Locked On Cowboys Podcast – Cowboys Squad Show

Post-Game Reaction: Cowboys’ Devastating Loss to Vikings (34-26)
December 15, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of the Cowboys Squad Show, part of the Locked On Cowboys podcast (hosted by Jeff Biggs and former Cowboys coach Glenn "Stretch" Smith), delivers a raw, in-depth breakdown of the Dallas Cowboys' crushing Sunday Night Football defeat to the Minnesota Vikings. With playoff hopes all but gone, Jeff and Coach Stretch dissect a game marked by missed opportunities, coaching questions, and a pervasive lack of urgency—on both sides of the ball. The discussion is candid, critical, and laced with the hosts’ trademark directness as they point out where it all went wrong for Dallas and look ahead to a bleak, uncertain future.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Playoff Picture & Immediate Reaction

• The loss effectively ends Cowboys’ playoff hopes.

  • “Good teams win in December. Unfortunately the Cowboys are 0-2.” – Jeff Biggs (01:13)
  • “Now below .500 I think we can write off these playoff hopes. It's officially over.” – Glenn Stretch Smith (01:26)

• Both hosts express surprise and frustration at an uninspired showing, particularly after a stinging loss to Detroit and a 10-day rest period.

2. Lack of Urgency and Regression

• The expected sense of desperation from Dallas wasn’t evident.
  • “Didn’t look like a football team that was playing with the desperation of knowing they needed to win out… There’s enough blame to go around.” – Coach Stretch (03:33)
• The team seems to be regressing, not improving.
  • “This team looks like to me like they're, they've digressed. They haven't improved. They've taken two steps back.” – Jeff (05:12)

3. Offensive Woes: Sputtering, Missed Chances, and Play Calling

• Dallas failed on third downs (2 for 12) and red zone conversions, settling for field goals and missing two.
  • “They were 2 for 12 on third downs. That's all, that's really all you need to know …and missed two field goals. What's the difference in turning the ball over twice there?” – Coach Stretch (06:06)
• The offense lacked imagination and urgency after a strong start, including a creative fake field goal.
  • “I hated the Cowboys’ final drive before halftime... no urgency, just kind of nonchalant, letting all this time burn off the clock. I couldn’t believe it.” – Jeff (10:40)
• Missed opportunities to involve George Pickens vertically; CeeDee Lamb shone but lacked sufficient support.
  • “They've got to get Pickens more involved with throwing the ball up to him... disappointed that they didn't at least, you know, play action, take a shot.” – Coach Stretch (11:55)

4. Defense: Blame, Leverage, & Coaching Critique

• The defense faltered again, giving up 34 points to a Vikings team led by rookie J.J. McCarthy.
  • “Tonight there was just really no pressure at all on McCarthy like we've seen. He got better and better as the game went on.” – Jeff (21:20)
• Continued issues with secondary leverage and lack of execution of fundamentals.
  • “Continuing to play with bad leverage in the secondary ... you're doing things in the 14th game of the season that should have been ended in the fourth day of OTAs. It's inexcusable.” – Coach Stretch (22:43)
• Harsh assessment of defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus and hints of likely coaching changes.
  • “I don't think Eber Fluss is going to be back next season... there is something wrong with the messenger, with the message and how the message is being received.” – Coach Stretch (22:43)
• Call to "throw the kitchen sink" and evaluate all young defensive personnel, as changes are needed for the future.
  • “It's time to let them all play, see what you've got and know what you've got out there.” – Coach Stretch (26:28)

5. Personnel & Roster Construction Issues

• Questions about fitting player strengths to the new staff's schemes.
  • “If you have players... who are man-to-man players, they're probably not going to adapt to zone coverage very well. The minute you start trying to shove your square peg in a round hole, it becomes a problem.” – Coach Stretch (29:24)

6. Injuries & Key Absences

• The loss of RB Javonte Williams (shoulder injury) was pivotal both as a runner and in pass protection.
  • “What really hurt him more than that was missing him from a protection standpoint. He is really, really good from a protection standpoint… when Davis was in, he got matched up on a linebacker and got absolutely run back.” – Coach Stretch (33:01)
• Without Williams, the offense was frequently on its heels, lacked a play-action threat, and the line was exposed.

7. Culture, Coaching, and Accountability

• Reflection on the wisdom of hiring a largely inexperienced coaching staff for a “win-now” roster.
  • “You had a Cowboys team, 2023 that went 12 and 5... they need to find a way to get the most out of this team, and it's kind of showing up right now.” – Jeff (27:35)

8. Player Effort: Dak, Pickens, and Public Critique

• Responding to Chris Collinsworth relating Dak’s comments that George Pickens was "not there" during the loss to Detroit.
  • “That was unusually rare to reveal something ... I'm not saying Dax said it in a mean spirited way, but he was basically saying, like, yeah, he's, if he's not there, if he's kind of checked out, then I'm gonna have to, to go to somebody else.” – Jeff (39:02)
• Coach Stretch urges for context, cautioning against questioning a receiver's effort given scheme and defensive focus.
  • “I think you start skating on real thin ice... when you start questioning the guy's effort... We've seen that it is important to him. Now would you like to see some consistency? Absolutely.” – Coach Stretch (42:50)

9. Looking Forward: Mindset and Evaluation

• Shift focus to evaluating young talent and closing out the season with professionalism.

  • “I'm for challenging the guys you got on your football team. You got a chance to come out here with a winning record ... Go finish better than that.” – Coach Stretch (49:12)

• Urgency for the front office: No draft misses, reset key positions, maximize remaining games for roster assessment.

  • “There is no room for error in the first three rounds of the draft because if you can't tell by now this football team needs defensive linemen, linebackers, safety, corners, then I don't know what you're looking at.” – Coach Stretch (53:52)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the loss and playoff hopes:

  • “It's officially over.” – Coach Stretch (01:26)

• On lack of effort and urgency:

  • “It didn't look like a football team that was playing with the desperation of knowing they needed to win out.” – Coach Stretch (03:33)

• On offensive failures:

  • “They were 2 for 12 on third downs and missed two field goals. What’s the difference in turning the ball over twice there?” – Coach Stretch (06:06)

• On defensive coaching:

  • “You're doing things in the 14th game of the season that should have been ended in the fourth day of OTAs. It's inexcusable.” – Coach Stretch (22:43)

• On roster evaluation:

  • “It's time to let them all play, see what you got and know what you got out there.” – Coach Stretch (26:28)

• On player effort and public critique:

  • “I think you start skating on real thin ice... when you start questioning the guy's effort and whether it’s important to him.” – Coach Stretch (42:50)

Key Timestamps

• 01:13 – “Good teams win in December. Unfortunately the Cowboys are 0-2.” – Jeff Biggs
• 03:33 – Coach Stretch disappointed by lack of desperation and accountability
• 06:06 – Analysis of miserable third down execution and red zone conversion issues
• 10:40 – Criticism of the offense's lack of urgency before halftime
• 11:55 – Lack of deep shots to Pickens and struggles without Williams
• 22:43 – Blistering critique of defensive coaching under Eberflus
• 26:28 – Call to evaluate young players, especially in the secondary
• 29:24 – The problem with not fitting coaching schemes to player strengths
• 33:01 – Impact of losing Javonte Williams and protection issues
• 39:02 – Dak’s comment on Pickens’ focus, national TV critique
• 42:50 – Coach Stretch's response on Pickens, effort, and coaching
• 49:12 – Mindset for final games: “Go finish better than that.”
• 53:52 – No room for error in the draft moving forward

Tone & Language

The hosts are blunt, emotional, and honest—reflecting both deep disappointment and professional knowledge. Coach Stretch maintains a coach’s analytical edge, while Jeff Biggs offers a fan’s incredulity and questions. The language is direct and, at times, cutting; blame is assigned frankly.

Takeaway

This Cowboys Squad Show unpacks the gravity of the Cowboys' late-season collapse, scrutinizes coaching decisions, and emphasizes the need for a critical reevaluation of both players and staff. The episode serves as a cathartic but incisive post-mortem as Dallas stares down another winter of what-ifs, urging fans to expect accountability and an unflinching new direction.

Listen for the unvarnished truth about the Cowboys’ current state—and reflections on what must change before next season starts.