Talkin’ Cowboys: “No Bear Minimum” — September 19, 2025
Overview
This lively episode of "Talkin’ Cowboys" dives deep into the Dallas Cowboys’ upcoming matchup against the Chicago Bears in Week 3 of the NFL season. Broadcast from the Star in Frisco, TX, Kyle Yeomans, Isaiah Stanback, Patrick “No C” Walker, Josh Rodriguez, and producer Chris Beam break down roster decisions, analyze X-factors, debate injury impacts, and engage in their signature “Say It With Your Chest” bold predictions. The crew’s chemistry—full of playful ribbing, debates, and insightful football analysis—shines as they preview roster battles, the debut of Jadeveon Clowney, and hand out their Week 3 NFL picks.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Jadeveon Clowney’s Cowboys Debut (02:50–11:00)
- Topic: How many snaps will Clowney play? Who loses a roster spot?
- Debate: Panel projects 15–20 snaps for Clowney, primarily in pass-rush situations but recognizing his run defense value.
- Roster Mechanics: With Clowney active, who becomes inactive on game day? Is it a defensive lineman or someone else?
- Patrick: Suggests Dante Fowler Jr. could sit: “He’s off to a slow start... Maybe you make Dante inactive this week.” (06:26)
- Isaiah: Floats sitting a recent high draft pick (“Let the boy watch”), causing debate over developmental strategy.
- Kyle: Advocates making an offensive lineman inactive instead, maintaining edge rusher depth: “You have seven O-linemen, you’ll be fine, two in reserve.” (09:04)
- Memorable Moment: The phrase “Let the boy watch” becomes a running joke after Isaiah suggests benching a rookie edge for a week.
2. Offensive & Defensive X-Factors (22:39–38:29)
- Segment: “Say It With Your Chest Friday” theme song premiered.
- Hosts’ Picks:
- Josh: Jake Ferguson (TE) having a breakout game: “100 yards for one Jake Ferguson and his first touchdown of the year.” (24:57)
- Isaiah: Javonte Williams to go off: “102 yards, two touchdowns.” (25:41)
- Patrick: George Pickens predicted for “his first 100-yard game with two tuddies.” (26:13)
- Kyle: Brock Hoffman will allow “zero pressures, not even a single hurry.”
- Defensive X-Factors:
- Josh: Sam Williams — “Give me two sacks. Two sacks for Sam Williams.” (33:59)
- Patrick: Jadeveon Clowney — expects a sack in his Cowboys debut: “I think Jadeveon Clowney impacts this game. He gets his first sack in a Cowboys uniform.” (34:47)
- Isaiah: Marist Liufau — “If there’s ever a week to have somebody keep an eye on a quarterback, this is the week... Marist is that guy.” (35:08)
- Kyle: Kaiir Elam bounces back: “I think Kaiir Elam has a pick in this game.” (36:58)
- Leadership Talk: Who is the Cowboys’ emotional defensive leader?
- Lively debate over whether the team lacks a clear leader due to injuries and rotation; Patrick lists Osa Odighizuwa, Solomon Thomas, and Kenny Clark as emotional pillars (29:30–31:10).
3. Injury Updates (12:08–18:13, 16:33–17:37)
- Cowboys:
- DaRon Bland: Did not practice; expected to return the following week.
- Trayvon Diggs: Full participant after illness.
- Tyler Guyton: No concern, full participant.
- KaVontae Turpin: Full participant, expects to play (“At this point, I’m playing.” — Turpin, 13:10).
- Bears:
- CB Jaylon Johnson: Out with groin injury.
- LB T.J. Edwards & Demarco Jackson: Both DNP; linebacker depth hurt.
- DT Grady Jarrett: Trending to play despite earlier injury.
4. Locker Room Mentality & Social Media Discourse (37:02–39:17)
- Isaiah’s Story: Relates son’s soccer experience to Cowboys’ secondary criticism—if the criticism is true, don’t be mad—fix it. “Don’t say nothing. Go put the work in and fix it. You don’t like the results, fix the results.” (38:09)
- Advice to Cowboys’ DBs (Diggs, Elam): “Stop talking. Go put the results on film and shut everybody up.” (38:25)
5. NFL Week 3 Pick ‘Em & Score Predictions (43:35–56:10)
- Standings Recap: Josh and Isaiah top the panel; Patrick recaps a rough previous week.
- Notable Picks:
- Most panelists take the Steelers over the Patriots, Ravens over Lions, and Chargers over Broncos; splits arise with Vikings/Bengals and Texans/Jaguars games.
- Cowboys vs. Bears Score Predictions:
- Brian (caller): 34–20 Cowboys. “Rain Dakota Prescott to Pickens and CeeDee Lamb all day, baby.” (53:11)
- Patrick: 40–27 Cowboys — predicts a slow start containing Caleb Williams, but offense takes over (54:18).
- Isaiah: 31–17 Cowboys.
- Josh: 31–20 Cowboys. (“Cowboys nation, I hope your team wins because it is going to be Cowboys 31, Bears 20.” (55:09))
- Kyle: 31–21 Cowboys — “Do the Cowboys have an advantage at the quarterback position?” etc. (55:19).
- Fun Moment: Kyle riffs the “Yeah!” locker room celebration sound bite.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- Isaiah (on competition & Clowney’s impact): “Everybody wants a fair opportunity to compete, mano e mano. And when you have guys that are threatening like that, now Eberflus can get in his bag.” (04:11)
- Patrick (on benching veterans): “What’s the expiration on the milk?” (on Dante Fowler Jr.’s time as an active contributor, 07:51)
- Isaiah (motivational for DBs): “Trayvon Diggs, stop talking. Kyre Elam, stop talking. Go put the results on film and shut everybody up.” (38:25)
- Josh (on Ferguson’s chemistry with Dak): “His chemistry is unmatched with Dak Prescott, that seam throw. I think they’re gonna get it down this week, man.” (25:10)
- On locker room emotion: “You don’t want an entire defense or entire side of the ball to be looking around trying to figure out who’s going to make the play.” — Isaiah (31:43)
- On social media distractions: “Get off IG, get off social. Don’t talk, just go do it.” — Isaiah (38:42)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- Clowney’s debut, roster debate: 02:50–11:15
- Injury report: 12:08–14:51; Bears update at 16:33–17:37
- “Say It With Your Chest” / X-Factor picks: 22:39–38:29
- Leadership & emotional heartbeat discussion: 29:23–32:51
- Isaiah’s life lesson/social media talk: 37:02–39:17
- Pick ’Em segment: 43:35–55:09
- Cowboys-Bears picks and rationale: 53:11–56:10
Style & Tone Recap
- High-energy, playful, and debate-heavy, with hosts blending football insight and comedic jabs.
- Frequent “Say It With Your Chest” machismo and boasts—matched by self-deprecating humor (“Let the boy watch,” “chaos grenade”).
- Focused on real football analysis: game plan, injuries, internal competition, and leadership.
- Concludes by reaffirming Cowboys’ significant talent and predicting a bounce-back win in Chicago.
Summary:
This episode showcases the Cowboys media crew’s depth of knowledge and chemistry, blending sharp football talk with laugh-out-loud moments as they dissect roster moves, playmaker potential, and the team’s search for leadership. The consensus: Cowboys should overpower the Bears, but more importantly, the team needs players to step up—in the stat sheet, and as vocal leaders on defense.
