'No chance' DAL makes playoffs without win vs. MIN
Rodney Harrison, Tony Dungy and Jac Collinsworth discuss the biggest storylines ahead of Vikings vs. Cowboys on Sunday Night Football, including George Pickens' effort and J.J. McCarthy's struggles.
Video Transcript
Uh, first thing that popped in your mind: Vikings at Cowboys.
Me.
Yep.
Oh, the Cowboys and George Pickenswhat I'm gonna see from George Pickens this week?
Man, and you know, Coach.
Do I maybe ask you, is that a big deal?
The way he played?
I wasn't really super bothered by it But did you, as a coach, get bothered by the way he played and his efforts?
No, I think what happened was once C.D.
Lamb went out, okay, I'm gonna get doubled now.
I'm probably not gonna get ball.
I'm not going to be that effective because all the attention's going to be on me.
Some other guys have to do it, well that dog, as we say.
I would say, you know.
But if they double-cover me, Uh, they, my team needs me.
I'm gonna come up and, And be even a little bit more.
And we didn't see that, but, uh, I'm okay with that.
And if they get C.D.
Lamb back this week, Piggins will have a big day.
And, uh, I, I love this game because to me, it's kind of a mirror image.
I think both teams' wide receivers are better than the other teams' DBs.
So, how is this game going to play out?
Which quarterback can get the ball to his guys?
And it's The head coach, offensive play-caller The defensive coordinator on the other side.
And Kevin O'Connell, how do I deal with Matt Eberflus and get the ball to my guys?
OK, and Brian Schottenheimer, how do I deal?
With Brian Flores, that blitz, and be able to Get the ball to my guys?
And which quarterback is going to be able to withstand the pressure of the game and get the Ball to his guys, and I think that's, that's gonna determine the game.
Well, who can do it?
I mean, based on what you're telling me, I gotta believe more in Dak Prescott.
Am I wrong?
Coach?
Yeah, no, Dak has been phenomenal this year.
And, uh, you know, he's gonna see different kinds of pressure and different kinds of Blitzes, but he's going to handle it.
I think Brian Schottenheimer will dial up some Runs.
Well, I'm not sure if Kevin OConnell will do.
That.
He'll say, "I've got that."
These wide receiver matchups, these DBs cant cover my guys.
I'm just gonna let JJ keep firing the ball and hope that he can keep doing it.
And I think theres going to be a lot of pressure on JJ and me, I think Dak ends up winning this game.
We'll see, though.
Well, I think that, you know, you look at the Dallas Cowboys' defense, They're not going to just be able to sit back and rush forward to get pressure.
And I know Matt Eberflus; he kind of likes that bend-but-don't-break defense.
So I think he's going to have to be a bit more aggressive and send five guys, And when they do send five guys, you can see.
The difference in Quinnen Williams, His effort, the pass rush.
These guys get excited when they have Opportunities in one-on-one situations, and you know, When they get double-teamed, they kind of shut it down because they feel like they're not Gonna get the ball.
So that coach 1,000 storylines.
Can't wait to see them all.
Uh, final question about this game.
Do the Cowboys make the playoffs?
Uh, Coach, I'll start with you.
Do the Cowboys find a way in?
I think they still have an uphill climb, but uh, this will be a big game.
This is a game at home, a game you should win, but...
Uh, Minnesota's got some firepower, so I'd say there's a 75% chance that they Don't get in the playoffs, but no chance if they don't win this game.
Mhm.
Yeah, and I would say no, theyre not getting In the playoffs.
Um, they continue to build their team and Continue to strive to get better on defense, but I, I just don't see this team making it to the playoffs, Jack.
Okay.
Last question is on the Vikings' side.
Vikings are really looking toward 2026 at this point in time.
Uh, JJ McCarthy, we have seen a little bit of everything from him this year, This year.
Uh, Coach, is he your quarterback in 2026?
Are you bringing in some possible others along the way?
Well, I think they want to find out in these last four games.
And this will be a good test, and that's another reason why I think.
Uh, Kevin O'Connell will throw the ball a lot, to see what this guy can do under pressure.
Situations.
We've seen him play some not-so-good football.
We've seen him play well against some weak teams.
Uh, can he do it on the big stage, in a big moment on Sunday night?
Um, and that that'll go a long way in telling us whether I need to bring in another Quarterback next year or not.
Yeah, cause he couldn't do it Sunday night when we had him against the Atlanta Falcons.
But, um, he'll definitely have an opportunity to do that against the Cowboys.
I, I like J.J. McCarthy.
I think they just need to play him.
Just give him as many reps as possible, and even going into next season.
You gotta bring in a veteran who can come in and teach him and kind of compete with him.
Be that soft voice for him, um, but I mean, he, he's a young player, He's a young player.
It's going to take time.
Develop.
The only way to develop is you gotta get good.
Live reps and, um, none better than this weekend.
And that's what I think this will be.
It'll be kind of an audition.
Normally, I would say, Id go on our pregame show and say, Hey, Minnesota needs to run the ball, take the pressure off their quarterback.
But I think Kevin O'Connell is gonna say, Let me find out about this kid.
Can he do it?
We're going to put the game plan on him.
Especially with this secondary you're facing against, you're going up against this secondary, Man.
I would throw the ball 40 times if I were receiver Minot Vikings, these guys.
Absolutely, it's not even close.
I think you better show something fast, talking about JJ.
This would be a good time if he goes out there on Sunday Night Football this week with a lot A crowd watching after what has not been a great year for this offense.
Kevin O'Connell was viewed as a mastermind, and he can do it with Sam Darnold.
And he can do it with any quarterback.
He's gonna turn him into a good player.
And it has not been that.
Uh, now with the world watching Sunday night toward the back half of the year, I think it's a really big game for JJ McCarthy as it projects toward his future.
Uh, and being the quarterback.
