Cowboys Weekly Edition - Season's End

The Musers The Podcast, January 8, 2026
Hosts: George Dunham & Bob Sturm

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode dives deep into another disappointing end to the Dallas Cowboys’ season. George and Bob reflect on the Cowboys’ 7-9-1 finish, playoff absence, and what’s gone wrong—from coaching decisions to organizational dysfunction—focusing especially on the last game, the Schottenheimer era, and the struggle to establish a winning culture. The hosts also break down the departure of DC Matt Eberflus, rebuilding the defense, and the ongoing tension between Cowboys head coaches and the influence of Jerry Jones. The episode closes with a nostalgic look at past Cowboys greatness and speculative NFL playoff predictions.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Season’s End: Disappointment and Frustration

• The Cowboys ended 7-9-1, missing the playoffs for the second straight year, and for the 10th time in the last 16 seasons.
  • George Dunham: “Damn it, what’s wrong with Brian Schottenheimer? I thought he was getting us to the playoffs.” (00:16)
  • Bob Sturm recounts losing his bet on the Cowboys’ win total and being let down, especially after they traded away their best player early in the season.
• The season finale, a 34-17 loss to the Giants, typified the year’s low points: lack of energy, unprofessional play, and organizational confusion.
  • Bob: “It was a low IQ performance, which I suppose means everybody kind of gave up already… There has to be a professionalism about the way you go about your business.” (01:36)

The “Playing to Win” Controversy

• Schottenheimer had preached culture change and “playing to win,” but pulling Dak Prescott at halftime sent mixed signals.
  • George: “I saw other teams that didn’t have anything to play for—take the Detroit Lions—played their ever living tails off… For this team, I think it could have mattered a little bit. No, this is how we play.” (04:05)
  • Bob: Uses the Dan Campbell/Detroit example to highlight difference in coaching approaches, questioning if Schottenheimer (or any Cowboys coach) has true autonomy.
• The hosts question whether the decision to pull Dak was a coaching move or came from “on high.” A trusted Cowboys source tells George it was Schottenheimer’s choice, which leads to mixed feelings: “What are you doing?” (10:58)

Organizational Dysfunction & Coaching Power

• The hosts dissect the recurring issue of Cowboys head coaches lacking real authority due to Jerry Jones’ meddling.
  • Bob: “In the Jerry Jones era, he has hired a certain type of head coach, and that head coach invariably is willing to be submissive to the Jones family… You're only going to get submissive coaches.” (19:00)
  • George: Wonders if a great coach could ever win in Dallas under Jerry’s system. Bob concedes it’s possible “if the team is too good to fail,” but says the odds are slim without organizational change (22:27, 23:47).
  • The hosts critique Jerry's habit of holding impromptu press conferences that overshadow his coaches:
    Bob: “He wants to be the main character in the Dallas Cowboys story. And it comes with cost.” (26:51)

The Matt Eberflus Departure & Defensive Meltdown

• Eberflus is let go after fielding the worst defense in franchise history (“Over 500 points allowed. Third down defense was atrocious. Coverage was atrocious…”) (31:49)
  • George: “Somewhere in there, belief in [Eberflus] and the system stopped amongst the players.”
  • Bob: “This defense took a bad defense and became way worse… They don’t have the dogs” (54:53)
• The lack of player accountability, stubborn reliance on underperformers like Kenneth Murray, and confusion over defensive philosophy are all blamed.
  • Locker room chatter suggested players were happy to see Eberflus go because of his inflexible player usage (30:56).
• The Cowboys enter the offseason lacking quality defenders and direction, raising questions about future defensive coordinators and schemes.

Searching for the Next Defensive Coordinator & Identity

• The hosts run through possible candidates (Jim Leonhard, Jeff Ulbrich, Aidan Durde, Raheem Morris), emphasizing need for a leader with high standards and an identity.
  • George: “I want the defensive coordinator that it pains him to give up a first down… someone that comes in here and says ‘this is how we tackle. This is how we break down.’” (45:12)
  • Bob: Urges against the “shortcut” of veteran trades: “You need dogs. The only way to get them is in the draft.” (48:16)
• They call for a clear scouting/drafting philosophy tied to a consistent scheme, rather than the “man-chasing-butterfly” approach of recent years (50:01).

Memorable Quotes & Notable Moments

On Cowboys Culture and Jerry Jones’ Influence

• Bob Sturm (on Jerry Jones): “If you only hire from the pool of people that [Jerry] is convinced will never stage a mutiny or a coup… those guys are not candidates to completely take over the culture and establish an environment uniquely theirs.” (21:35)
• Bob: “He wants to be the main character in the Dallas Cowboys story. And it comes with cost. And the cost is his head coach is never given the full power of a head coach.” (26:51)
• George: “Let me ask you this. Am I naive to feel that if you have the right coach and the right players, you can still win here and win it all here?” (22:16)
• Bob: “Of course you can win here for sure… but if you need a complete overhaul of the culture, in the life of Jerry Jones you’re only going to get submissive coaches.” (22:31, 23:47)

Defensive Woes & Rebuilding Strategy

• George Dunham: “This was the worst Cowboys defense in the history of the franchise… Gave up over 500 points.” (31:49)
• Bob Sturm: “They don’t have the dogs… When people throw out, ‘Hey, let’s get Brian Flores’—do you think Brian Flores could take these guys and run his defense? There’s no way.” (38:11)
• George: “I’d only hang on to about six or seven of these guys on defense.” (34:46)

On Draft Philosophy

• Bob: “I think one of the reasons the Cowboys right now have such little talent on their defense is because they don’t have a global philosophy on what they’re looking for and stick with it.” (52:27)

On Coaching Mentality

• George: “I want someone that comes in here and says, this is how we tackle. This is how we break down… That’s the mentality I want here in Dallas.” (45:12)

Important Timestamps

• Season Recap & Coaching Critique: 00:05 – 13:00
• Cowboys' Lack of Culture & Coaching Power: 17:38 – 23:47
• Jerry Jones' Influence and Press Conference Rant: 25:36 – 27:06
• Matt Eberflus Firing, Defensive Breakdown: 31:49 – 54:22
• Defensive Coordinator Candidates & Building Identity: 41:32 – 50:01
• Historical Cowboys Anecdote (1975/1976): 54:22 – 63:10
• NFL Playoffs & Super Bowl Predictions: 63:10 – 69:17

1975/1976 Cowboys Nostalgia

• The show reminisces about the 1975 wild card team’s improbable run to Super Bowl X—contrasting today’s Cowboys with the culture, toughness, and standards of past teams.
  • Bob shares a Dallas Morning News recap from 1976’s NFC Championship win over the Rams:
    “No longer are the Dallas Cowboys a team of the past or of the future. They are now.” (58:57)
  • George: “Thanks for taking me back to a time that was much better, Bob, as a young Cowboys fan, just knowing, okay, these Pittsburgh Steelers are about to find out in Super Bowl 10 what the Vikings and Rams now know.” (63:07)

Playoff Predictions

• George: Picks the Seattle Seahawks, praising their offensive line and defense, but notes concern over QB Sam Darnold (65:39)
• Bob: Leans toward a Bills-Rams Super Bowl, but admits he “does not have the slightest clue” in such an open year (66:40)
• Discussion highlights how this postseason, missing Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, and Joe Burrow, feels more unpredictable than ever.

Closing

• Tease for next week: Bob will share what Dak Prescott said that annoyed him most.
• Final sendoff:
  • George: “We covered a lot of ground right there—unlike a Cowboy linebacker this year…” (68:54)
  • Bob: “I never circled back to what Dax said that annoyed me. So we're going to write that down for next week.” (69:10)

Bottom Line:
This episode is a candid, often funny but ultimately sobering post-mortem of the Cowboys’ season, filled with organizational critique, hope for finding “dogs” in the draft, and longing for a winning culture. The chemistry and passion between George and Bob, as well as their historical knowledge, make it a must-listen for fans hoping for a better future—or simply longing for the past.