The Musers The Podcast: Cowboys Weekly Edition (vs. Packers)

Date: September 25, 2025
Hosts: George Dunham & Bob Sturm
Network: Cumulus Podcast Network

Overview

This episode of The Musers The Podcast dives deeply into the Dallas Cowboys' disappointing start to the 2025 season, focusing on the defensive collapse in a recent loss to the Chicago Bears, the mounting injuries—especially on offense—and the looming drama of facing former star Micah Parsons, now a Packer, on Sunday Night Football. George and Bob blend sobering analysis, nostalgia, and humor as they explore the Cowboys’ problems, debate accountability within the franchise, and preview the emotional return of Parsons.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

Cowboys Defense: The Collapse

• Progressive Decline: George and Bob open with frank disbelief at how badly the defense has regressed over three games, comparing the current defense to historically awful Cowboys units from 1989 and 2020.

  • "[The defense] has gotten progressively worse… I don't think I've ever seen worse zone defense played than whatever it is the Cowboys are playing right now." — George [02:15]

• NFL Film Study & No Mercy: Bob explains how early-season “mystery” quickly evaporates as teams identify and exploit the Cowboys’ flaws.

  • "The Giants sort of pulled your pants down for the entire NFL, and now it might be a feeding frenzy until it gets fixed…" — Bob [03:41]

• Schematic Simplicity: George relays that even opponents see the defense as basic and easy to attack.

  • “At the NFL level, whatever they're doing is really elementary, easy to exploit, and that's exactly what [the Bears] did.” — George [05:59]

• The Flea Flicker Breakdown: Bob analyzes the viral flea flicker TD, noting the fundamental flaws and the position the safety (Malik Hooker) was put in.

  • “It’s kind of funny in a sad sort of way… Malik Hooker is dealing with the most sinking of feelings because he's got two guys running at different points… and he can't cover both of them.” — Bob [06:24]

• Statistical Rock Bottom: The Cowboys rank dead last or close to last in key defensive categories.

  • "They're 32nd in passing yards allowed, 32nd in passing yards per play… 32nd in third down conversions, and 30th in yards against." — Bob [08:24]

Effort, Accountability, and Culture

• Lack of Competition for Jobs: Both hosts bemoan the Cowboys’ “anti-meritocracy,” saying starters are too secure despite poor performance.

  • “If I were to call in my biggest problem with the Cowboys football organization in modern times, it's the lack of a meritocracy … [starters] are almost never taken away. … That’s horrible.” — Bob [11:30]
  • “Guys are awarded [jobs] with contracts or draft position and then are almost never taken away.” — Bob [11:45]

• Calling Out Players: George specifically calls for Trayvon Diggs to be benched, even as he acknowledges Diggs is rehabbing injury.

  • “He should not be on the field… I hope Nick Saban didn’t see that [effort] on Sunday. That was embarrassing.” — George [10:04]

Offensive Woes and Injuries

• O-Line Troubles: Injuries to the starting offensive line (including Tyler Booker and Cooper Beebe) further limit options, forcing poor-performing players (like Tyler Guyton) to stay on the field.

  • “If I had enough guys healthy … I’d kick Tyler Smith out to left tackle… go with your best five. That’s been shot to pieces because of injuries.” — George [15:22]

• Measuring Offensive Success: Bob offers statistical nuance, noting strong yardage but fatal failures on third down and in the red zone.

  • “The Cowboys, on a success rate standpoint, had an excellent game… But 3 for 11 on third downs is brutal… red zone, one for four… many drive killers.” — Bob [16:56]
  • “If you got 400 yards, you should have 28 points… If you have 14, then you shot yourself in the foot.” — Bob [18:53]

Team Injuries – Short and Long Term

• Key Players Out: CeeDee Lamb (ankle), Cooper Beebe (center), and Tyler Booker (high ankle sprain)—all sidelined for weeks.

  • “Now, the one side of the ball you felt good about… we're now taking away significant players every week.” — Bob [33:47]

• Running CD Lamb: Minor debate over running CeeDee Lamb out of the backfield leading to his injury—both agree injuries are inevitable in football.

  • “Sometimes football players get hurt playing football and it stinks. … But they are. And that’s one of the deals of this great sport that we love.” — Bob [32:01]

Leadership and Expectations

• Dak Prescott’s Burden: With weapons and blockers dropping like flies, both agree that quarterback Dak Prescott (and coordinator Brian Schottenheimer) must elevate the team.

  • “A lot of this is up to Dak now… let’s make this work. … Everyone’s got these problems.” — George [35:42]
  • “That's what the money’s for… go out there and figure it out.” — Bob, quoting Don Draper [36:17]

• Offensive Potential Remains: Despite injuries, there’s cautious hope—new receivers will get a chance, and the team must “compete.”

  • “It seems like this team… just when you think, man, they have no chance… they will turn around and throw out a game where you think well, okay, maybe they got something.” — George [41:25]

Nostalgia & Side Topics

Bob’s 1975 Cowboys Retrospective

A palate cleanser mid-show as George and Bob geek out about Bob’s ongoing real-time 50th-anniversary project covering the 1975 "Dirty Dozen" Cowboys.

• Newspaper Deep Dive: Bob reads old Dallas Morning News and Star-Telegram archives daily and shares trivia and context from that era.
  • “I have to tell you, it's so much fun for me… 75 Cowboys Rewind, if you want to follow along on a 50 year old journey.” — Bob [26:41]
• Charm and Lessons: Highlights smaller rosters, blackout rules, and the difference in team-building philosophy from the Landry era.

Packers Preview: Micah Parsons Returns

The Micah Drama

• Unprecedented Move: Micah Parsons, still in his prime, returns as a Packer after a trade saga nobody saw coming.

  • “I can’t think of another example like this where a guy…here he comes and he's out to annihilate your quarterback.” — George [44:52]
  • “I've never seen anything like this because it's so out of character… I've never seen Jerry say goodbye to a player in his prime.” — Bob [44:54]

• Locker Room & Field Reactions: Bob doesn't expect animosity from players, but immense pride and a determination to not let Micah “be the main character.”

  • “I anticipate that… nothing will be more important [to Jerry] than making sure they at least win the Micah battle.” — Bob [46:26]

Flashbacks: Comparing to Randy Moss

• Thanksgiving 1998: George is haunted by the memory of Randy Moss torching the Cowboys after they passed on him in the draft, pondering if Parsons will have a similar revenge night.
  • “What if [Micah] does go off for three sacks… and the Packers bounce back?” — George [48:07]

Packers’ Strengths and Current Form

• Defense Elevated: Parsons’ presence allows Green Bay’s other strong defenders to thrive, potentially overwhelming the Cowboys’ patchwork line.

  • “He is still that guy… driving teams crazy… now that defense is going to be schemed up to try to cause all manner of headaches.” — Bob [51:05]

• Offensive Issues, But Capable: The Packers are banged up at WR and OL but are unlikely to recreate last year’s playoff demolition.

  • “They’re good. I still think Detroit and Philadelphia are a tier above them, but maybe it’s early and we shall see.” — Bob [54:39]

• Cowboys’ Best Defense: Run the Ball & Limit Mistakes: Bob and George see running and a mistake-free game as the best hope to “steal” a close win.

Notable Defensive Additions and Tactics

• LB Speed: Packers' Edgerrin Cooper (A&M) and Quay Walker (Georgia) are highlighted as super-athletic LBs, making running the ball tough.

Cowboys-Packers History

• Mike McCarthy/Late Season Trauma: Packers have dominated Cowboys since 2008; losses often preceded or should have precipitated coaching changes (Wade Phillips, Jason Garrett, even McCarthy).

  • “Every game has its own story… I think a Cowboy coach should probably be fired after just about every one.” — Bob [60:31]

• Crowd Warning: Expect significant Packer fan presence; Cowboys may have to use a silent count at home.

  • “I think the Cowboys may have to use a silent count a couple of times on Sunday night.” — George [62:03]

• Regret Over Trading Parsons to a Rival: Both hosts marvel at the short-sightedness of trading Parsons to Green Bay of all teams.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “I almost prefer incompetence to not trying.” — Bob [10:44]
• “We need 22 dogs on this Cowboys field to go out there and compete. … We can't have a garbage season this early.” — Bob [63:33]
• “[Micah is] a Chihuahua that thinks he’s a bulldog … perfect because that little guy just gets hammered out there on the field.” — Bob, referencing Brad Sham’s comment about Kevante Turpin [40:17]

Key Timestamps

| Time | Segment Description | |-----------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:34 | Cowboy defensive collapse after Chicago loss; season outlook | | 03:11 | Film study, league-wide awareness of Dallas's weaknesses | | 05:22 | Bears assistant coach: “Cowboys D is easy to exploit” | | 08:24 | League-worst defensive stats for Cowboys | | 11:30 | Cowboys' lack of accountability and anti-meritocracy | | 16:56 | Measuring offensive “success” & fatal red zone problems | | 26:41 | Bob’s 1975 Cowboys nostalgia project | | 29:05 | CD Lamb, Cooper Beebe, Tyler Booker injuries update | | 32:01 | Should CD Lamb have taken carries at RB; nature of football injuries | | 35:42 | Dak and Schottenheimer must adapt to OL/WR injuries | | 41:25 | Cowboys’ history of bouncing back (“suckering us in again”) | | 44:52 | Micah Parsons homecoming analysis | | 48:07 | Flashback to Thanksgiving 1998, Randy Moss’ revenge game | | 51:05 | Micah’s impact on GB defense, Packers’ scheme vs. Dallas OL | | 54:39 | Packers offense overview; banged-up but still dangerous | | 60:31 | History of Cowboys-Packers matchups leading to Cowboys coaching changes | | 62:03 | Warning about “silent count” due to Packers fans at AT&T Stadium | | 63:33 | “We need 22 dogs… Can't have a garbage season this early.” |

Conclusion

This episode is a must-listen for die-hard Cowboys (or Packers) fans seeking unfiltered insight, historical context, and honest frustration. George and Bob capture the blend of existential angst, nostalgia, and ridiculous unpredictability at the heart of the modern Cowboys—and preview a Packers game loaded with emotion, risk, and revenge.

Verdict:

• Can the Cowboys clean up their defense, adapt offensively to injuries, and avoid a Parsons-powered humiliation? As always, The Musers will be back next week—win, lose, or draw.