Kristi Scales, the sideline reporter for the Dallas Cowboys radio network, answered questions about the team in a live chat recently. Here are some highlights:

Question: What was your favorite and least favorite road trip this season? Why?

Kristi Scales: The best road trip of 2016 was Lambeau Field because the 30-16 win at the Packers was more convincing than the final score. The way the cowboys executed in both sides of the ball in a tough place to play, that is when I felt like this team had a real chance to do something special. The defense held Rodgers in check and Jordy Nelson caught 5 passes for only 68 yds. The cowboys offense controlled the line of scrimmage (Zeke had 157 rushing yards that day). Beasley had 2 TDs. Hard to describe the feeling coming home on the team charter that night...it was a feeling of confidence that this team was really starting to roll.

Question: Besides a rookie QB having one of the best seasons in NFL history, what about this year's Cowboys team has surprised you the most?

Kristi Scales: Scoring defense and run defense. The Cowboys finished top 5 in scoring defense allowing only 19.1 points per game. Tops were the Patriots followed by the Giants, Seahawks and Broncos...then Dallas. The Cowboys led the league in run defense allowing a stingy 83.5 yards per game and less than 4 yards per rush (3.9). So much for the defense being the weak link of this team!

Question: Which of the players entering free agency would top your list to be re-signed?

Kristi Scales: I would love to have LG Ron Leary back in 2017, but he will command a handsome contract as an unrestricted free agent. My biggest concern is the secondary. 3 of 4 starters are free agents after this season (CBs Carr and Claiborne, S Barry Church). S JJ Wilcox is also a free agent. Carr is the most under appreciated player on this roster by fans, in my opinion. It's because he does not have INTs to show for his initial $50.1 million contract. But he is a solid CB and very reliable, there every play of every game. Claiborne is unreliable due to injury. Church is the glue back there and respected by teammates and coaches, also underrated by many fans. And Wilcox has improved and is the physical presence. He's the thumper on the defense. It will be interesting to see which guys command good offers and whether the Cowboys will be able to match it.

Question: How much do players get paid for playoff games, and do the Cowboys players get paid this weekend for securing the bye?

Kristi Scales: In the Wild Card Round, players on the division winner receive $27,000 and the wild card entry team gets $24,000 per player. Cowboys players will not receive anything during the wild card round because it is their bye weekend. In the Duvisonal Round, all players receive $27,000. For the Conference Championship Game it is $49,000 per player. For the Super Bowl, players on the winning team receive $107,000 and the losers get $53,000 each. If the Cowboys make it all the way to the Super Bowl and win, they will each earn $183,000.

Question: Was Challenger's flight at the Cowboys-Eagles game, or Cotton Bowl more majestic?

Kristi Scales: Hah! For those not in on the joke, a bald eagle named Challenger was part of pregame ceremonies at both the Cowboys-Eagles game in Philly on Sunday as well as The Cotton Bowl in Arlington on Monday. It flew from the upper decks to the field during the National Anthem. I will choose Philly because the backdrop was a beautiful blue sky, not a scoreboard. Here is my query: did the bird's handlers buy it a plane ticket to transport it from Philly to DFW, or did Challenger fly itself the 1,302 air miles to Arlington? Surely it can cover that space in 24 hours, right?

Click here to view the full chat.