Talkin’ Cowboys: Sunday Night Stalemate
Podcast Summary
Episode Date: September 29, 2025
Hosts: Kyle Yeomans, Patrick No Cee Walker, Josh Rodriguez, Tommy Yarish, Chris Beam (producer)

Overview of the Episode

The Dallas Cowboys podcast crew gathers at The Star in Frisco to break down the wildest game of the Cowboys’ 2025 season so far: a 40-40 overtime tie with the Green Bay Packers. In a game that defied logic and NFL scoring history, the team examines how such a high-octane battle managed to end without a winner, the implications for the Cowboys, and the big questions around overtime rules, player execution, and what this all says about the season’s trajectory. The panel gets deep into the frustrations (and a few positives) in a tie that satisfies no one, setting up a classic "good, bad, and ugly" analysis.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

The Emotional Fallout and Surreal Nature of the Tie

• First Cowboys Tie in Memory: For most hosts, this was the first time experiencing an NFL tie outside of preseason. (03:00)
  • “First tie that I’ve experienced since a preseason game forever ago… What a weird night.” – Patrick No Cee Walker (02:49)
• Scoring Oddity: 40-40 was nearly a "Scorigami," the second-highest-scoring tie since 1964’s 43-43 affair. (03:18)
• No Satisfying Sentiment: The mood is stuck between disappointment and relief—“a stalemate Monday,” “mid Monday,” and a “monotone Monday.” (02:26–02:49)

Overtime Rules and the Meaninglessness of a Tie

Timestamps: 04:29 – 11:15

• Strong Critique of Ties:
  • “NFL, you are a professional league. And this is not soccer… Winner or loser is what we need, damn it. Make football great again.” – Josh Rodriguez (04:30)
  • “The only thing I can say for certain… is that the NFL should change its overtime rules and officially take ties out of football.” – Kyle Yeomans (05:03)
• Perspective from Jerry Jones and Players:
  • Jerry is unfazed, saying simply, "the game is the game." Players, on the other hand, are confused, many didn’t know a tie was possible. (05:44–06:22)
  • “I asked Jake Ferguson, and he said, ‘I could have gone another quarter… we thought that's what was going to happen’.” – Josh Rodriguez (06:18)
• Player Safety vs. Fan/Player Desire: Chris Beam plays devil’s advocate for ties to protect player health in a long NFL season (07:51), but others counter by citing other league decisions that contradict stated safety priorities (e.g., Thursday Night Football, international travel). (09:14)
• Cinematic/Ambiguous Endings: Patrick Walker likens the draw to a “cinematic, A24-esque ending”—perfectly ambiguous for storylines like who won the offseason trade. (10:16)
• Micah Parsons Sack Debate: Several minutes are spent debating the ambiguous stat-keeping around a crucial Micah Parsons sack that nearly saved the game. (11:16–12:12)

The Good, Bad, and Ugly: Game Recap

The Bad: Defensive Failures, Missed Opportunities, and Boneheaded Penalties

Timestamps: 23:23 – 36:23

• Run Defense Collapses Down the Stretch:
  • Green Bay scored on its final five drives—three touchdowns and two field goals. (24:21)
  • “The defense gives up 40 points and could not stop a nosebleed… five straight scoring drives…” – Kyle Yeomans (23:34)
• Lack of Sacks and Pressure:
  • Only one sack for the Cowboys—Micah Parsons late in the game. (14:07)
  • Packers O-line (especially the tackles) handled Parsons and the Cowboys' pass rush surprisingly well. (13:01–13:41)
• Missed Tackles and Communication Issues:
  • Several hosts call out linebacker Jack Sanborn for slow play and recurring issues, and rookie Marist Leofau for missed tackles/penalties. (27:32–33:57)
  • “What are we doing? … He is, for lack of a better term, just really slow.” – Patrick Walker on Sanborn (33:58)
  • Communication issues in coverage still plague defense, even in week four. (29:37)
• Discipline—A Recurring Problem:
  • 11 accepted penalties for 95 yards; several self-inflicted wounds marred both sides of the ball. (28:55)
  • “Self-inflicted wounds… Some of the worst ones.” – Josh Rodriguez (28:55)
  • 12-men-on-the-field flag (the second this season), and dumb personal fouls (notably Marist Leofau late hit, and Donovan As Roccu’s face mask). (29:18–29:49; 36:18)
• Inability to Finish:
  • Offense failed to punch it in on first-and-goal from the five in overtime; defense then could not get a final stop. (31:48)
• Unbelievable Stat:
  • “Teams with 40 points or more and no turnovers were 300-0 at home in the Super Bowl era. … It’s 300-0-1 now.” – Kyle Yeomans (32:06)

The Good: Offensive Breakouts, Special Teams Impact, Individual Standouts

Timestamps: 41:32 – 53:03

• Dak Prescott’s MVP-Level Play:
  • “Is anybody in the NFL playing a higher brand of quarterback right now?” – Kyle Yeomans (41:42)
  • 4 total touchdowns (3 passing, 1 rushing), over 300 yards, no picks; carrying the team as defense falters. (41:47–43:00)
  • Hosts cite that Dak’s current performance is better than Joe Burrow’s during the Bengals’ 1-3 start last year, yet Dak isn’t getting national recognition. (53:03–53:52)
• George Pickens’ Coming Out Party:
  • 134 yards and 2 touchdowns in CD Lamb's absence—a true 1B receiver performance. (44:44)
  • “He made the play… in the highest moments of the game.” – Kyle Yeomans (45:38)
  • Trust between Dak and Pickens highlighted (throws into double coverage).
• Supporting Cast Emerges:
  • Praise for Jalen Tolbert (“What a game. … All the respect in the world.” – Patrick Walker, 46:33), Ryan Flournoy, and Kevontae Turpin for making key chain-moving plays.
  • “You scored 40 points without CD Lamb.” – Patrick Walker (44:11)
• Special Teams Shine:
  • Blocked PAT by Juanyeh Thomas and Marquise Bell helps swing momentum. (43:08)
  • Turpin’s 45-yard kickoff return “a major reason why the Cowboys were able to keep this a tie.” (48:26)
• Javonte Williams Earning His Role:
  • Turns in a physical, angry running style in the second half: 11 carries, 56 yards, 1 touchdown post-halftime (5.1 ypc). (48:23–48:29)
  • Compared to Marshawn Lynch (by Nate Newton), perhaps most physical since DeMarco Murray.
• James Houston’s Defensive Impact:
  • Continues to make splash plays: strip-sack fumble was essential in ending the half with a Cowboys TD. (45:38, 52:19)
  • Clowney and Houston praised as top pass-rushing duo now. (52:19–52:40)
• Coaching Credit:
  • Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer called a strong game, with constant adaptability and chain-moving plays even in pressure moments. (47:53)
  • Dallas ranks #1 in yards and passing yards per game after four games. (46:53)

Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Overtime Rules & Ties:
  • “No one’s going to sell me on a tie being okay because the league might view it as a player safety issue when they have so many other instances… less concerned about player safety.” – Josh Rodriguez (09:37)
  • “A tie is tailor-made for this game… for all the good, there’s the bad. For all the bad, there’s the good. Where do you land? Right in the middle.” – Josh Rodriguez (32:02)
• On Dak’s Heroics:
  • “Dak Prescott is playing lights out. He’s exactly what you would pay $60 million for a quarterback to do.” – Patrick Walker (42:09)
  • "If it’s not for Dak Prescott, this team is 0-4." – Chris Beam (46:53)
• On Defensive Failures:
  • “This defense… needed one stop. … It’s very concerning.” – Chris Beam (24:22)
  • “Asking your offense to score 40 points and maybe you’ll win the game? … That’s ungood.” – Patrick Walker (36:05)
• On Pickens:
  • “That’s what a 1B does.” – Patrick No See Walker (44:25)
• Stat-Oddities:
  • “Teams with 40 points and no turnovers at home were 300-0 in the Super Bowl era. Now they’re 300-0-1.” – Kyle Yeomans (32:06)
• Fan Gallows Humor:
  • “Breaking news: The Packers just converted on another third down.” – Comment read by Kyle Yeomans (40:54)

Important Segments and Timestamps

• [02:50] – Episode Theme Set: "Stalemate Monday," first Cowboys tie in memory, scoring stats
• [04:30] – Overtime/Ties debate begins; player and fan reaction
• [11:16] – Trade ambiguity, “cinematic” ending, NFL scripting
• [23:23] – The Bad: Defensive collapse, penalties, missed tackles
• [28:55] – Penalties and communication lapses discussed in depth
• [32:06] – Stat-oddity: 300-0-1, Cowboys make NFL history
• [41:32] – The Good: Dak’s MVP play, Pickens breakout, unsung heroes
• [47:53] – Schottenheimer, offensive stats, Turpin return, Houston/Clowney
• [53:03] – Dak vs. Joe Burrow stat comparison
• [53:56] – National perspective on Dak, closing thoughts

Takeaways for Cowboys Fans (Who Missed the Episode)

• The 40-40 tie wasn’t just weird, it was historic, emotionally confusing, and exposed both acute strengths and lingering flaws in the Cowboys' makeup.
• Dak Prescott and the offense, even without top target CeeDee Lamb, are hitting elite levels, propping up the team while the defense falters.
• Defensive issues—communication, tackling, lack of pass rush outside James Houston, and discipline—are glaring.
• Special teams and emerging weapons like George Pickens, Jalen Tolbert, and Turpin are real positives.
• The team’s inability to finish—both offensively (inside the 5 in OT) and defensively (no stops when needed)—left the game deadlocked and everyone unsatisfied.
• The hosts (and players) call for the NFL to revisit outdated overtime policies to avoid these anticlimactic stalemates.
• Despite the frustration, there is still belief: this offense is potent, and if the defense can get it together, the Cowboys still have plenty of season left.