The Dallas Cowboys have made a major move to fix their struggling defense, hiring former NFL defensive coordinator Mike Pettine as a senior defensive assistant. But what does this REALLY mean for Christian Parker?

After a disastrous start to the 2026 season, the Cowboys are desperate for answers. Their pass rush has been nearly nonexistent, the defense is struggling to get stops, and now Dallas is bringing in a veteran coach with a reputation for creative blitzes, disguised coverages and aggressive defensive football.

On today's How Bout Wow, Gavin Dawson and Newbear Lesniewski break down why the Cowboys hired Pettine NOW, what he can bring to Parker's defense, and whether this move should be viewed as a vote of confidence in the young coordinator — or a warning sign.

PLUS:

• Cody Alexander explains how Pettine's defensive philosophy fits with Christian Parker's system.
• We examine Pettine's coaching history and his longstanding relationship with Parker.
• Hear Pettine explain his philosophy on attacking offenses.
• Why the timing of this hire raises some fascinating questions.
• Can Pettine help the Cowboys generate more pressure without disrupting the progress Parker is making?
• What the addition of Joey Porter Jr. and potential injury returns could mean for the defense.

The Cowboys insist Pettine is here to support Christian Parker. We're examining whether there's more to the story — and whether this hire can actually save the Dallas defense.

What do YOU think? Is Mike Pettine exactly what Christian Parker needs, or is this a sign the Cowboys are already getting nervous? Let us know in the comments!

👍 Like, subscribe, and join us for more Dallas Cowboys analysis on How Bout Wow with Gavin Dawson and Newbear.

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NFL defenses may have figured something out about Dak Prescott, and the numbers suggest one of his greatest strengths is no longer what it used to be.

For years, Dak has carried a reputation as one of the NFL's best quarterbacks against the blitz. But after the Cowboys' disastrous offensive performance against Tampa Bay, we went digging into the data AND the film. What we found raises some serious questions about how defenses are attacking Dak and why the Cowboys offense keeps getting shut down.

On today's How Bout Wow, Gavin Dawson and Newbear Lesniewski break down:

🏈 The surprising numbers: Why Dak's performance against the blitz has declined over the last three seasons.

🏈 The defensive blueprint: How Todd Bowles, Brian Flores and other defensive minds are using disguised pressures, exotic coverages and blitz packages to confuse Dallas.

🏈 What the Tampa film reveals: The protection breakdowns, questionable play calls and defensive tactics that had Dak struggling to find answers.

🏈 The fourth-quarter breakthrough: Dak was spectacular late against Tampa. So what changed, and why couldn't the Cowboys find those answers sooner?

🏈 The solution: What Brian Schottenheimer and the Cowboys must change to get this offense back to an elite level.

PLUS — we've got a fascinating stat that challenges the idea that Dak and the Cowboys have a history of overlooking inferior opponents. And some eye-opening numbers about Christian Parker's defense that might change how you think about blitzing.

The Cowboys need an offense capable of carrying a struggling defense. Have NFL coordinators discovered a blueprint to prevent that from happening? Or are the answers hiding in plain sight?

Drop your thoughts in the comments! Like, subscribe and join the conversation as we continue the Cowboys' pursuit of a return to glory.

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The Dallas Cowboys just suffered one of the most embarrassing losses of the Dak Prescott era. A 9-point favorite at home against an 0-4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers team starting an undrafted rookie quarterback... and somehow Dallas LOST.

Now the question is: Will this disaster force Jerry Jones to do something drastic?

Welcome to How Bout Wow with Gavin Dawson from 105.3 The Fan and Newbear Lesniewski! It's OVERREACTION FOOTBALL FRIDAY, and after this Cowboys collapse, some of the wildest reactions might actually be justified.

🔥 Today's biggest Cowboys overreactions:

🏈 Has Jerry Jones seen enough to make MULTIPLE blockbuster trades before the deadline? Or should Dallas consider becoming a seller?

🏈 Should Brian Schottenheimer already be on the hot seat after two humiliating losses in five games?

🏈 Is Christian Parker's defense fundamentally broken? Tampa rushed for 241 yards, dominated time of possession, and continued exposing Dallas with explosive plays.

🏈 Did Dak Prescott just deliver one of the worst performances of his career? And what should we make of his heated exchange with a frustrated fan?

🏈 Is Daron Bland becoming a serious liability? Do the Cowboys need a linebacker even more than another pass rusher?

🏈 Are injuries finally catching up to Dallas, or is that just another excuse?

🏈 And most importantly... can the Cowboys still save this season at 2-3?

We're separating legitimate concerns from emotional overreactions, examining what Jerry Jones said after the loss, and debating whether Dallas should double down on this roster or rethink everything.

COWBOYS FANS: What's your biggest overreaction after the Tampa loss? And what would YOU do if you were Jerry Jones?

Drop your takes in the comments. We want to hear them!

👍 LIKE the video, SUBSCRIBE to How Bout Wow, and join us as we cover the Cowboys' pursuit of getting back to the glory days.

Follow Gavin Dawson: @gavindawson Follow Newbear: @newbear

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The Cowboys need more pass rush and one number explains why Will McDonald has become one of the most interesting names to watch before the NFL trade deadline.

McDonald has produced a ridiculous 9.7% quick-pressure rate through four games. For comparison, Rashan Gary is at just 2.5%. McDonald’s role with the Jets has also shrunk, and Dallas could control him through 2027 without immediately committing to a massive long-term contract.

But is he actually good enough to make a difference — or would the Cowboys just be trading for another inconsistent edge rusher?

On today’s How Bout Wow, Gavin Dawson and Newbear Lesniewski break down the Cowboys trade market and six potential targets as the deadline gets closer.

We dig into:

• Will McDonald — the 9.7% number Dallas desperately needs, his boom-or-bust production, run-defense concerns and what he might cost.

• Josh Sweat — a proven pass rusher with a Christian Parker connection, but potentially a much bigger financial commitment.

• Khalil Mack — still producing at 35, relatively inexpensive for the remainder of the season, and potentially one of the most realistic veteran rentals.

• Alex Highsmith — a fascinating Steelers name with three sacks already, although there’s no indication Pittsburgh actually wants to move him.

• Breece Hall — what would it look like if Jerry Jones decided to make a true all-in move and add another explosive weapon to the offense?

• Tony Pollard and Kenneth Gainwell — could Dallas bring back an old friend, or would Gainwell make more sense as an inexpensive third-down option?

Plus, Stephen Jones talks about the Cowboys’ approach to the trade deadline, and we debate the biggest question facing Dallas:

How aggressive should this team be right now?

If Maxx Crosby is off the board, there are still ways to make this roster better — but Dallas has to decide how much draft capital it’s willing to sacrifice to do it.

Drop your favorite Cowboys trade target in the comments.

SUBSCRIBE for daily Cowboys discussion, film breakdowns, trade talk and everything Dallas Cowboys.

Follow the hosts: @GavinDawson @Newbear

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The Cowboys just landed Joey Porter Jr. — but exactly how good is their new cornerback?

I might be uniquely qualified to answer that one.

I cover the Cowboys every day in North Texas, and Newbear and I also host a Steelers podcast. That means I've spent years watching, studying and talking about JPJ. So today, I'm unloading the notebook on EVERYTHING Cowboys fans need to know about their new CB1.

And we're not sugarcoating it.

We'll start with the weaknesses: the tackling, the penalties, the lack of huge interception numbers and the legitimate arguments against calling Porter one of the NFL's elite corners.

Then we'll get to the numbers that make the other side of the argument awfully convincing.

The touchdown drought. The completion percentage. The passer rating. The tight-window coverage. The PBUs. And, maybe most importantly, what he's done when Pittsburgh has asked him to line up against some of the best receivers in football.

CeeDee Lamb. Ja'Marr Chase. Amon-Ra St. Brown. A.J. Brown. Garrett Wilson. Puka Nacua. The résumé is ridiculous.

But this trade is about more than Joey Porter Jr.

We'll break down why Christian Parker called him a “boundary-eraser,” and how adding a legitimate man-cover corner could unlock Caleb Downs, DaRon Bland, Cobie Durant, the Cowboys' pressure packages and the disguise Parker wants to build into this defense.

Did Dallas just acquire one of the missing pieces that could change the entire ceiling of this defense?

And finally: if Porter is this good, why in the world did Pittsburgh trade him — and what does Jerry Jones making another aggressive move tell us about what the Cowboys believe they can become?

It's the complete JOEY PORTER JR. REPORT on How Bout Wow.

@GavinDawson @Newbear

BREAKING: Joey Porter Jr. is a Dallas Cowboy and we brought in one of our favorite defensive minds to explain exactly what this means for Christian Parker’s defense.

Cody Alexander of MatchQuarters.com joins Gavin Dawson and Newbear Lesniewski to break down what Porter brings to Dallas, where he ranks among the NFL’s top corners, and how adding a true man-coverage weapon could change everything Parker is able to call.

We get into the entire Cowboys defense three games into the season:

🔥 What Joey Porter Jr. immediately changes schematically 🔥 The domino effect of trusting Porter one-on-one outside 🔥 The strengths — and shortcomings — Dallas is getting at corner 🔥 Whether the reported long-term extension should concern Cowboys fans 🔥 Why Dallas is allowing 170 rushing yards per game 🔥 Why the Cowboys have produced only TWO sacks 🔥 How injuries in the secondary are forcing Parker to adjust 🔥 Whether Caleb Downs is being used correctly 🔥 What Dallas may have found in Jaishawn Barham at MIKE 🔥 How different Parker’s defense looks from Vic Fangio’s 🔥 Whether the Cowboys need another move to become a legitimate contender

And could Porter actually suit up immediately against Houston?

Coach A takes us inside the X’s and O’s to explain what Cowboys fans should expect — not just from Joey Porter Jr., but from a defense that suddenly has a major new piece to build around.

If you love the football knowledge Cody brings, show him some love in the comments and LIKE the video if you want to see him back on How Bout Wow soon.

Subscribe for daily Cowboys coverage as we follow Dallas’ chase to get back to the glory days.

@GavinDawson | @Newbear

The Dallas Cowboys are 1-2 — but after what just happened to the Eagles, does Houston really feel like a must-win anymore?

The NFC East suddenly looks wide open, and the Cowboys’ upcoming schedule might give them exactly what they need: TIME.

Could eight wins actually put you in the NFC East race? Could Dallas simply hang around .500, get healthy, add a difference-maker or two and still be dangerous when it matters?

On this Week 4 Opening Script, Gavin Dawson breaks down why the landscape may have changed dramatically for the Cowboys.

We’ll get into the Eagles’ ugly start and why their 2-1 record might be misleading, the latest Joey Porter Jr. trade reports and what Dallas should be willing to give up, the Cowboys’ growing injury problems, and some potentially huge injury news coming out of Houston.

Plus, Brian Schottenheimer publicly took responsibility for what went wrong in the final seconds against Baltimore. Was his response enough to make you believe he can lead this team through the first major adversity of his tenure?

And finally, we take our first look at Cowboys-Texans. Houston is 0-3, but is that record hiding a defense that can still cause Dallas major problems?

The Cowboys don't need to fix everything overnight. They need to survive, get healthy and stay close enough to make their move.

The NFC East might just be giving them that opportunity.

Subscribe to How Bout Wow for long-form Cowboys discussion every week with Gavin Dawson and Newbear Lesniewski.

@gavindawson | @newbear

The Cowboys head into Baltimore as 3.5-point underdogs, and the biggest reason isn't hard to find: Dallas is allowing 173.5 rushing yards per game, and now Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry are waiting.

On this edition of How Bout Wow, Gavin Dawson and Newbear Lesniewski break down the matchups that could decide Cowboys-Ravens.

Can the Cowboys defensive front maintain its structure, set the edges and keep Lamar and Henry from wrecking the game? Can Donovan Ezeiruaku take advantage of Baltimore's backup tackle and finally turn pressures into sacks? And with Zay Flowers out, can Daron Bland and Shavon Revel hold up well enough in man coverage to let Dallas devote more resources to stopping Lamar?

On the other side, Tyler Guyton gets a major test against Trey Hendrickson, Terrence Steele has another dangerous matchup, and the Cowboys interior offensive line has to deal with Nnamdi Madubuike. We'll also look at whether Baltimore's lighter dime personnel gives Dallas an opportunity to finally get its running game going.

And then there's the Quinnen Williams question.

Two games into his first full season in Dallas, are we seeing reasons to worry about the trade — or does everyone need to give this some time? And knowing what we know now, would you rather have Quinnen Williams or what could become a very valuable first-round pick?

It's the full Cowboys-Ravens Sunday preview on How Bout Wow.

Please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE and tell us in the comments: Do you like the Cowboys +3.5 against Baltimore?

Follow Gavin: @gavindawson Follow Newbear: @newbear