During the latest “Halfway Heights Hotline” on the “New Heights” podcast, a caller named Rhonda, who identified herself as a fan of both the New England Patriots and the Kansas City Chiefs, had a question for Jason and Travis Kelce and guest Beau Allen: Are the Cowboys done for this year?

Rhonda, it turned out, was looking for backup in a debate with her boyfriend, a Dallas fan, and she wanted the panel to settle it once and for all. Jason was happy to supply the ammunition.

Jason Kelce Has Seen Enough of the Cowboys’ Defense

In his reply, Travis left the door open a crack. “Listen, halfway through the year, [they] always got a chance,” he said before handing the question to Beau Allen.

Allen’s assessment of the Cowboys’ defense was considerably harsher.

“The Cowboys are [expletive] done. That defense is terrible to watch,”he said. “I don’t know what I’d rather watch, the Vikings’ offense from last night or the Cowboys’ defense.”

The Minnesota Vikings suffered an embarrassing 23-6 loss to the Buffalo Bills on “Monday Night Football.”

Minnesota managed just 178 total yards, including 52 on its final possession after Max Brosmer entered with the game effectively decided. Allen’s comparison of that unit with Dallas’ defense is brutal, to say the least.

The discussion then turned to whether the NFC East offered Dallas a realistic route into the postseason. The division’s shortcomings were acknowledged, but Jason saw the Giants as a sticking point.

“I understand the NFC East is not everything it’s cracked up to be. I do not think they’re going to beat the Giants,” Jason said. “Their defense is bad, bad… They almost lost to the Colts, who are admittedly foregoing the season.”

The former Eagles center then doubled down on his skepticism about Dallas’ postseason chances.

“I’m saying I do not think the Cowboys are gonna make the playoffs… I feel comfortable saying that. Their defense is atrocious,” Jason piled on.

The numbers give that skepticism some substance. Through Week 9, Dallas ranks dead last at No. 32 in the league with a PFN Defense Impact Score of 63.1.

That is a difficult foundation for a team trying to climb back into the postseason picture. The offense can put Dallas in a position to win, but a defense ranked this poorly makes every close game stressful.

The Cowboys improved to 4-5 by beating the Indianapolis Colts 27-23 on Sunday, but they had to rally late to get it. It was not the stress-free afternoon fans wanted.