run the ball more? After all, the more Dak passes, the worse the record. Plus, is it a tough decision to play or rest Lawrence? Need the win now, but don't want to lose the player for later. And congrats to Grandpa Nate!

It takes every man on the defense to stop the run game, even those in the secondary. As a group, will they be able to shut down Dalvin Cook? Will Dallas be in trouble if DeMarcus Lawrence doesn't play? Should Trevon Diggs follow Justin Jefferson? And, uh-oh, the Ndamukong Suh news drops.

Can the Cowboys put up some points against this Vikings defense? Will they be able to keep the pressure off Dak? Will the receivers be able to get some separation, something they've struggled with this year? And what's the deal with third downs? Nate seems to have a lot to get off his back today.

Whether it's the defensive line or our own Nate Newton, we need them to stay in their gap. Parsons saw as much when he was lined up at linebacker against Green Bay. And McCarthy said, "Pass rush is a privilege." What does that mean? It means this team won't get to where it wants to if it doesn't stop that run.

Rodgers and the Packers knew to run the ball. Why didn't the Cowboys stick with the rushing attack against one of the worst run defenses in the NFL? Did Rodgers simply manage the game better? Plus, Jesse breaks down the what happened in the passing game and how the lack of communication hurt the team.

Like Parsons said, Rodgers might be struggling a little, but you "can't have no remorse." It's time for the Cowboys to shake off some past demons and take care of business in Green Bay. Does that mean they have to stop the run? Should they play Zeke? Let's make some predictions and take some calls!

There's a lot going on in this one as the boys try to break down how the Cowboys should handle Aaron Rodgers and his offense. He's banged up and struggling, but still always dangerous … if he can get some receiving help. Plus, can the Dallas defense do anything to improve the team's time of possession troubles?

Is Kellen Moore going to add any new wrinkles to the offense after the bye week? Could that mean getting more from CeeDee Lamb? And it's nearly 80 degrees here in Dallas. What will it be like playing in Green Bay's 30-degree temperatures? Plus, Jesse does a little investigative reporting.

Jerry Jones got Cowboys Nation excited with talk of a certain receiver wearing the Star. Is he just getting our hopes up? And should we be worried about Micah Parsons wearing down? They need him on the field, but he's playing fewer snaps now. Plus, we check in with Computer's mentals and dentals.

Is Odell Beckham Jr. the answer? Could he make an immediate impact? Seems unlikely, right? Plus, Mike McCarthy is getting ready to go back to Green Bay. Does that help motivate his players? And Aaron Rodgers has been a Cowboys killer in the past, but should they still fear him now?

Fans had hope, but the trade deadline came and went without another move. Was that a mistake? Especially at receiver? Did the Cowboys need to keep pace if they truly wanted to contend? Could bringing in a free agent still be a possibility? Plus, by playing him almost exclusively at defensive end, are they wearing out Micah Parsons?

It's deadline day. Should the Cowboys make a trade? Are they in win-now mode? Sure seems like they would be, right? Where do they need help the most? Wide receiver? Cornerback? Offensive line? On this mix-and-match show, Isaiah and Nick step in to discuss what the Cowboys might (and what they should) do.

All this talk about making Tony Pollard the lead back? He and Ezekiel Elliott are better together. And did Dak Prescott manage the game like he should? Sure looked like it. Plus, what can this defense do to stop the run? Are they more worried about just getting sacks? It's Victory Monday!

Last week the Cowboys pulled away from the Lions in the second half. It might be a tougher fight if they let the Bears hang around. Will Dak Prescott stay within himself and not try to do too much? Can Micah Parsons and the Dallas defense keep Justin Fields contained? It's Friday. Time to hear from Cowboys Nation!

Looks like Ezekiel Elliott might miss Sunday's game vs. Chicago. Will it change the game plan? Is Tony Pollard ready to carry a heavier load? And should the Cowboys be worried about that Bears rushing attack? Plus, the Eagles made a big trade, showing they're all-in. Are the Cowboys there yet? Do they need to be?

The Cowboys are one of the worst teams on third down. The problem? Play-calling. It's got to get better. Speaking of getting better, do the Cowboys need more from the receiving corps? Plus, Damone Clark was just activated. Are you excited about seeing him play? We are!

At 6-3, 340, acquiring Johnathan Hankins is quite literally HUGE news. How will this affect the Cowboys defensive front? Can he help shut down opponents' run games? And just how much influence does Dan Quinn have right now? Plus, how's the upcoming schedule looking?

When you've got that much speed running around, things are going to happen. Parsons had the play of the game against the Lions, but what about the rest of his defensive crew? And that side of the ball helped settle down the offense in Dak's return. It's a victory Monday!

The Lions overall record isn't much, but they've sure been able to put up points. And they are a physical team that loves to run the football – two areas that have given the Cowboys trouble in the past. Can Dallas improve its tackling? How will Detroit attack Micah Parsons? It's time to bring the defense!

Maybe this is the perfect time for Dak Prescott to come back. The Lions are struggling, which might allow him the luxury of ramping his game back up. But how much ramp up will there be? Will he have to adjust to the Cowboys' new offensive game plan? Or does the offensive game plan need to adjust back to Dak?

Little brother has gotten bigger and better, which means it's time for the Cowboys to show they can still be the big boys on the block. With the defense already one of the best in the league, is the answer simply adding Dak to the offense? And is this team more physical now? Plus, we welcome Nate back and Computer calls in.