Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd
Episode: 3 & Out - Dak Prescott & Cowboys suffer HUGE LOSS vs. Jared Goff & Lions on TNF
Date: December 5, 2025
Host: John Midkiff
Guest: Stuckey

Episode Overview

In this episode of "3 & Out," John Midkiff breaks down the Dallas Cowboys' major loss to the Detroit Lions on Thursday Night Football. The conversation covers the critical gutsy performance by the Lions, particularly focusing on coach Dan Campbell's leadership and the grit of star receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown. The hosts also dissect the Cowboys’ faltering effort, issues with receiver George Pickens, and what this loss means for the NFC playoff race.

The show also dives deep into NFL playoff scenarios, key injuries, and trends, plus a comprehensive preview of the weekend’s NFL and college football slate. The usual sharp, conversational banter is present, peppered with strong opinions, detailed stats, and signature humor.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Lions vs. Cowboys: Guts, Grit, and Dan Campbell’s Influence

• Gutsy Coaching and Offensive Explosion:

  • Dan Campbell’s aggressive play-calling and “cojones on the table" moment with a play-action shot to St. Brown ultimately iced the game.
    "Dan Campbell putting his cojones on the table when he called a nice play action shot to Amon-Ra St. Brown who essentially iced the game." (05:40, John Midkiff)

• Amon-Ra St. Brown Sets the Tone:

  • St. Brown played through an ankle injury, demonstrating extraordinary toughness and leadership.
    "St. Brown's toughness to me set the tone for the game... there is not a good coach in the history of this sport or a good team... that wouldn't want that guy in the trenches." (06:50, John Midkiff)
  • First play went to St. Brown. Emphasis on leadership by example.

• Lions’ Speed Overwhelms Cowboys:

  • Standout stats: Jameson Williams (7 rec, 96 yards), Amon-Ra St. Brown (6 rec, 92 yards), Jameer Gibbs (7 rec, 77 yards, 3 TDs).
    "You cannot stop the speed of Jameer Gibbs and Jameson Williams... their best offensive players completely dominated tonight." (09:10, John Midkiff)

• Limitations of the Lions’ Defense:

  • Defense lacks depth and coverage ability but compensates with high effort.

• Playoff Implications:

  • This win keeps the Lions in the playoff hunt, with a must-win mindset emphasized.

Cowboys’ Collapse & Big Picture Issues

• Offensive Frustration and Receiving Corps Woes:

  • CeeDee Lamb was dominant before concussion, but George Pickens’ lackluster effort post-concussion magnified Cowboys’ offensive issues.
    • "There was a little laissez faire effort tonight. And some of those routes, you could tell Dak was like, problem is he couldn't totally lay into him because he needed them. And it just felt like his head was not there mentally." (23:32, John Midkiff)
  • Compounds questions about overpaying or committing to Pickens long-term.

• Resilience (or Lack Thereof) Under Pressure:

  • Lamb’s injury exposed the Cowboys’ thinness in receiving depth and reliability under adversity.

• Playoff Ramifications:

  • The loss makes it much more difficult for Dallas to win the division.
    "It's going to be a lot harder for the Cowboys to win the division now." (25:35, John Midkiff)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Dan Campbell on Trusting His Best Players:

  • "Our best players are our hardest workers and most focused guys." (paraphrased from Campbell via Midkiff, 06:20)

• On Team Identity:

  • "St. Brown says like we are a tough team. Dan, me. That’s how we roll." (08:10, John Midkiff)

• On Cowboys’ Receivers:

  • "You know what that will do? Go to WAR for me. Not when times are great... how about when we're 7 and 5 and our season's on the line and his ankle looks like a grapefruit?" (28:40, John Midkiff)

NFL Playoff Picture & High-Stakes Weekend

• Crucial Games with Massive Playoff Implications: (Multiple references around 91:30+)

  • Raven-Steelers, Cowboys-Lions, Eagles-Chargers all highlighted as potential season-makers or breakers.
  • Chiefs, Texans, Packers, Bears: All in divisional and playoff do-or-die scenarios.

• Injury Updates:

  • CeeDee Lamb (concussion for Cowboys), Jalen Carter (Eagles DL, surgery), and others directly impacting playoff outlooks.

• Trends & Betting Angles:

  • Deep analysis of against-the-spread performances, home vs. away trends, and historical statistics, especially for games like Ravens-Steelers and divisional matchups.

College Football Playoff Preview & Musings with Stuckey

• Automatic Bids & Selection Intricacies:

  • Insightful breakdown of College Football Playoff selection chaos, including conference champs potentially missing out or surprising inclusions.
    "I think Notre Dame is one of the best five teams in the country. But if they lost to Miami, they don't have great wins on the resume." (59:41, Stuckey)

• Key Championship Games To Watch:

  • High-level analysis of North Texas vs. Tulane and its playoff implications.
  • Deep dive into the roots of this year’s various tiebreakers, surprise quarterback performances, and major injuries.

• The Changing Face of College Football:

  • Discussion on expanded playoffs, future structure, and the continued shake-up to tradition:
    "College football, it's going to continue to change on an almost annual basis." (65:10, Stuckey)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 05:23 - John Midkiff begins primary Lions vs. Cowboys analysis
• 06:50 - On Amon-Ra St. Brown’s toughness
• 09:10 - Detailed Lions offensive stats and impact
• 15:52 - Playoff implications for the Lions and NFC
• 23:21 - Cowboys’ early struggles and George Pickens criticism
• 34:55 - Eagles’ Jalen Carter injury and playoff implications
• 53:39 - Start of in-depth college football conference championship and playoff segment
• 91:13 - Setting the stage for the "stretch run" of the NFL regular season
• 102:42 - Packers-Bears matchup and Ben Johnson as a run-game savant
• 107:21 - Monday Night Football: Eagles-Chargers preview and playoff stakes

Overall Tone & Takeaway

This episode combines sharp, insightful football analysis with the show's trademark candidness and humor. There’s respect for grit and toughness (“playing their balls off”), skepticism toward flash (“fake dog” Lane Kiffin tangent), and amusement with the perpetual chaos of both NFL and college football. The narrative stays pacy, detail-rich, and true to the original voices: frank, no-nonsense, and full of energy.

Recommended For

NFL and college football fans who want to understand not just what happened, but why it matters—both on the scoreboard and in team culture, coaching decisions, and long-term strategy. The episode is also a must-listen for bettors, fantasy players, and anyone who loves the intersection of statistics and raw football mentality.