* Nate Newton was only one who predicted a Cowboys win vs Chargers. He predicted if Cowboys improved red zone offense/defense, and Terence Steele could handle Joey Bosa, Cowboys would win. (Nate said he predicts the Cowboys to win every week)
* Running the ball wasn't the difference. Zeke did his job, Pollard just did a better job. It was an ugly game, penalties. What made difference was red zone and goal-to-goal. 2 TDs Cowboys vs 1 Chargers. You cannot rely on FGs on road. Home team can easily seize momentum. Nate understands there was a bunch of Dallas fans, but it's still their home field.
* Cedric Wilson won't be with us next year. Someone is going to pick him up playing like that.
* Nate fed up with the negative people. We won the game, shut up. Why is it when we lose everyone finding reasons to feel good, and we win people finding reasons to feel bad. Madden once said give me an ugly win and I'll coach my team to win. Nate said a loss is never pretty.
* Nate likes Coach Quinn and Parsons. He was told 3 hours before the game by Quinn about Parsons. Parsons figured it out. They were talking about Parsons not wanting to get out of the game and Nate said that's how they should be. Look at Jason Pierre Paul in Tampa game near end last week, wouldn't let them take him out. Even veterans who save their bodies at practice, it's for those games. Doesn't like newer generation who are happy to sit out plays. You put a guy like Parsons on the team, it makes everyone better. Culture changes. Jesse brings up how the players now don't want to be shown up. Not in a bad way, it just rises level and competition and veterans stick out like a sore thumb if they don't care as much. Parsons wants to be on field 100% and doesn't accept foolery. Nate compared it to Charles Haley and Deion Sanders. NEVER saw them not on the field in a critical time.
* Jesse (for those who don't remember, he was a backup receiver in the Romo days) and the rest of them agree Parsons won't be staying at DE. But all it does is give Quinn more reasons to go back in the lab. More looks, more pressure packages. When they play better teams like the Chiefs and cannot afford to bring people up front, these are what matter. Nate says you want him at MLB because it takes advantage of his athletic skills. He is more than a one-trick pony.
* (you can tell how excited Nate is about defense) Talked about how sad it was to have a defense that went 5-6 games without a forced turnover. But warns still not to get excited. Only 2 games in.
* Nate said Herbert is awesome. Going to be great one. Giving Parsons some more props on what he was doing vs Herbert.
* Jesse Holley sees improvement on Kellen. Says he was like Garrett in that he would have weeks where you would say "Damn, I see why the Jones family likes you!" and then another week where "Take the boy out!" Two great games called in a row. Balance was perfect. Several receivers with multiple catches. You're going to have games with Coop & Lamb 100 yards, but all the touches, both running backs, it kept the Chargers off-balance and that's your job as an offensive coordinator. Don't play down to the other team, make them play to you. Points maybe not where you wanted them, but broke curse, first time Cowboys won a game not scoring 30 points since 2018. Nate said the improvement is not just Kellen, it's Dak. Dak and Kellen's relationship is where it needs to be now.
* Nate said Zack Martin calms down everything. Wasn't always sure last year, but saw the difference this year. Jesse pointed out a play where Steele got beat, Zack hit his guy, turns around, and uses his other arm to hit Bosa and has two 280 lb guys held just long enough to get the pass off. This is why you leave Zack at guard. Was a great move to keep Zack at RG and Steele at RT. Nate said Steele keeping Bosa out of rhythm was what kept the Chargers defense off-balance, and he can see the confidence growing in Steele.
* Nate says we have to improve on backs coming out of the backfield. Jesse (as the former receiver) said you take away CeeDee's scamper at end of 1st half, he only had 8 catches 40 something yards. Still not ready to say he redeeming himself and where he needs to be. He did what he had to do. Outside of Tony Pollard, everyone on the offense did exactly what they needed to do. Pollard was the one who really stood out.
