How a Win Over the Lions Could Make the Cowboys a Contender

Can the Dallas Cowboys continue their improbable run to a playoff berth or will the Detroit Lions get back on track with a pivotal win on Thursday night? Can the Pittsburgh Steelers actually summit the AFC race despite their offensive issues? And is the New York Giants’ head-coaching job more about managing personalities than drawing up plays?

James Palmer and Dianna Russini start in New York, where Joe Schoen addressed the media during the Giants bye week. They dig into what ownership really wants in the next Giants coach and how to handle their talented young core — Malik Nabers, Abdul Carter, Jaxson Dart at quarterback — might be the biggest part of the job.

James and Dianna zoom out to the looming coaching carousel. How many jobs will actually open? Why is there no obvious big name candidate in this cycle and which coordinators might be better off staying exactly where they are?

Next the debate begins with several bubble teams trying to reach the postseason. James and Dianna debate whether the Steelers can still make the climb if the Ravens’ offense keeps sputtering and Pittsburgh’s defense continues to force turnovers.

The season is on the brink for the Chiefs as they face off against a Texans defense that nobody wants to play. Would this be the first year of the Patrick Mahomes era that Kansas City misses the playoffs?

The conversation shifts to the Dallas Cowboys, who enter Thursday night with a massive opportunity to reshape the NFC playoff race. James and Dianna break down why this matchup with the Detroit Lions could be the turning point for Dallas, and how a win would catapult the Cowboys into a far more favorable postseason path.

Plus, James and Dianna break down how the Carolina Panthers quietly climbed back into the mix with a smart, physical win over the Rams. Dave Canales’ formula — run the ball, hit chunk plays, force turnovers and control the clock — is working, but only if Bryce Young is a timely assassin in 20–25 throws instead of a volume passer. Can that version of Carolina actually win the division?

Lions beat writer Colton Pouncy joins the show to take you inside the Detroit locker room. Are they tight or still loose with their season on the line? How concerned are they about short-yardage and red-zone struggles, and what does this offense look like if Amon-Ra can’t go or is clearly limited against a Dallas team that can light up the scoreboard?

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Which bubble team do you trust most to “summit” and reach the playoffs? Drop your pick in the comments!

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