Special contributor Kristi Scales recently held a chat to talk all things Dallas Cowboys. Here are some highlights:

Question: What are your key takeaways from the new schedule for next season? Any prediction for wins-losses?

Scales: As sideline reporter (someone who stands outside for 6 hours on game day), the first thing I look at when the NFL schedule is released is 'Where are they sending us in December?' I hate cold weather and was relieved to see the trip to Green Bay takes place in mid-October. Then I saw the regular season finale was New Year's Day in Philly. Oh great, New Year's Eve in Philly! Hmmm...I wonder what a cheesesteak from Pat's or Geno's tastes like at 2 a.m. on New Year's morning. But seriously, when I saw the schedule and saw Philly in late December, I harkened back to one of the strangest moments we had on a team charter flight. We had a cold-weather game in Philly late in the season. A night game, and serious wind chills. You had to be careful walking across the airport tarmac to get on the stairs to board the plane. It was icy. The plane's wings were being de-iced. We sat on board, waiting for departure, as the equipment was being loaded. Finally, it's time to taxi onto the runway. You could hear the engines, but we weren't moving. Why weren't we moving? Well, the airplane's tires were frozen to the tarmac. We literally were stuck in place. The ground crew had to bring back the icing truck...not for the wings, but for the tires. We were frozen to the ground. After a few minutes, we were able to taxi and eventually takeoff. Surely history won't repeat itself this year, right? We got lucky with the weather in 2015 in regards to cold-weather games in December in Buffalo and Green Bay. I'm hoping history repeats itself this coming year, and we don't have to worry about de-icing the tires!

Question: What are your thoughts on the Cowboys' 2016 schedule, especially finishing the season with a road game at Philly?

Scales: The NFL's emphasis the past several years on focusing on division games in December has been good for the NFL. The Cowboys-Eagles game in the finale could decide the NFC East. The Redskins are hosting the Giants at the same time. All that being said, it's important to point out that the Cowboys open the season with two division opponents. Fans tend to focus on the end of the season, but those division games in September count the same in the standings as the December contests.

Question: Saw the new schedule...we ALWAYS have to go to Green Bay?!?!?! Glad you don't have to brave cold temps this year! Bet you're happy about that!

Scales: Hey, I love the fact that the Cowboys have made lots of recent trips to Green Bay....Lambeau is a football mecca and I hope that all fans get a chance to experience it at least once. If you go, on the edge of the stadium parking lot is Kroll's, an old fashioned burger place. Instead of ketchup or mustard, they put a giant pat of butter on their burgers. You literally have butter running down your arms as you eat. Not good for the cholesterol count, but good for the taste buds. As for consecutive trips to Green Bay, the trip in 2016 is a result of the scheduling formula used by the NFL. The NFC East and the NFC North are matched up as inter-conference division games this year. In 2016, the Cowboys road games are Minnesota and Green Bay (last time, the road game were Chicago and Detroit). It's part of the rotation. Last year, the Cowboys played at Green Bay because both had finished in first place in their respective divisions within the NFC.

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Twitter: @KristiCowboy