Overview of 3 & Out - Reaction to Dak Prescott & Cowboys BLOWOUT WIN vs. Geno Smith & Raiders
Host John Middlekauff (3 & Out, The Volume / iHeart) reacts to Monday Night Football where the Dallas Cowboys dominated the Las Vegas Raiders. The episode mixes a game recap with broader NFL analysis (coaching, roster construction, front office decisions), a mailbag answering listener questions, and college-football notes (James Franklin, Lane Kiffin). The tone is blunt and opinionated — especially on the Raiders, Pete Carroll, and how “bad teams stay bad.”
Quick game recap & immediate takeaways
- Cowboys dominated the Raiders in a Monday Night blowout — Dak Prescott and OC Brian Schottenheimer got praise for offensive polish and Dak’s rapport with his playmakers.
- Raiders were described as “horrendous” on both sides of the ball: offensive line issues, lack of skill talent, and poor coaching/coordination highlighted as main reasons for the lopsided result.
- George Pickens (Cowboys WR acquisition) stood out; Brian Schottenheimer was credited with making him look explosive and consistent.
- Geno Smith and the Raiders offense were ineffective; the hosting crew questioned the Raiders’ coaching hires and roster construction.
Key arguments and analysis
Raiders — coaching, roster and ownership questions
- Pete Carroll (74 at time of episode) is criticized as the wrong hire for a team that likely needs a rebuild. Host argues Carroll’s philosophy (compete-now, keep veterans) conflicts with a roster that needs teardown/rebuild thinking.
- Chip Kelly’s offensive hire is slammed: high price (~$6M reported) with poor on-field results; host thinks Kelly will be fired if Carroll survives.
- Ownership/structure concerns: Mark Davis and Tom Brady’s involvement were discussed; host suggests possible need for a change in direction or ownership.
- Roster note: Maxx Crosby is repeatedly seen as the Raiders’ top remaining asset — host floated the idea the Raiders should consider trading him if they truly wanted to rebuild.
Cowboys outlook — offense is in good shape; defense needs work
- Dallas has a legitimate offensive foundation: Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, and invested draft capital in the offensive line.
- Brian Schottenheimer praised as a strong OC who can scheme and get the best out of his weapons.
- Main issue for Dallas remains defensive talent/upgrade needs; with correct offseason moves (draft + free agency), Dallas could be a serious playoff team within a short window (host mentioned 2026 as realistic).
Broader NFL themes discussed
- Why bad teams stay bad: three examples were explored — Atlanta Falcons (questionable QB decisions and cap moves), New York Jets (dead cap from Aaron Rodgers/Justin Fields situation), Arizona Cardinals (poor QB situation and ownership/GM instability).
- Coaching marketplace & compensation: host argued top coaches are underpaid relative to the value they provide and owner revenue; highlighted Jim Harbaugh, Kyle Shanahan, Sean McVay as examples of high-impact coaches.
- Quarterback volatility: the podcast repeatedly returns to QB impact — Josh Allen’s elite performance, the limitations of Jared Goff in cold/outdoor environments, and the consequences of poor QB investments (ex: Falcons’ choices).
- Concussion protocol defense: host defends strict concussion protocols as risk/insurance-driven after lawsuits, acknowledging imperfect outcomes but calling protocol understandable.
- Discipline: host argued spitting on an opponent should draw immediate suspension with no pay (calls for strong punishments for spitting).
Selected mailbag highlights (questions & concise answers)
- Are top coaches underpaid? Host: yes — elite coaches create enormous institutional value and should be paid more.
- Strength of schedule myths: Strength of schedule matters and gets factored into analysis, but talent and injuries also heavily influence outcomes.
- Should the Bucs move off Todd Bowles? Host: not straightforward — accountability is complex; would have preferred Liam Coen’s promotion earlier, but wholesale firings aren’t simple.
- Jamar Chase spitting on Jalen Ramsey: should be punished — host supports suspension/no pay for spitting.
- Josh Allen vs. Mahomes: host called Josh Allen the best QB in the NFL right now after a dominant recent performance.
- Jared Goff/Lions: host believes Detroit can win big if healthy and playing in a dome, but Goff has limitations (mobility, cold-weather concerns). Replacing him is easier said than done.
- Concussion protocol complaints: host defends protocol as necessary legal/medical response despite frustrations over in-game outcomes.
- Notre Dame and playoff selection: host trusts eye test; Notre Dame is considered a top-8 team and legitimate playoff candidate despite debates over “quality wins.”
- Rugby question: host explained rugby’s U.S. popularity struggles (football dominates, cultural differences) and mapped which football player types would fit rugby positions.
College football notes
- James Franklin: accepted Virginia Tech job — host praised Franklin for giving back large buyout money to take the job and saw this as evidence of his desire to keep coaching.
- Lane Kiffin: host thinks Lane is “hot” and will likely explore LSU/Florida opportunities; noted that handling such moves is messy and that it’s reasonable for a coach to “look around” when top jobs appear.
Notable lines / insights
- “This team needs to be torn down to the studs.” — about the Raiders and their mismatch with Pete Carroll’s short-term win mentality.
- “If you spit on another player … auto suspension.” — on discipline and league standards.
- “Josh Allen is the best quarterback in the NFL right now.” — praising Allen’s influence and clutch performance.
- Praise for Brian Schottenheimer’s ability to scheme receivers open (contrasted with Raiders’ coaching failures).
Actionable things to watch (offseason & next few months)
- Raiders: will ownership (Mark Davis/Tom Brady group) make a coaching or roster pivot? Watch for potential HC/OC changes and trade rumors involving Maxx Crosby.
- Cowboys: offseason focus should be defensive upgrades — draft and free agency moves to watch.
- Falcons: monitor Michael Penix injury status and how Atlanta handles QB/cap strategy.
- Jets: dead-cap implications from Rodgers/Fields — keep an eye on roster moves and cap-clearing decisions.
- Lane Kiffin decision: potential coaching carousel affecting SEC jobs; Ole Miss, LSU, Florida headlines to watch.
- Draft capital usage: Cowboys (and others) will have important picks — how teams spend these will shape 2025–26 outlooks.
Bottom line
The podcast used a lopsided Cowboys–Raiders game as a springboard for larger NFL critiques: poor hiring/roster construction (Raiders), the value of high-level coordinators (Schottenheimer), QB impact across the league, and organizational choices that keep franchises stuck. Host is skeptical of Pete Carroll’s fit, bullish on the Cowboys’ offensive foundation, and believes several franchises (Falcons, Jets, Cardinals, Raiders, Titans) are mired in systemic issues that won’t be fixed quickly without decisive changes.