Talkin' Cowboys: All Eyes on Sunday Night

Episode Summary – September 26, 2025
Podcast: Talkin' Cowboys (Dallas Cowboys)
Hosts: Kyle Yeomans, Patrick "No C" Walker, Josh Rodriguez, Tommy Yarish

Episode Overview

This episode, airing ahead of the Cowboys’ Week 4 showdown with the Green Bay Packers, is charged with energy and anticipation. The crew gathers in Frisco for a spirited “Say It With Your Chest” Friday, focusing on Dallas’s precarious 1-2 record and the imposing test awaiting at AT&T Stadium. The panel covers the importance of this prime-time clash, provides key injury updates, debates defensive personnel moves, and delivers bold predictions and score picks for a pivotal game in the Cowboys' season.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Stage: Cowboys Facing Adversity

• Mood Check: Despite the rocky 1-2 start, the crew is fired up for a redemption opportunity on Sunday night.
• Energy in the Building: The crew emphasizes the need for a raucous AT&T Stadium atmosphere to fend off invading Packers fans, with calls to outdo even college “whiteout” games.
  • “I hope AT&T Stadium is an absolute madhouse on Sunday.” – Kyle (01:54)
• Rivalry Fun: Playful banter about Cheeseheads as the least favorite fan group and some college football trash talk keeps things lively.

2. Cowboys News & Notes (Injury Updates and Personnel)

• Key Injuries:
  • Tyler Booker and CeeDee Lamb missed Thursday practice, both expected out (Booker for an extended period).
    • “Tyler Booker is going to be a good bit longer. I expect that he'll be moved to IR at some point this week.” – Patrick (04:53)
• Good News:
  • DaRon Bland and Trevon Diggs both upgraded to full participants; expected to play together for the first time in a while.
    • “That combo pack is rarely seen together. So, hopefully...” – Patrick (05:55)
• Impact on Defense:
  • The crew feels that Bland and Diggs together could help contain a dangerous Packers offense led by Jordan Love.
• Personnel Debates:
  • Discussion centers on whether to keep struggling CB Kair Elam outside or move Ready Stewart to nickel, with Patrick advocating for benching Elam in favor of the more physical Stewart, especially with the deep-ball threat posed by Green Bay.
    • “I'm going to say it with my chest. Kyrie Elam is struggling.” – Patrick (08:47)
    • “Are you more comfortable with your struggles on the outside, or in the nickel?” – Patrick (08:24)

3. The Defensive Dilemma

• Elam vs. Stewart (Nickel and Boundary Play):
  • Patrick pushes for a shakeup in the secondary; Tommy counters that the lack of pass rush is making every DB look worse, and Elam should get another chance.
    • “If you can't get after quarterbacks in the NFL and they've got all day to throw... it doesn't matter who you have back there.” – Tommy (09:52)
• Coaching Philosophy:
  • The hosts dissect how coaches use media “coach-speak” to shield their players, especially those struggling like Jack Sanborn and Elam.
    • “They're always gonna say, oh, they're doing this well...” – Kyle (12:43)
    • “They do a really good job of building the wall... they know what they need to fix.” – Tommy (14:45)
• Calls for Personnel Changes:
  • Patrick urges: “You’re staring down the barrel of one and three. You've got to shake some things up.” (15:31)
  • Josh: “You have 53 guys. Use them.” (15:54)
• Front Seven Woes:
  • The lack of athleticism at linebacker and insufficient pass rush also blamed for defensive letdowns, especially versus mobile QBs.
    • “They don't have the athletic ability there to contain quarterbacks that are dual-threat. ... We've seen it against the Eagles, you saw it against Caleb Williams and now you have Jordan Love…” – Josh (16:30)

4. Keys for the Packers Matchup & X-Factors

Deep Ball & Defensive Vulnerabilities:

• Alarming Stat:
  • Cowboys have allowed 415 deep passing yards and five TDs on deep balls this year – the most by any team through three games since 2016.
    • “Cowboys defense allowed 415 yards, five touchdowns against deep passes this season, which is the most deep yards any defense has allowed through the first three weeks of a season in the next gen stats era…” – Kyle (26:54)
  • Kair Elam has allowed 257 receiving yards in coverage (most in NFL).
  • Jordan Love leads the league in deep passing yards (1,884 since 2023).

Individual X-Factors

• Josh: Identifies RB Javonte Williams (offense) and DE Jadeveon Clowney (defense) as X-Factors.
  • “I need to see over 100 yards for Javonte Williams and give me, I don't know, two TDs out of them.” (24:58)
  • “Give me Jadavian Clowney... just creating pressure. ... I need Jordan Love to be hearing that faint Phil Collins music…” (29:28)
• Tommy: Taps RT Terence Steele and the need for O-line reinforcement.
  • “If I'm Green Bay, I'm sending all my rushers to that... right side of the Cowboys offensive line.” (25:30)
• Kyle: Calls for Kair Elam to step up in coverage given the Cowboys’ deep-ball issues and Love’s proficiency.
• Patrick (by proxy): Names Kevontae Turpin as his X-Factor.

“Say It With Your Chest” Predictions

• Emphasis on Dallas controlling the ball and clock, attacking the vulnerable interior of the Packers' defensive line, and demanding more production from the front seven and secondary.

5. Pick ‘Em Segment & Score Predictions

• Fun competition against guest “Nebby Knows Ball” and even AI (ChatGPT went 6-0 on last week’s picks!).
  • “So now we're playing AI too. AI went 6-0 last week, we've gotta play against it.” – Kyle (37:03)

Picks for Cowboys vs Packers:

• Nebby (Fan): Packers 31-20
  • “I just do not trust our defense... I hope I'm 100% wrong.” (48:31)
• Josh: Cowboys 33-31
  • “My gut says the Dallas Cowboys will win this game... 33-31 in a tight game.” (49:32)
• Kyle: Packers 27-24 (Packers win on a late field goal)
• Tommy: Packers 35-10 (predicts a “complete and utter mismatch”)
  • “I think Green Bay is one of the best teams in the league. I think they have the best defense in the league...” (51:00)
• Patrick: Packers 37-24

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Cowboys fans needing to show up loud:
  “Don’t let them do that. I hope AT&T Stadium is an absolute mad house on Sunday.” – Kyle (01:54)

• About coaching speak:
  “They do a really good job of building the wall. ... they know what they need to fix. Now it's just a matter of, okay, do they have the horses to fix it?” – Tommy (14:45)

• Patrick on slumps:
  “I'm saying he's slumping...and you're staring one in three in the face...Let’s get to 2-2 and then let’s revisit and figure this thing out from there.” (11:08)

• On defensive vulnerability:
  “Cowboys defense allowed 415 yards, five touchdowns against deep passes this season, which is the most ... in the next gen stats era...” – Kyle (26:54)

• Clowney’s number:
  “Have we talked about 42 on this show yet? ... He's gonna do the Jackie Robinson baseball hit.” – Kyle (31:09, 31:39)

• On “Say It With Your Chest” Friday:
  “Say it with your chest, cowboy!” – Multiple, recurring segment theme

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Opening Rant/Energy on Packers Week: 01:56 – 03:56
• Injury Report & Defensive Changes: 04:53 – 09:35
• Debating the Secondary/Pass Rush: 09:35 – 16:30
• Coaching Strategy and Personnel: 12:43 – 15:54
• X-Factors & Stats of the Week: 24:23 – 32:17
• Picks Segment (Packers/Cowboys Game Discussion): 38:51 – 52:33
• Cowboys-Predictions & Closing Thoughts: 48:31 – 53:35

Episode Tone

• Passionate, lively, sometimes blunt—no sugarcoating Dallas’ struggles
• Supportive of the team but realistic about what Sunday night holds
• Fun and irreverent, especially in banter and fan engagement

Takeaway

This episode provided Cowboys fans with a comprehensive mix of optimism and realism. While some panelists held hope for a home-field upset, the consensus underscores just how much Dallas needs a spark—especially on defense—against a high-flying Packers attack. Personnel changes, a better pass rush, and a raucous stadium atmosphere are all seen as necessities, with several panelists predicting a loss if those don’t materialize. Expect a passionate performance from all involved, both in the stands and on the field.