1 00:00:00,920 --> 00:00:05,720 Speaker 1: Coming. Do you live from the Cowboys headquarters in Frisco, 2 00:00:06,519 --> 00:00:11,920 Speaker 1: deep in the heart of Texas. It's The Star at Night. Wow, 3 00:00:12,000 --> 00:00:14,960 Speaker 1: dramatic much? Why are you getting in the way of 4 00:00:14,960 --> 00:00:18,279 Speaker 1: my intro? You mean our intro? We're your hosts. I'm 5 00:00:18,360 --> 00:00:24,080 Speaker 1: Kelsey Charles and I'm David Hellman. Okay, let's just start 6 00:00:24,120 --> 00:00:30,800 Speaker 1: the show now. Hello, everyone, welcome to the Star at Night. 7 00:00:31,360 --> 00:00:35,240 Speaker 1: It's nice to have you guys back. After a incredible 8 00:00:35,320 --> 00:00:39,960 Speaker 1: win with conviction against the Washington football team. David, that 9 00:00:40,040 --> 00:00:49,920 Speaker 1: was impressive showing by the Dallas Cowboys. Slump buster. All right, 10 00:00:50,080 --> 00:00:53,160 Speaker 1: so yeah, that was great. I do want to dive 11 00:00:53,159 --> 00:00:56,040 Speaker 1: in though, because again, this offense has been a topic 12 00:00:56,080 --> 00:00:59,400 Speaker 1: of conversation this season typically the last couple of games, 13 00:00:59,600 --> 00:01:02,520 Speaker 1: teams they haven't really been doing much well. They went 14 00:01:02,560 --> 00:01:06,039 Speaker 1: ahead and silenced all the naysairs this weekend. Tell me 15 00:01:06,080 --> 00:01:08,400 Speaker 1: what you saw on Sunday. I saw them do all 16 00:01:08,440 --> 00:01:10,720 Speaker 1: of the things that they are supposed to do. And 17 00:01:10,920 --> 00:01:12,520 Speaker 1: you know, a lot of people are going to try 18 00:01:12,520 --> 00:01:15,600 Speaker 1: to discredit it, and that's fine. Washington's not a terribly 19 00:01:15,640 --> 00:01:18,800 Speaker 1: good team. This is the same team for the most 20 00:01:18,800 --> 00:01:21,720 Speaker 1: part that they went against two weeks ago. And couldn't 21 00:01:21,720 --> 00:01:24,280 Speaker 1: do anything right. They scored twenty points in that game. Well, 22 00:01:24,319 --> 00:01:26,760 Speaker 1: fast forward to Sunday night, they put up forty in 23 00:01:26,800 --> 00:01:29,720 Speaker 1: the first half. The running game definitely not explosive, but 24 00:01:29,800 --> 00:01:33,200 Speaker 1: a lot better. The play action worked to perfection. Dak 25 00:01:33,280 --> 00:01:35,240 Speaker 1: had so many great looks coming out of the threat 26 00:01:35,280 --> 00:01:37,760 Speaker 1: of the run game, got all of his receivers involved 27 00:01:37,840 --> 00:01:41,200 Speaker 1: by the way, his receivers helped him and actually caught passes. 28 00:01:41,520 --> 00:01:44,480 Speaker 1: Just all the stuff we haven't seen was working in tandem. 29 00:01:44,480 --> 00:01:46,040 Speaker 1: It was great, all right, So let's talk about working 30 00:01:46,080 --> 00:01:48,800 Speaker 1: in tandem because the defense also showed up to take 31 00:01:48,920 --> 00:01:51,600 Speaker 1: Lawrence had himself a nice little gay, but he wasn't 32 00:01:51,640 --> 00:01:54,600 Speaker 1: the only one. Talk about this Cowboys defense and what 33 00:01:54,840 --> 00:01:58,160 Speaker 1: dan Quinn's crew did on Sunday. At some point, you're 34 00:01:58,200 --> 00:01:59,760 Speaker 1: just going to have to assume that this is going 35 00:01:59,800 --> 00:02:02,760 Speaker 1: to keep happening. Like the law of averages says, you're 36 00:02:02,800 --> 00:02:06,480 Speaker 1: not gonna get multiple takeaways every time you play. Well, 37 00:02:06,480 --> 00:02:09,280 Speaker 1: when's that going to happen? Because they still manage to 38 00:02:09,280 --> 00:02:11,360 Speaker 1: get two in this game, and that's on top of 39 00:02:11,400 --> 00:02:13,880 Speaker 1: another five sacks, by the way, and if you don't 40 00:02:13,880 --> 00:02:17,600 Speaker 1: think that's related, you're crazy. When you're smacking the quarterback 41 00:02:17,639 --> 00:02:20,079 Speaker 1: around the way the Cowboys have been doing the Taylor Heineck. 42 00:02:20,240 --> 00:02:23,080 Speaker 1: That poor guy like Taylor Heinekey just wants to He 43 00:02:23,200 --> 00:02:26,080 Speaker 1: just wanted to fulfill his childhood dream of playing in 44 00:02:26,120 --> 00:02:30,200 Speaker 1: the NFL. And the Cowboys are like, bet okay, we're 45 00:02:30,200 --> 00:02:32,119 Speaker 1: gonna knock the hell out of you, and that when 46 00:02:32,120 --> 00:02:36,280 Speaker 1: you do that to the quarterback, good things happen. Trayvon Diggs, 47 00:02:36,280 --> 00:02:38,800 Speaker 1: somebody I would love to know. I would love to 48 00:02:38,800 --> 00:02:41,640 Speaker 1: know who on Washington's coaching staff thought trying him on 49 00:02:41,680 --> 00:02:43,760 Speaker 1: the first snap of the game was a great idea. 50 00:02:43,919 --> 00:02:46,680 Speaker 1: But these guys just ball man. They make opportunities with 51 00:02:46,720 --> 00:02:50,840 Speaker 1: their plays and when they have a chance at a takeaway, 52 00:02:50,840 --> 00:02:53,239 Speaker 1: they usually cash in on it. It's amazing to watch. 53 00:02:53,280 --> 00:02:55,400 Speaker 1: I love to see it, all right, my friend. Well, 54 00:02:55,400 --> 00:02:58,880 Speaker 1: it is obviously way different than last year, and yeah, 55 00:02:58,280 --> 00:03:01,400 Speaker 1: what a difference a year. So we're going to break 56 00:03:01,400 --> 00:03:04,360 Speaker 1: down some four reasons as to what has led this 57 00:03:04,400 --> 00:03:09,920 Speaker 1: team success. Coming up next, Cowboys Star at Night is 58 00:03:09,960 --> 00:03:13,960 Speaker 1: brought to you by Academy Sports and Outdoors, the official 59 00:03:14,040 --> 00:03:18,000 Speaker 1: sporting goods retailer of the Dallas Cowboys at and T, 60 00:03:19,040 --> 00:03:23,200 Speaker 1: and by Favor the official on demand food delivery partner 61 00:03:23,480 --> 00:03:33,720 Speaker 1: of the Dallas Cowboys. This segment is brought to you 62 00:03:33,760 --> 00:03:37,640 Speaker 1: by the Dallas Morning News. Nobody does sports like Sports Day. 63 00:03:37,800 --> 00:03:42,880 Speaker 1: You're home for complete Dallas Cowboys coverage. All Right, David, So, 64 00:03:42,920 --> 00:03:45,960 Speaker 1: I was doing some reflecting, if you will, go towards 65 00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:48,000 Speaker 1: the end of the year, and what a season it's been. 66 00:03:48,120 --> 00:03:51,520 Speaker 1: So I kept with a list of some of the 67 00:03:51,560 --> 00:03:54,640 Speaker 1: top reasons why this Cowboys team has been having the 68 00:03:54,720 --> 00:03:56,720 Speaker 1: success they have, and I want to break it down 69 00:03:56,760 --> 00:03:59,200 Speaker 1: with you a bit of a mount rushmore, if you will, 70 00:03:59,400 --> 00:04:03,120 Speaker 1: a mount more of why they're so much better this year. Yes, Okay, 71 00:04:03,480 --> 00:04:05,640 Speaker 1: let's do it. Okay, So number four, let's start with 72 00:04:05,680 --> 00:04:09,800 Speaker 1: the obvious. They signed Dak Prescott. M Yeah. I mean 73 00:04:10,440 --> 00:04:13,000 Speaker 1: it's funny because, like, I don't think about this the 74 00:04:13,040 --> 00:04:14,920 Speaker 1: same way that I think about some of these other things, 75 00:04:14,960 --> 00:04:17,480 Speaker 1: Like Dak was gonna be here. I never had any 76 00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:20,719 Speaker 1: doubt about that. I really appreciate the Cowboys for getting 77 00:04:20,720 --> 00:04:24,000 Speaker 1: it out of the way, but we knew that. But man, 78 00:04:24,040 --> 00:04:25,920 Speaker 1: it's it's been a joy to see him bounce back 79 00:04:25,920 --> 00:04:27,960 Speaker 1: from that injury and hit the ground running the way 80 00:04:27,960 --> 00:04:29,760 Speaker 1: he has. All Right, Well, He's not the only player 81 00:04:29,839 --> 00:04:32,920 Speaker 1: that this team signed. They had a pretty strong offseason 82 00:04:32,960 --> 00:04:35,320 Speaker 1: in terms of free agent signings, and I don't get 83 00:04:35,360 --> 00:04:37,520 Speaker 1: your thoughts on some of the most impactful. Now this 84 00:04:37,640 --> 00:04:40,719 Speaker 1: is wild because again I knew they were gonna sign Dak. 85 00:04:40,960 --> 00:04:44,040 Speaker 1: What I didn't know is that everybody that they brought 86 00:04:44,080 --> 00:04:47,400 Speaker 1: in in free agency for pennies was gonna be great. 87 00:04:48,160 --> 00:04:53,720 Speaker 1: J Ron Curse signed for nothing, Gian O'Neil and Demante Casey. 88 00:04:54,200 --> 00:04:57,960 Speaker 1: They were bargain bargain find dollar store deals. Carlos Watkins, 89 00:04:58,040 --> 00:05:00,720 Speaker 1: like all these guys that nobody was affecting much of 90 00:05:01,200 --> 00:05:03,320 Speaker 1: killing it way to go. I love it all right, 91 00:05:03,360 --> 00:05:05,840 Speaker 1: So another person that's killing it too is up Michael Parsons. 92 00:05:05,880 --> 00:05:09,360 Speaker 1: I have to imagine drafting him was a pretty big 93 00:05:09,440 --> 00:05:12,040 Speaker 1: deal for this team. Talk to me, even the people 94 00:05:12,120 --> 00:05:15,360 Speaker 1: that wanted Micah Parsons to be the pick never saw 95 00:05:15,400 --> 00:05:18,880 Speaker 1: this coming. Like just imagine go back to draft night 96 00:05:18,880 --> 00:05:22,320 Speaker 1: and think about the let's not sugarcoat it disappointment among 97 00:05:22,400 --> 00:05:26,919 Speaker 1: most Cowboys fans that they didn't get JC Horner, Patrick Surtan. Oh, 98 00:05:27,040 --> 00:05:29,479 Speaker 1: guess what they got a guy who's in the running 99 00:05:29,480 --> 00:05:31,600 Speaker 1: for Defensive Player of the Year, right Now, I mean, 100 00:05:32,440 --> 00:05:35,000 Speaker 1: if I had to pick one thing that has single 101 00:05:35,040 --> 00:05:37,240 Speaker 1: handedly changed this team the most from last year this 102 00:05:37,520 --> 00:05:40,640 Speaker 1: other than Dak being healthy, it's that guy, which is amazing. 103 00:05:40,680 --> 00:05:42,599 Speaker 1: All Right. So the guy who's in charge of telling 104 00:05:42,680 --> 00:05:46,400 Speaker 1: da guy what to do, dan Quinn, I have to imagine. Yeah, 105 00:05:46,440 --> 00:05:48,840 Speaker 1: his presence on this team has been pretty impactful as well, 106 00:05:49,279 --> 00:05:54,800 Speaker 1: Rag Daddy Dan Sure, Yes, case in point, dan Quinn 107 00:05:55,360 --> 00:05:57,640 Speaker 1: was the voice that brought a lot of those guys here, 108 00:05:57,760 --> 00:06:00,400 Speaker 1: Like the free agent signings that you make, the decisions 109 00:06:00,400 --> 00:06:02,720 Speaker 1: that you make scouting defensive players in the draft. It's 110 00:06:02,720 --> 00:06:06,679 Speaker 1: not just Micah Calvin, Joseph OsO, Diggi Zooa, Chauncey Golston. 111 00:06:06,880 --> 00:06:09,080 Speaker 1: All those guys are making impact. And then there's the 112 00:06:09,120 --> 00:06:12,680 Speaker 1: scheme of it all. By the way, dan Quinn one 113 00:06:12,720 --> 00:06:14,920 Speaker 1: of the best hires the Cowboys have made in recent memory, 114 00:06:15,080 --> 00:06:17,000 Speaker 1: and Quinn the god. All right, So we're gonna break 115 00:06:17,040 --> 00:06:19,640 Speaker 1: down what is coming up next for this Cowboys team 116 00:06:19,640 --> 00:06:25,560 Speaker 1: with friend of the show, Danny's Rapp. This segment was 117 00:06:25,600 --> 00:06:28,680 Speaker 1: brought to you by the Dallas Morning News. Nobody does 118 00:06:28,720 --> 00:06:37,560 Speaker 1: sports like Sports Day, your home for complete Dallas Cowboys coverage. 119 00:06:39,080 --> 00:06:41,359 Speaker 1: This segment is brought to you by Academy Sports and 120 00:06:41,360 --> 00:06:48,320 Speaker 1: Outdoors Officials Sporting Goods retailer of the Dallas Cowboys. Across 121 00:06:48,800 --> 00:06:51,960 Speaker 1: literally more than a decade working in sports media. Our 122 00:06:52,040 --> 00:06:55,839 Speaker 1: next guest is one of my absolute favorite colleagues of 123 00:06:55,920 --> 00:06:58,600 Speaker 1: all time. I'm not even just saying that because she 124 00:06:58,640 --> 00:07:01,520 Speaker 1: can hear me right now. My partner in crime from 125 00:07:01,560 --> 00:07:05,279 Speaker 1: Dallas Cowboys dot Com now a team reporter with the 126 00:07:05,320 --> 00:07:11,000 Speaker 1: Arizona Cardinals, Danny Serek, Hi, friend, Hi, you were never 127 00:07:11,080 --> 00:07:12,800 Speaker 1: that nice to me in person when I was your 128 00:07:12,800 --> 00:07:15,440 Speaker 1: co workers, so it's nice to hear that you feel 129 00:07:15,440 --> 00:07:18,800 Speaker 1: that way about me. Thank you. That's a really good point. 130 00:07:18,880 --> 00:07:22,080 Speaker 1: But hey, in my defense, Kelsey knows this too. My 131 00:07:22,200 --> 00:07:25,560 Speaker 1: love language is being mean, So if I'm talking mean 132 00:07:25,600 --> 00:07:28,320 Speaker 1: to you, it means I really like you, which Danny, 133 00:07:28,520 --> 00:07:32,320 Speaker 1: in your first season with the Cardinals, Okay, not very 134 00:07:32,320 --> 00:07:35,120 Speaker 1: many teams are in as unique as spot as Arizona 135 00:07:35,200 --> 00:07:37,880 Speaker 1: right now, Like y'all have been the hottest team in 136 00:07:37,920 --> 00:07:40,920 Speaker 1: the NFL for most of the year on a three 137 00:07:40,960 --> 00:07:43,080 Speaker 1: game losing streak right now, so I'm sure there's some 138 00:07:43,120 --> 00:07:46,560 Speaker 1: concern there. But meanwhile, at the same time, you lock 139 00:07:46,640 --> 00:07:50,120 Speaker 1: up a playoff spot over the weekend despite losing to Indianapolis, 140 00:07:50,160 --> 00:07:52,920 Speaker 1: So a lot of reasons to be excited, maybe a 141 00:07:52,920 --> 00:07:55,840 Speaker 1: lot of reasons to be concerned. Just what's the overall 142 00:07:55,920 --> 00:08:00,320 Speaker 1: vibe out there right now. Yeah, it's kind of like 143 00:08:00,400 --> 00:08:02,520 Speaker 1: a combination of the two. This is the first time 144 00:08:02,560 --> 00:08:05,320 Speaker 1: the Cardinals have made the playoffs, it's twenty fifteen, so 145 00:08:05,360 --> 00:08:08,160 Speaker 1: there's definitely a lot of excitement behind that, knowing that 146 00:08:08,240 --> 00:08:10,840 Speaker 1: they've already secured a spot in the playoffs to play 147 00:08:10,880 --> 00:08:13,440 Speaker 1: for the Super Bowl. However, they wish that it would 148 00:08:13,440 --> 00:08:16,640 Speaker 1: have come maybe a little bit under different circumstances to 149 00:08:17,160 --> 00:08:19,320 Speaker 1: a little bit of that, because the Cardinals have had 150 00:08:19,360 --> 00:08:22,280 Speaker 1: the last three games with an opportunity to win and 151 00:08:22,360 --> 00:08:24,120 Speaker 1: clinch a spun on their own. However, they had to 152 00:08:24,120 --> 00:08:26,760 Speaker 1: get a little help from San Francisco in Minnesota this 153 00:08:26,840 --> 00:08:30,160 Speaker 1: past week. However, this team got to this point with 154 00:08:30,200 --> 00:08:32,560 Speaker 1: ten wins on their own, So it's not to say 155 00:08:32,559 --> 00:08:35,720 Speaker 1: that they haven't gotten into the playoffs because of anybody else. 156 00:08:35,720 --> 00:08:38,280 Speaker 1: They got into this position because of themselves. They just 157 00:08:38,320 --> 00:08:40,400 Speaker 1: had to get a little help to make it official. 158 00:08:40,440 --> 00:08:42,520 Speaker 1: And they aren't one of the most difficult divisions in 159 00:08:42,559 --> 00:08:45,680 Speaker 1: the NFC West, so that's something to consider as well. 160 00:08:46,240 --> 00:08:50,760 Speaker 1: The team, though, is not necessarily focused on playoffs quite yet, 161 00:08:50,840 --> 00:08:53,080 Speaker 1: because they know that you want to be playing your 162 00:08:53,120 --> 00:08:56,360 Speaker 1: best football in December and they just haven't been. They're 163 00:08:56,400 --> 00:08:59,600 Speaker 1: on that three game losing skid. They struggled playing at 164 00:08:59,679 --> 00:09:02,920 Speaker 1: home as of late. So they're working right now on 165 00:09:03,160 --> 00:09:07,000 Speaker 1: fixing those corrections so that these last two regular season 166 00:09:07,080 --> 00:09:10,080 Speaker 1: games they can kind of fix what hasn't been working 167 00:09:10,120 --> 00:09:12,200 Speaker 1: so well for this team and they can build some 168 00:09:12,320 --> 00:09:15,400 Speaker 1: momentum and go into the playoffs hot. Okay, so it 169 00:09:15,559 --> 00:09:19,400 Speaker 1: seems like after losing DeAndre Hopkins this team kind of 170 00:09:19,440 --> 00:09:22,280 Speaker 1: struggle a little bit. Obviously, that makes sense. They had 171 00:09:22,320 --> 00:09:24,600 Speaker 1: some injuries in the backfield, and so I want to 172 00:09:24,600 --> 00:09:27,400 Speaker 1: know from you, really, this Cowboy's defense has been hot, 173 00:09:27,480 --> 00:09:29,640 Speaker 1: that's not a new topic this season. But what are 174 00:09:29,679 --> 00:09:32,520 Speaker 1: they going to have to face with this Cardinals offense 175 00:09:32,520 --> 00:09:33,800 Speaker 1: and what are the weapons they're going to bring to 176 00:09:33,840 --> 00:09:39,560 Speaker 1: the field. I think Kyler Murray is so unique. I'm 177 00:09:39,600 --> 00:09:41,880 Speaker 1: not sure that this defense has faced a lot of 178 00:09:41,960 --> 00:09:45,040 Speaker 1: quarterbacks like him this season with the dual threat. Now, 179 00:09:45,120 --> 00:09:47,679 Speaker 1: he hasn't been running as much the season in the past, 180 00:09:47,720 --> 00:09:50,880 Speaker 1: and that's been on purpose. Trying to protect his legs, 181 00:09:50,920 --> 00:09:54,640 Speaker 1: protect his body, have him work more from the pocket. However, 182 00:09:54,760 --> 00:09:57,000 Speaker 1: against the Colts, he had a fifty seven yard run. 183 00:09:57,080 --> 00:09:59,280 Speaker 1: He ended up with like seventy four rushing yards, so 184 00:09:59,320 --> 00:10:02,840 Speaker 1: that's definitely still an option. Kyler statistically has been one 185 00:10:02,840 --> 00:10:05,480 Speaker 1: of the most accurate quarterbacks in the league, and that's 186 00:10:05,520 --> 00:10:08,439 Speaker 1: with missing three games in the middle of the season 187 00:10:08,480 --> 00:10:11,640 Speaker 1: with an ankle injury. So while this offense hasn't been hot, 188 00:10:11,920 --> 00:10:13,800 Speaker 1: they are still a good offense. I think they're just 189 00:10:13,920 --> 00:10:16,480 Speaker 1: figuring out ways to work around the fact that they 190 00:10:16,520 --> 00:10:19,800 Speaker 1: don't have DeAndre Hopkins outside anymore, because not only does 191 00:10:19,840 --> 00:10:23,200 Speaker 1: that affect the way defenses are lining up against those 192 00:10:23,200 --> 00:10:25,760 Speaker 1: wide receivers, some of those wide receivers are having to 193 00:10:25,800 --> 00:10:28,280 Speaker 1: shift around a little bit. Christian Kirk, who's been great 194 00:10:28,280 --> 00:10:31,120 Speaker 1: in the slot, is kind of having to adjust. Rondel 195 00:10:31,200 --> 00:10:33,640 Speaker 1: Moore missed the Christmas game against the Colts dealing with 196 00:10:33,679 --> 00:10:35,720 Speaker 1: an ankle injury, so we're waiting to see if he 197 00:10:35,760 --> 00:10:38,280 Speaker 1: will be back ahead of the Cowboys game. And also, 198 00:10:38,520 --> 00:10:41,760 Speaker 1: the running game obviously affects the way that you know 199 00:10:41,840 --> 00:10:44,559 Speaker 1: Kyler Murray's able to use his wide receivers as well. 200 00:10:45,480 --> 00:10:48,400 Speaker 1: Chase Edmonds, their number one running back was on ir 201 00:10:48,480 --> 00:10:51,160 Speaker 1: for three weeks, and James Conner really stepped up, proving 202 00:10:51,200 --> 00:10:53,560 Speaker 1: he could still be a number one running back like 203 00:10:53,679 --> 00:10:55,920 Speaker 1: he was in Pittsburgh and his ability not just be 204 00:10:55,960 --> 00:10:59,200 Speaker 1: a bulldozer, but to also be shifty and fast and 205 00:10:59,200 --> 00:11:02,880 Speaker 1: a reliable pass option for Kyler Murray. However, James Connor 206 00:11:02,960 --> 00:11:05,640 Speaker 1: missed the last game with a heel injury, so waiting 207 00:11:05,679 --> 00:11:08,280 Speaker 1: to see if he will be available Sunday against the 208 00:11:08,280 --> 00:11:10,679 Speaker 1: Cowboys as well. So they've just kind of been dealing 209 00:11:10,679 --> 00:11:13,320 Speaker 1: with injuries the offensive line. They've had a lot of 210 00:11:13,360 --> 00:11:16,880 Speaker 1: inconsistencies due to injuries. They've only had one starter, their 211 00:11:16,920 --> 00:11:19,280 Speaker 1: left tackle DJ Humphries is the only starter on the 212 00:11:19,280 --> 00:11:22,680 Speaker 1: offensive line who hasn't missed multiple games this season. So 213 00:11:22,880 --> 00:11:25,440 Speaker 1: it's just kind of figuring out, how are players going 214 00:11:25,520 --> 00:11:29,040 Speaker 1: to shuffle around? How can they find that chemistry and 215 00:11:29,200 --> 00:11:32,079 Speaker 1: able to connect with each other in ways that they 216 00:11:32,120 --> 00:11:34,520 Speaker 1: haven't really had to do so far this season up 217 00:11:34,559 --> 00:11:38,560 Speaker 1: until this point. So, Danny, I've been looking forward to 218 00:11:38,559 --> 00:11:40,640 Speaker 1: asking you this one because you were my guy with 219 00:11:40,760 --> 00:11:44,720 Speaker 1: draft coverage for years. Here we talked about so many prospects, 220 00:11:44,720 --> 00:11:49,280 Speaker 1: so I feel like nobody talks about the Arizona defense. Meanwhile, 221 00:11:49,400 --> 00:11:52,800 Speaker 1: I'm over here being a draft nerd seeing they have 222 00:11:52,920 --> 00:11:55,760 Speaker 1: so many of my favorite players from the past few years, 223 00:11:55,760 --> 00:12:00,480 Speaker 1: whether it's Isaiah Simmons, Byron Murphy, my guy Buddha Baker 224 00:12:00,880 --> 00:12:04,160 Speaker 1: out there killing it. So what is give me an 225 00:12:04,160 --> 00:12:06,680 Speaker 1: impression of like the identity of this defense, because I 226 00:12:06,679 --> 00:12:09,480 Speaker 1: do feel like, considering how good the Cardinals are, it 227 00:12:09,600 --> 00:12:15,000 Speaker 1: is a very undersold part of who they are right now. Absolutely, 228 00:12:15,040 --> 00:12:18,840 Speaker 1: this defense has played very well, and I think the 229 00:12:18,960 --> 00:12:21,839 Speaker 1: run defense has gotten a lot of talk about being 230 00:12:21,880 --> 00:12:25,840 Speaker 1: the biggest weakness of this team consistently throughout the season. 231 00:12:25,920 --> 00:12:28,400 Speaker 1: That's because up until as of late, the rest of 232 00:12:28,400 --> 00:12:31,880 Speaker 1: this team had just been shining. And this defense is 233 00:12:31,920 --> 00:12:36,120 Speaker 1: filled with heavy, hard hitters like Bouda Baker, Isaiah Simmons, 234 00:12:36,160 --> 00:12:38,920 Speaker 1: who is pretty much like a unicorn the way that 235 00:12:39,000 --> 00:12:41,959 Speaker 1: he is built and able to play. He is tall 236 00:12:42,000 --> 00:12:44,720 Speaker 1: and he might seem lanky, but he is a great tackler. 237 00:12:44,800 --> 00:12:47,960 Speaker 1: His speed is out of this world. He is able 238 00:12:48,040 --> 00:12:51,520 Speaker 1: to go from coverage to then catch up with wide receivers. 239 00:12:52,000 --> 00:12:55,200 Speaker 1: So this defense has definitely held their own, especially for 240 00:12:55,280 --> 00:12:56,960 Speaker 1: a couple games in the middle of the season where 241 00:12:56,960 --> 00:12:59,679 Speaker 1: the offense wasn't putting up thirty plus points in game, 242 00:12:59,720 --> 00:13:02,320 Speaker 1: it was defense keeping them in that game. And I 243 00:13:02,320 --> 00:13:05,280 Speaker 1: actually think that the run defense has improved the last 244 00:13:05,320 --> 00:13:08,440 Speaker 1: couple of weeks. Their last game on Christmas against the Colts, 245 00:13:08,440 --> 00:13:11,360 Speaker 1: they faced running back Jonathan Taylor, who, if he weren't 246 00:13:11,360 --> 00:13:14,480 Speaker 1: a running back legitimately might be the MVP. That's just 247 00:13:14,559 --> 00:13:17,079 Speaker 1: not actually how it ends up panning out, but that's 248 00:13:17,120 --> 00:13:19,600 Speaker 1: the kind of season he's had, and the Cardinals did 249 00:13:19,600 --> 00:13:22,000 Speaker 1: a really good job of containing him. He only had 250 00:13:22,080 --> 00:13:25,719 Speaker 1: three explosive plays and on his other twenty one of 251 00:13:25,800 --> 00:13:29,040 Speaker 1: his twenty four carries, they were combined for just thirty 252 00:13:29,080 --> 00:13:32,480 Speaker 1: six yards. So this run defense, even without JJ Watt, 253 00:13:32,520 --> 00:13:35,719 Speaker 1: who was on ir with shoulder injury, this defense, the 254 00:13:35,800 --> 00:13:38,640 Speaker 1: front seven has found a way to improve these last 255 00:13:38,679 --> 00:13:41,480 Speaker 1: couple of weeks. It's just kind of been the secondary 256 00:13:41,480 --> 00:13:43,480 Speaker 1: that's been a little picked on, I think because of that, 257 00:13:43,559 --> 00:13:46,000 Speaker 1: And so that's kind of where ahead of this Cowboys matchup, 258 00:13:46,040 --> 00:13:48,880 Speaker 1: I'm looking for the biggest improvement on this defense is 259 00:13:48,880 --> 00:13:52,000 Speaker 1: in that secondary. It's unfortunate timing that two of their 260 00:13:52,000 --> 00:13:55,600 Speaker 1: top cornerbacks have now gotten hurt. Robert Alford is out 261 00:13:55,600 --> 00:13:57,839 Speaker 1: on ir so he has to miss the last two 262 00:13:57,920 --> 00:14:01,520 Speaker 1: regular seasons regular game of the season with a pack injury. 263 00:14:01,760 --> 00:14:05,079 Speaker 1: And rookie cornerback Margah Wilson, who's had a really good season, 264 00:14:05,400 --> 00:14:07,400 Speaker 1: injured his shoulder in the first half of the Colts 265 00:14:07,400 --> 00:14:09,400 Speaker 1: game and didn't come back. So we don't have any 266 00:14:09,400 --> 00:14:13,000 Speaker 1: word yet on how long term or serious that injury 267 00:14:13,040 --> 00:14:14,400 Speaker 1: might be if it's going to keep him out of 268 00:14:14,400 --> 00:14:16,760 Speaker 1: this matchup. But that's where I'm looking for this defense 269 00:14:16,800 --> 00:14:19,200 Speaker 1: to make. The biggest improvements from last week is in 270 00:14:19,240 --> 00:14:22,520 Speaker 1: that secondary, in that passing game, especially against a three 271 00:14:22,560 --> 00:14:26,480 Speaker 1: headed monster. So hey, they haven't been one recently, but 272 00:14:26,600 --> 00:14:29,440 Speaker 1: you never know. They look good. They look good on 273 00:14:29,440 --> 00:14:33,160 Speaker 1: Sunday against Washington, but who didn't Normally this is where 274 00:14:33,200 --> 00:14:36,000 Speaker 1: we would thank our guest for her time and wish 275 00:14:36,000 --> 00:14:38,440 Speaker 1: her well, But we like Danny so much we've got 276 00:14:38,480 --> 00:14:41,560 Speaker 1: her coming back to preview. The percentages of this matchup 277 00:14:41,600 --> 00:14:45,400 Speaker 1: stick with us. We'll be right back. This segment is 278 00:14:45,440 --> 00:14:48,840 Speaker 1: brought to you by Academy Sports and Outdoors Officials, Sporting 279 00:14:48,880 --> 00:14:59,000 Speaker 1: Goods retailer of the Dallas Cowboys. All Right, they say 280 00:14:59,080 --> 00:15:01,200 Speaker 1: the NFL at the game of inches, but it's also 281 00:15:01,240 --> 00:15:03,440 Speaker 1: a game of percentages, and we are going to play 282 00:15:03,800 --> 00:15:07,280 Speaker 1: just that today. So I'm gonna get Danny and Dave's 283 00:15:07,280 --> 00:15:10,360 Speaker 1: opinions on the following scenarios and their likelihood. If you will, 284 00:15:10,560 --> 00:15:13,960 Speaker 1: there's one chance that I beat Danny in fantasy football 285 00:15:14,000 --> 00:15:19,120 Speaker 1: this weekend, just so you know, Oh, get over it, 286 00:15:19,440 --> 00:15:23,560 Speaker 1: get over it all. Okay, let's start with the first one. 287 00:15:24,080 --> 00:15:27,160 Speaker 1: What are the percentages that Dak has more passing yards 288 00:15:27,320 --> 00:15:33,920 Speaker 1: than Kyler this weekend. I'm gonna say seventy five percent 289 00:15:34,200 --> 00:15:37,760 Speaker 1: because Kyler's ability to scramble worries me, and I think 290 00:15:37,800 --> 00:15:39,640 Speaker 1: you can create a lot of big plays that way. 291 00:15:39,680 --> 00:15:42,800 Speaker 1: But we just saw Dak in this passing offense open 292 00:15:42,880 --> 00:15:46,120 Speaker 1: things up last weekend. Kyler doesn't have DeAndre Hopkins. I 293 00:15:46,160 --> 00:15:51,480 Speaker 1: feel good saying Dak. This sounds hard because the Cardinals 294 00:15:51,560 --> 00:15:55,000 Speaker 1: offense has put up more total yards in their last 295 00:15:55,280 --> 00:15:57,640 Speaker 1: than their last three opponents, so it's not like they're 296 00:15:57,640 --> 00:16:00,360 Speaker 1: not moving the chains. Um. Not only do they not 297 00:16:00,400 --> 00:16:02,960 Speaker 1: have DeAndre Hopkins, I'm just kind of expecting more of 298 00:16:03,000 --> 00:16:05,320 Speaker 1: a run game. If we can assume that James Connor 299 00:16:05,400 --> 00:16:07,720 Speaker 1: comes back as a one two punch with Chase Edmond. 300 00:16:07,800 --> 00:16:11,200 Speaker 1: So I'm actually going to make it a little higher. 301 00:16:11,440 --> 00:16:14,160 Speaker 1: Dak's the one having more passing yards. Yeah, I'm gonna 302 00:16:14,160 --> 00:16:16,480 Speaker 1: say that's like eighty eighty five percent. I think he's 303 00:16:16,480 --> 00:16:19,320 Speaker 1: going to have more passing yards than Kyler Murray. All right, Okay, 304 00:16:19,320 --> 00:16:22,360 Speaker 1: So falling up next, then, how about the likelihood that 305 00:16:22,600 --> 00:16:25,800 Speaker 1: these two face each other in the playoffs. We know 306 00:16:25,840 --> 00:16:27,960 Speaker 1: Arizona has already locked up their spot. How are you 307 00:16:27,960 --> 00:16:31,120 Speaker 1: feel about that day, Oh, that's a good question, and 308 00:16:31,160 --> 00:16:34,440 Speaker 1: I think I mean that would involve the Cowboys. Probably. 309 00:16:35,160 --> 00:16:37,880 Speaker 1: The way that that happens is if the Cowboys finished 310 00:16:37,920 --> 00:16:41,160 Speaker 1: fourth and if the Cardinals finish as the first wild card. 311 00:16:41,560 --> 00:16:43,800 Speaker 1: I know, some stuff's got to happen to put Arizona 312 00:16:43,800 --> 00:16:46,960 Speaker 1: back in the division lead. Obviously, the Cowboys would have 313 00:16:47,000 --> 00:16:50,960 Speaker 1: to win out to be higher than four. Probably, it 314 00:16:50,960 --> 00:16:53,280 Speaker 1: just feels like there's a lot of moving parts. For 315 00:16:53,360 --> 00:16:56,240 Speaker 1: one reason or another. I think I'm saying like fifteen 316 00:16:56,280 --> 00:16:58,480 Speaker 1: percent chance. It just doesn't seem like a likely first 317 00:16:58,560 --> 00:17:02,600 Speaker 1: round matchup at this point. Okay, Yeah, the Cardinals can 318 00:17:02,640 --> 00:17:05,240 Speaker 1: still clinch the division if they went out and the 319 00:17:05,400 --> 00:17:08,040 Speaker 1: Rams lose at least one of their games. But then 320 00:17:08,080 --> 00:17:10,600 Speaker 1: you're also having to rely on the Cowboys and Tampa 321 00:17:10,640 --> 00:17:13,160 Speaker 1: and all these other moving parts. And as fun as 322 00:17:13,200 --> 00:17:15,360 Speaker 1: that would be for me personally to get to see 323 00:17:15,359 --> 00:17:18,639 Speaker 1: you guys for a second game this season, yeah, I 324 00:17:18,680 --> 00:17:20,240 Speaker 1: think this is I'm gonna go even lower. I must 325 00:17:20,240 --> 00:17:23,080 Speaker 1: say ten percent champs. Okay, so let's down the playoff 326 00:17:23,080 --> 00:17:25,639 Speaker 1: talk for a minute. So how about the likelihood percentage 327 00:17:25,640 --> 00:17:28,560 Speaker 1: wise that someone other than Tampa or green Bay wins 328 00:17:28,560 --> 00:17:33,520 Speaker 1: the NFC? Dave, I'm putting at it, like, wait, wins 329 00:17:33,560 --> 00:17:35,520 Speaker 1: the NFC? Or is the number one seed? I want 330 00:17:35,520 --> 00:17:39,840 Speaker 1: to be clear, wins it? Yes? Oh, I'm gonna say 331 00:17:39,880 --> 00:17:44,240 Speaker 1: at least forty percent. Like the NFC is jumbled right now, 332 00:17:44,280 --> 00:17:47,640 Speaker 1: Like you can't sit there and tell me that one 333 00:17:47,760 --> 00:17:50,480 Speaker 1: team is definitively that much better. Like, yeah, green Bay's 334 00:17:50,520 --> 00:17:53,520 Speaker 1: got a better record than everybody. They've got some losses 335 00:17:53,560 --> 00:17:56,440 Speaker 1: on their schedule. They played a very very close game 336 00:17:56,480 --> 00:17:58,880 Speaker 1: against Arizona earlier this year. How about Tampa just got 337 00:17:58,880 --> 00:18:01,800 Speaker 1: shut out by the Saints by no means? Do I 338 00:18:01,840 --> 00:18:03,720 Speaker 1: think that those two teams are a runaway and that's 339 00:18:03,720 --> 00:18:07,320 Speaker 1: what makes this fun. It's like Arizona could absolutely put 340 00:18:07,320 --> 00:18:09,920 Speaker 1: together a run regardless of where they finish. I'll take 341 00:18:09,960 --> 00:18:13,920 Speaker 1: the Cowboys again. It's just about anybody. I'm no less 342 00:18:13,920 --> 00:18:18,600 Speaker 1: than forty I say, thirty five percent. Okay, Danny, Well, 343 00:18:18,640 --> 00:18:21,320 Speaker 1: you also aren't accounting for the Los Angeles Rims, so 344 00:18:21,359 --> 00:18:23,760 Speaker 1: I'm gonna go. I'll give them a twenty five percent 345 00:18:23,840 --> 00:18:26,920 Speaker 1: chance on this one, Okay. All right. So here's something 346 00:18:26,960 --> 00:18:29,280 Speaker 1: that's been top of a conversation this season, the thought 347 00:18:29,359 --> 00:18:32,960 Speaker 1: of losing one of these coordinators, specifically Dan Quinn and 348 00:18:33,040 --> 00:18:35,800 Speaker 1: Kellen Moore. Jacksonville has already requested to speak to both 349 00:18:35,840 --> 00:18:39,919 Speaker 1: of them. What's a likelihood did they actually return? That 350 00:18:40,000 --> 00:18:44,880 Speaker 1: they return? I put it at they just these are 351 00:18:44,920 --> 00:18:46,880 Speaker 1: great jobs, These are smart guys. I think it would 352 00:18:46,920 --> 00:18:49,560 Speaker 1: take the right opportunity. I don't think it's a guarantee 353 00:18:49,560 --> 00:18:54,440 Speaker 1: that they're gone for both. You're asking if like both 354 00:18:54,480 --> 00:18:56,560 Speaker 1: of them, not just one of the individually. One of 355 00:18:56,560 --> 00:19:03,159 Speaker 1: them's fine? Oh yeah, I look, I be honest, right, Like, 356 00:19:03,200 --> 00:19:05,640 Speaker 1: I haven't covered this team for most of the season now, 357 00:19:05,680 --> 00:19:07,679 Speaker 1: so I'm obviously not in the know as much as 358 00:19:07,680 --> 00:19:10,960 Speaker 1: the two of you guys are. Kellamore has turned down 359 00:19:11,000 --> 00:19:13,879 Speaker 1: plenty of other opportunities to stay with the Cowboys, so 360 00:19:13,920 --> 00:19:16,520 Speaker 1: I feel that's a little more secure. Un lots of 361 00:19:16,520 --> 00:19:19,119 Speaker 1: it is the perfect opportunity. But Dan point has been 362 00:19:19,160 --> 00:19:21,240 Speaker 1: a head coach, and even though he said since he 363 00:19:21,280 --> 00:19:23,680 Speaker 1: was hired as defensive coordinator he wants to be where 364 00:19:23,680 --> 00:19:27,400 Speaker 1: his feet are, that's a pretty tempting after offer, especially 365 00:19:27,440 --> 00:19:29,960 Speaker 1: for somebody who's already been in that situation. So I 366 00:19:29,960 --> 00:19:32,800 Speaker 1: would see that it's more likely that Dan Quinn the 367 00:19:32,920 --> 00:19:35,239 Speaker 1: very least does not return to the Cowboys. Okay, this 368 00:19:35,320 --> 00:19:37,080 Speaker 1: last one, it's a personal quest by you day, so 369 00:19:37,119 --> 00:19:39,119 Speaker 1: I'm gonna go ahead and toss it to first. What 370 00:19:39,280 --> 00:19:42,399 Speaker 1: do you think the percentage is that David Hellman rubs 371 00:19:42,400 --> 00:19:48,200 Speaker 1: his eyebrows off before the age of fifty one hundred percent? 372 00:19:48,400 --> 00:19:53,320 Speaker 1: It is a guarantee there it is. Oh, I've missed that, Dave. 373 00:19:54,880 --> 00:19:57,560 Speaker 1: Sad thing is like I like when we've been cutting 374 00:19:57,560 --> 00:19:59,600 Speaker 1: to Danny this whole time, Like that's how I passed 375 00:19:59,600 --> 00:20:02,560 Speaker 1: the time. Look, I wish, I wish I could do 376 00:20:02,600 --> 00:20:07,080 Speaker 1: something about it. I'm sorry, but I appreciate you highlighting 377 00:20:07,119 --> 00:20:10,200 Speaker 1: that for me. Thank you, Danny. Can't wait to see 378 00:20:10,200 --> 00:20:14,000 Speaker 1: you this weekend. In the meantime, when we get back 379 00:20:14,040 --> 00:20:16,600 Speaker 1: from break we're going to talk New Year's resolutions. Maybe 380 00:20:16,600 --> 00:20:19,520 Speaker 1: I can resolve to stop rubbing my eyebrow. Probably not. 381 00:20:19,600 --> 00:20:31,440 Speaker 1: This Cowboys Star at Night was brought to you by 382 00:20:32,000 --> 00:20:36,000 Speaker 1: Academy Sports and Outdoors, the Officials Sporting Goods retailer of 383 00:20:36,080 --> 00:20:41,840 Speaker 1: the Dallas Cowboys at and T, and by NFL Game Pass. 384 00:20:42,080 --> 00:20:45,679 Speaker 1: You'll never miss a game again. Enjoy full and condensed 385 00:20:45,760 --> 00:20:51,480 Speaker 1: game replays from Week one to the Super Bowl. All right, David, 386 00:20:51,520 --> 00:20:54,720 Speaker 1: So this is officially the last show of this year, 387 00:20:54,960 --> 00:20:57,800 Speaker 1: so I need to get your thoughts on any resolutions 388 00:20:57,840 --> 00:21:00,200 Speaker 1: that you have for twenty twenty two for this Hose 389 00:21:00,320 --> 00:21:04,160 Speaker 1: Cowboys team. Here's the thing, Kelse Time is a construct 390 00:21:04,359 --> 00:21:08,920 Speaker 1: fabricated by society to make us feel better about how 391 00:21:09,080 --> 00:21:13,440 Speaker 1: terrifying the universe is. So there's no difference between January 392 00:21:13,480 --> 00:21:16,879 Speaker 1: first and December thirty first. Just keep going, just do 393 00:21:16,960 --> 00:21:20,200 Speaker 1: all do all the good stuff, keep keep forcing the takeaways, 394 00:21:20,280 --> 00:21:22,639 Speaker 1: keep playing good on offense, and has nothing to do 395 00:21:22,760 --> 00:21:24,720 Speaker 1: with the time of year. If you want to start 396 00:21:24,760 --> 00:21:27,680 Speaker 1: reading more books or exercise more, just do it now.