Locked On Cowboys Podcast

Episode: TANK: Why the Dallas Cowboys Should EMBRACE Losing in Week 18 for Draft Value and Long-Term Success!

Date: December 30, 2025
Hosts: Marcus Mosher and Landon McCool

Episode Overview

In this episode, Marcus Mosher and Landon McCool make the case for why the Dallas Cowboys should strategically "embrace losing" in their upcoming Week 18 matchup. The central argument is that, with playoffs out of reach and draft position on the line, the Cowboys’ best route to long-term success is to avoid risking key player injuries and to maximize their draft capital. The hosts differentiate between "tanking" and simply prioritizing future value, discussing the nuances of NFL roster management at the close of a lost season. They break down the potential draft implications, examine how the team can subtly shift priorities, and offer a blueprint for handling the season finale in a way that balances organizational goals and player interests.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Defining "Tanking" in the NFL Context

• Not the NBA Model:
  Landon clarifies (02:24) they are not advocating for blatant, NBA-style tanking, nor do they believe it happens the same way in the NFL. Instead, the focus is on smart player management and pulling back on full-tilt competitiveness in a meaningless game.

  “We do not believe that the NFL fully tanks the way that we've seen some NBA teams do. We believe it's done...properly done, but not specifically, you know, intentionally trying to lose.” (02:24 - Landon McCool)

• Front Office vs. Players:
  Players continue playing hard due to their nature and contractual incentives, but management and coaches must take the long view for team success. (06:09)

  “This is a coaching and front office decision, not a player decision.” (06:00 - Marcus Mosher)

2. Why Lose Week 18? Long-term Value Over Meaningless Wins

• No Stakes in Standings:
  The game against the Giants offers "nothing to gain from the standings outside of going 8-8-1" (01:40). An extra win doesn’t change playoff status or bring notable achievements.

  “Is anybody really going to care if Brian Schottenheimer goes 8-8-1 versus 7-9-1? I don’t think so. They didn’t make the playoffs and that was ultimately one of the bigger goals.” (04:23 - Marcus Mosher)

• Avoid Injury on Dangerous Turf:
  Playing at MetLife Stadium, described as “arguably the worst field in the NFL,” raises injury risk with little upside. (04:10)
• Player Health and Incentives:
  Players chasing statistical or contract incentives can be managed (e.g., reached, then pulled from play), as other organizations have done. (07:03)

  “Seen other organizations, they'll pull a guy off the field, but they'll give him whatever incentive he was trying to get...Make sure he doesn't get hurt.” (07:03 - Marcus Mosher)

3. Draft Implications: How Much Does One Loss Help?

• Draft Position Delta:
  Winning bumps Dallas to pick 17 or 18, but a loss raises them to pick 12—a significant jump for roster building. (11:00)

  “If they were to win...the Cowboys would draft at 17 or 18...But if they were to lose, you climb all the way up to 12 and the difference between 12 and 18 is pretty drastic.” (11:43 - Marcus Mosher)

• Caliber of Prospects
  Landon explains that, in this draft class, being higher lets Dallas “get potentially the best player at their position”—especially valuable on defense where blue-chip prospects are scarce. (12:14)

  “At 12 you still have an opportunity to get potentially the best player at their position in the draft.” (12:50 - Landon McCool)

• Historical Examples:
  Marcus details recent Cowboys drafts (e.g., trading back in 2021 to land Micah Parsons at 12) and the difference in talent quality between pick 12 and pick 18. (15:05)

  “There is a big difference in the caliber of player you’re going to get...with value, the difference between pick 12 and like 18...is the equivalent to a second round pick.” (16:32, 17:04 - Marcus Mosher)

4. How to "Tank" Without Embarrassment: The Proper Approach

• Serving Multiple Masters:
  Coaches must balance: injury prevention for stars, meeting player contract goals, development time for young players, and not alienating the locker room. (21:40)

  “You’re trying to make sure that you have players like veteran players that are in contract situations that they get their needs… then younger players… It really becomes about when is the quarterback in the game.” (21:40 - Landon McCool)

• Staggered Starters:
  The solution: Treat the week as normal, start usual lineups, and systematically pull frontline players after a series, a quarter, or once they hit individual milestones. (24:19)

  “You play the game like Dak Prescott got injured after the first quarter and just simply pull him out.” (25:17 - Landon McCool)

• Snap Count Management:
  Monitor and reduce reps for key contributors, especially those with nagging injuries or at-risk position groups. (25:55)

  “There’s no reason for them to see their usual amount of snaps.” (27:10 - Marcus Mosher)

• Shortening the Game:
  Lean on the run game and backups to accelerate the clock and limit injury risk, even at the expense of exciting football. (27:54)

  “Shorten the game as much as we can…by running the football.” (28:27 - Landon McCool)

5. Memorable Quotes and Notable Moments

• Eliminating Risk vs. Chasing Meaningless Wins:

  “How much is one win worth it at the end of a season? We’ll find out.” (18:46 - Marcus Mosher)

• Player Mentality vs. Organizational Reality:

  “If they are healthy, these guys want to play. There’s the player side of this that we can all argue against, but they are going to feel the way they feel, because they’re driven the way that they’re driven.” (24:19 - Landon McCool)

• Draft Value as a “Free” Resource:

  “You’re not trading anything for it. You’re literally getting it just by not winning this game.” (18:54 - Landon McCool)

Key Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment / Topic | |------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:40 | Overview: Why Cowboys should “tank” Week 18 | | 02:24 | Tanking in NFL vs. NBA, foundation for the argument | | 04:10 | Injury risk at MetLife field | | 06:00 | Players’ mentality vs. front office priorities | | 07:03 | How other teams handle incentives and rest strategically | | 11:00 | Draft implications, pick range if win/loss | | 12:14 | Draft “tiers”: talent and draft value differences | | 15:05 | Historical context: Cowboys picks and prospects at 12 vs. 18 | | 17:22 | The need for more elite talent, historical safety picks | | 21:40 | Balancing incentives, injury avoidance, and proper “tank” mechanics | | 24:19 | Proposed plan: Start stars, reduce reps, satisfy player and org goals | | 25:55 | Snap count management: player-by-player breakdown | | 27:54 | Adjusted game plan—run focus, boring but safe, shortens the contest | | 29:04 | Final recap: Expect heavy caution, not the usual starting lineup |

Summary Table: Proposed Week 18 Management

| Group/Player | Approach | Reason | |----------------------|------------------------------------|------------------------------| | Starters (e.g. Dak) | Start, play brief stint, then sit | Avoid injury, satisfy routine| | Key injured players | Sharply limited or no snaps | Nagging injuries, risk aversion| | Players with incentives | Play until milestone, then sit | Locker room harmony, morale | | Young backups | Elevated playing time | Development, evaluation | | Overall strategy | Run-heavy, clock control | Shorten game, fewer risks |

Closing

The episode delivers a thorough, pragmatic breakdown of “tanking” in today’s NFL, especially as it applies to a high-profile, out-of-contention team like the Cowboys. More than just advocating loss, Locked On Cowboys lays out the rationale, intricacies, and ethical boundaries of prioritizing future value—including examples from league history, schematic tweaks, and the psychology of NFL locker rooms.

For Cowboys fans weighing a futile Week 18 win versus a brighter tomorrows, this episode offers both the logic and the language to understand why embracing short-term pain will likely yield long-term gain.