Podcast Summary: "3 & Out – Reaction to Dak Prescott & Cowboys BLOWOUT WIN vs. Geno Smith & Raiders"

The Herd with Colin Cowherd, Hosted by John Middlekoff
Date: November 18, 2025
Podcast Feed: iHeartPodcasts & The Volume

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the Dallas Cowboys’ dominant performance over the Raiders, led by Dak Prescott, and explores deeper questions about the futures of the Cowboys and the Raiders franchises. Host John Middlekoff uses the lopsided result as a backdrop to analyze organizational dysfunction, coaching relevance, and what it takes for NFL teams to break out of cycles of mediocrity. The episode also branches into broader NFL topics: management decisions, team-building philosophy, and listener questions about playoff races, coaches’ value, and franchise culture.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Cowboys’ Blowout Win and Organization State

[02:59–20:10]

• The Cowboys, led by Dak Prescott, lit up the Raiders “like a Christmas tree.”
• John credits Offensive Coordinator Brian Schottenheimer for building a strong rapport with Dak and getting the best out of weapons like George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb.
  • “Brian Schottenheimer’s good with the offense. Him and Dak have a really good rapport... His skill is pretty legit. Like, he’s a pretty good play caller.” (John Middlekoff, [05:05])
• The Cowboys’ offense is seen as legitimate and only needing defensive improvements to become a playoff mainstay again.
• Dallas’s draft capital and offensive investment could make them a dangerous team in 2026 if they nail defensive moves.

2. Raiders Dysfunction & The Pete Carroll Puzzle

[06:52–18:34]

• Pete Carroll (now 74, approaching 75) is in his first year coaching the Raiders, and the team is a “disaster.”
• Middlekoff questions the logic of hiring a coach at this stage who insists on veteran players over rebuilding (“tearing it down to the studs”).
  • “Does this make any sense to have a guy who will be 75 years old next year on a team that has, we know for a fact, two good players, Brock Bowers and Max Crosby?” (John Middlekoff, [10:55])
• Middlekoff criticizes decisions like starting Jamal Adams at linebacker and not trading Max Crosby when the rebuild was overdue.
• Cites organizational missteps but understands some high-profile hires as attempts to land relevance or build credibility (e.g., Jon Gruden for star power).
• Predicts the likely split between Pete Carroll/Chip Kelly and the Raiders front office coming soon.

3. Roster Management & Realistic Expectations

• The Raiders clearly need to rebuild, with very little high-end talent and a QB in Geno Smith with “no shot” behind a poor offensive line.
• “If you’re Spytek, I think you have to look at it like this. This is stupid. This is a joke. Our team is going nowhere, and we have two players of value: [Max Crosby] and Brock Bowers.” ([17:50])
• Suggests Dallas is “a good offseason away from being a 10- or 11-win team.”

4. Dallas’s Offensive Identity and Locker Room Management

[18:35–23:20]

• John lauds Schottenheimer’s ability to manage personalities and create an explosive offense.
• “Can you handle some personalities? Not everyone’s a choir boy in the NFL... If you can produce, we’re gonna have a spot for you.” ([19:45])
• George Pickens’ turnaround as an example of player development under a strong offensive coordinator.

5. Broader NFL Trends and Dysfunctional Teams

[30:07–45:00]

• Why bad teams stay bad: Analysis shifts to the Atlanta Falcons, New York Jets, and Arizona Cardinals.
• Falcons’ disastrous QB planning (signing Kirk Cousins and drafting Michael Penix) as a warning in front office misallocation.
• “When you ruin the quarterback position and you’re kind of cocky about it, it’s going to get you in trouble. Atlanta... I would short every single year.” ([31:45])
• The pitfalls of betting on highly paid veterans or “max contracts” in the wrong situation (e.g., Kyler Murray with the Cardinals).
• Ownership problems are at the heart of chronic dysfunction; best thing for franchises like Raiders or Cardinals may be to sell.

6. Cowboys’ and Eagles’ Playoff Outlook

[23:20–28:30]

• Dallas’ offense is "humming", and next week’s matchup vs. the Eagles’ new look defense is highlighted as a measuring stick.
• Philadelphia’s division is accessible, and Dallas could “be in the mix” if they solidify defense.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Brian Schottenheimer’s good with the offense. Him and Dak have a really good rapport...His skill is pretty legit.” – John Middlekoff ([05:05])
• “Does this make any sense to have a guy who will be 75 years old next year on a team that has, we know for a fact, two good players, Brock Bowers and Max Crosby?” – John Middlekoff ([10:55])
• “If you’re Spytek, I think you have to look at it like this. This is stupid. This is a joke. Our team is going nowhere, and we have two players of value: [Max Crosby] and Brock Bowers. And I think you could justify trading them both next offseason.” – John Middlekoff ([17:50])
• “The Cowboys are not quite the laughing stock that, and I’m probably guilty of this too, that we all made them out to be.” – John Middlekoff ([21:50])
• “Drafting hasn’t been their issue. It’s been coaching. It’s been, I mean, coaching’s been a huge issue. And Jerry Jones meddling in the situation that everything that’s going on in Dallas.” – John Middlekoff ([23:10])
• “It’s honestly, I feel bad for the fans.” – John Middlekoff, on perpetual dysfunction in Falcons/Jets/Raiders ([45:03])

Key NFL & College Football Storylines

Josh Allen’s Ascendance

[45:20–48:50]

• Middlekoff calls Allen “the best quarterback in the NFL right now,” citing his solo heroics and refusal to lose as the difference between pretenders and contenders.
  • “The thing I like most about professional sports...that performance the other night was just... electric, dominant.” ([47:30])

Coaching Carousel & James Franklin

[50:00–55:00]

• James Franklin leaves Penn State for Virginia Tech, returning $40 million (!) of a $49 million buyout to get back to coaching.
  • “I can’t imagine many human beings would do that.” ([52:20])
• Lane Kiffin’s SEC flirtation: Middlekoff says amid rumors, it’s understandable for even successful coaches to “test the market” when their value peaks.

Listener Q&A (Mailbag Highlights)

[62:14+ and scattered through 110:39]

• Are top NFL/CFB coaches underpaid?
  – Middlekoff says absolutely, using Andy Reid as a prime example: “You could argue the going rate should be double that.” ([62:32])
• Does strength of schedule matter in playoff analysis?
  – “Definitely gets factored in, but you gotta adjust for context. Some easy schedule teams are still really good.” ([64:01])
• Should Lions move off Goff?
  – “Not sure what your other options are...the likelihood you get a better-than-Goff QB in the 3rd round is low.” ([105:45])
• On the Chiefs’ struggles:
  – “Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson have been objectively better than him the last couple years...But he’s got [Mahomes] in the playoffs.” ([118:13])
• On player discipline and spitting on opponents:
  – “It should be an auto-suspension if you spit on another player. That cannot be tolerated.” ([116:20])

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Cowboys-Raiders analysis & Schottenheimer praise: [02:59–12:00]
• Pete Carroll’s fit with Raiders & organizational dysfunction: [10:55–18:00]
• Dallas’ turnaround potential & roster strengths: [18:35–23:20]
• Broader discussion of why bad teams stay bad (Falcons/Jets/Cardinals): [30:07–45:10]
• On Josh Allen’s greatness: [45:20–48:50]
• Coaching market, Franklin & Lane Kiffin’s value: [50:00–55:00]
• Listener mailbag (coaches’ pay, Eagles’ scrutiny, Goff/Lions, discipline): Scattered, principal groupings: [62:14–82:00] & [110:39–124:00]

Tone & Style

Middlekoff’s delivery is opinionated, frank, and unfiltered—peppered with irreverent analogies (“start Jamal Adams like Ray Lewis”) and a casual, conversational style. He frequently brings up NFL front-office perspectives, sprinkling in scouting anecdotes and real-world analogies to business and sports management.

Conclusion

This episode uses the Cowboys’ big win and the Raiders’ futility to explore how decisions in coaching, roster management, and ownership shape a franchise’s arc—often for years at a time. The Cowboys are positioned as a team on the brink of re-emerging, while the Raiders are in need of a ground-up rebuild. Throughout, Middlekoff expands the frame to question why bad NFL teams stay bad and what it really takes to fix them, all while fielding sharp listener questions about coaches, franchises, and football’s complex culture.