Locked On Cowboys – Cowboys Squad Show: The Cowboys Get Set for Christmas Day in D.C. Against the Commanders

Podcast Date: December 24, 2025
Hosts: Marcus Mosher, Landon McCool, Glenn “Stretch” Smith, Jeff Biggs

Episode Overview

This special holiday edition of the Cowboys Squad Show on the Locked On Cowboys Podcast sets the stage for the Dallas Cowboys' Christmas Day matchup against the Washington Commanders. With the Cowboys officially eliminated from playoff contention and reeling from a three-game skid, the panel digs deep into the burning issues plaguing the team—especially on defense—assigns blame, discusses impending changes, and debates player management for the remaining games. Insight, frustration, and no shortage of candid analysis drive the discussion as fans seek hope and direction heading into the final weeks of the season.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Blame Pie: Cowboys’ Offensive and Defensive Woes

[03:59–06:13]

• The opening debate is centered on the Cowboys’ failure to score in the second half against the Chargers.
• Marcus Mosher: Acknowledges disappointment in the offense but credits Chargers’ strong defense. Points out that game flow and situational factors contributed to Dallas' late-game struggles.

  "When you have an offense with this much talent, anytime that you don't score a single point and a half, we should feel disappointed." – Marcus [04:45]

• Landon McCool: Draws a metaphor between his own distracted experience during the game and the Cowboys' tendency to lose focus. Credits the Chargers’ elite pass defense and emphasizes that the defense’s recurring mistakes are more concerning.

  "They feel very focused for a while and then their defense does something that's so incredibly stupid ... and they kind of lose focus and they lose direction." – Landon [04:49]

• Glenn Stretch Smith: Firmly places blame on the defense, stressing the need for fundamental improvement and highlighting defensive schematic failures.

Defensive Coordinator Matt Eberflus: The Writing on the Wall

[06:42–10:30]

• Speculation about DC Matt Eberflus’ future reaches a tipping point.
• Marcus Mosher: Predicts Eberflus is as good as gone, emphasizing misalignment between coach and roster.

  "I don't know of anything they do. I don't even think if they pitch two shutouts here over the next two weeks if that's going to save Matt Eberflus' job." – Marcus [08:15]

• Landon McCool: Calls the Cowboys’ defense “a two-prong problem”—talent shortages and coaching failures, especially in technique and adaptability.

  "They continue to play with bad technique, with incorrect technique and not get that corrected ... I don't know who else that would be on besides the coaches at a certain point." – Landon [08:37]

• Glenn and Landon agree that Eberflus has “rolled over and showed his belly” rather than fight for improvements.

Systemic Issues: Talent, Coaching, and Front Office Accountability

[10:30–16:43]

• Glenn Stretch Smith: Argues blame extends beyond coaching to personnel management, drafting, and the front office.

  "There are plenty of guys in that building that you can say, hey, somebody has to accept the responsibility of what has gone on with this defense." – Glenn [12:01]

• Debate ensues regarding whether having Micah Parsons would have truly fixed the defense; consensus is that the problems are deeper than one missing star.
• Marcus Mosher: Wants a defensive coordinator who is a "problem solver" rather than "an excuse giver," noting that other teams with less talent have found ways to remain competitive.

The Diggs Dilemma: Lack of Accountability and the Future

[24:34–32:10]

• The panel is surprised that Trayvon Diggs played Sunday, given prior tension and speculation about his tenure.
• Landon McCool: Critiques Diggs for deflecting blame after giving up a touchdown, highlighting a lack of buy-in and professionalism.

  "He just kind of said, cover two, cover two and shook his head. And I had a real problem with that ... It just shows a lack of willingness and... just throwing his hands up like, 'Ah, it's zone coverage, I can't do anything about zone coverage.' You're a professional cornerback, dude." – Landon [25:49]

• Marcus Mosher: Regrets likely end of Diggs’ Cowboys career due to cultural friction and lack of accountability.

  "There’s just a lack of accountability. ... This is the kind of rot that Brian Schottenheimer has been trying to get out of the building." – Marcus [27:11]

• Glenn Stretch Smith and Landon: Analyze the busted coverage in detail, agreeing that both individual execution and coaching technique were lacking.

To Play or Not to Play: Managing Starters in Meaningless Games

[32:10–47:41]

• With the Cowboys eliminated, the discussion shifts to whether starters, especially Dak Prescott, should play the final two games.
• Marcus Mosher: Notes pressures from being in a primetime Netflix game and league expectations that “the Cowboys are held to a different standard.”
• Landon McCool: Voices concern over notoriously bad field conditions in Washington and New York but predicts Cowboys will start games as normal and shift to backups as appropriate.

  "The worst thing that could happen is ... a late season injury that bleeds into all of next year." – Landon [37:40]

• Glenn Stretch Smith: Sees the remaining games as essential opportunities for true personnel evaluation, especially for the next coaching staff.

  "You have an opportunity here to put these guys into a football game and evaluate what you have." – Glenn [39:08]

• The panel generally agrees: Defensive rotation for evaluation is already happening; offense, and especially Dak, is a unique case due to risk factors and player preference.

Pro Bowl Announcements (and Critique), Contract Rumors, and Roster Chatter

[48:45–54:20]

• Five Cowboys made the Pro Bowl: Dak Prescott, Brandon Aubrey, Tyler Smith, Quinnen Williams, and George Pickens (notably, not CeeDee Lamb or Kenneth Murray).
• Tyler Smith’s contract contains an escalator if he plays significant snaps at left tackle (per Nick Eatman).

  "So those arguments about the, the value that they're, that they're saving by having them, that don't apply." – Landon [50:24]

• Marcus Mosher: Rants about how the Pro Bowl has lost all significance due to diluted voting and alternate selections.

  "Last year ... we had 18 pass rushers, edge rushers that ended up making the Pro Bowl. Kyle Van Noy is going to have more Pro Bowls than Charles Haley, and nobody thinks Kyle Van Noy is a better player. They've completely messed up the Pro Bowl, and it's ... sad to see." – Marcus [51:41]

• Rumors about George Pickens’ future surface, speculation over a franchise tag.

Culture and the Need for Clear Direction

[55:56–61:25]

• Jeff Biggs: Raises the issue of frustration and accountability—or a lack thereof—in the Cowboys’ culture.

  "I almost feel like there's not enough frustration or disappointment within the Cowboys building ... You lost three in a row. You didn't make the playoffs." – Jeff [56:32]

• Landon McCool: Points to the Micah Parsons trade as a signal the team had already punted on 2025, shifting the timetable and dampening urgency.

  "It's hard for me to get too high or too low about this season ... when you traded away potentially your best player four days before the season started." – Landon [56:41]

• Glenn Stretch Smith: Dampens expectations; this is a .500 team, with or without Parsons, suggesting broader problems with long-term roster construction.
• Marcus Mosher: Recalls that the team's only "big" wins were less meaningful, reinforcing the need for an honest self-assessment.
• Mike McCarthy/12-5 vs. current struggles comparison; consensus: the current Cowboys are not good and have accepted that reality.

Looking Ahead: Commanders Game, Rumors, and Final Takes

[61:53–62:57]

• The Cowboys face journeyman QB Josh Johnson and a struggling Commanders team.
• Panel predictions: Expect a “nice little win on Christmas” but not much long-term significance.

  "I expect the Cowboys to get a nice win. I think it's going to be a nice little treat for us on Christmas." – Marcus [61:53] "I love how Marcus puts it. 'A nice little win.' Like he's making a little stocking stuffer." – Glenn [62:43]

Notable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• "They feel very focused for a while and then their defense does something that's so incredibly stupid ... and they kind of lose focus and they lose direction." – Landon McCool [04:49]
• "I don't know of anything they do. I don't even think if they pitch two shutouts here over the next two weeks, if that's going to save Matt Eberflus' job." – Marcus Mosher [08:15]
• "They continue to play with bad technique, with incorrect technique and not get that corrected ... I don't know who else that would be on besides the coaches at a certain point." – Landon McCool [08:37]
• "There are plenty of guys in that building that you can say, hey, somebody has to accept the responsibility of what has gone on with this defense." – Glenn Stretch Smith [12:01]
• "There's just a lack of accountability. ... This is the kind of rot that Brian Schottenheimer has been trying to get out of the building." – Marcus Mosher [27:11]
• "You have an opportunity here to put these guys into a football game and evaluate what you have." – Glenn Stretch Smith [39:08]
• "Last year ... we had 18 pass rushers, edge rushers that ended up making the Pro Bowl. Kyle Van Noy is going to have more Pro Bowls than Charles Haley, and nobody thinks Kyle Van Noy is a better player. They've completely messed up the Pro bowl, and it's ... sad to see." – Marcus Mosher [51:41]
• "It's hard for me to get too high or too low about this season ... when you traded away potentially your best player four days before the season started." – Landon McCool [56:41]

Important Segment Timestamps

• [03:59–06:13] – Opening blame debate (offense vs. defense)
• [06:42–10:30] – Defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus discussion / speculation
• [10:30–16:43] – Systemic issues (talent, coaching, front office)
• [24:34–32:10] – Trayvon Diggs situation: play, accountability, and future
• [32:10–47:41] – Should Cowboys play their starters in meaningless games?
• [48:45–54:20] – Pro Bowl announcements and their significance
• [55:56–61:25] – Cowboys' culture and true expectations for the season
• [61:53–62:57] – Commanders game preview and lighthearted close

Tone & Takeaways

• The episode balances sharp criticism and weary humor, reflecting frustration with the Cowboys’ underachievement and cautious hope for the future.
• The recurring message: the problems are multifaceted—personnel mistakes, coaching malaise, schematic failures, and questionable priorities from the front office all contribute.
• Hope for next year hinges on a thorough “sanitizing” of the defensive side of the ball, a likely new coordinator, honest internal evaluation, and cultural reset.
• Fans should expect more rotation for defensive evaluation, steadfast starters on offense—at least while optics and league expectations loom.

For more analysis and daily Cowboys coverage, catch Marcus Mosher and Landon McCool on the Locked On Cowboys podcast throughout the holidays.