The Musers The Podcast: Cowboys Weekly Edition (vs Vikings)

Date: December 11, 2025
Hosts: George Dunham, Bob Sturm
Network: Cumulus Podcast Network

Episode Overview

This Cowboys Weekly Edition dives deep into the Dallas Cowboys' rollercoaster season, specifically assessing the fallout from their recent loss to the Detroit Lions, current playoff prospects, and the upcoming matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. With George and Bob's trademark blend of sharp football analysis and witty banter, the duo explores critical in-game issues, micro-analyzes player performances (notably George Pickens), and breaks down divisional rivalry developments, especially the Philadelphia Eagles' surprising collapse.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Recapping the Cowboys’ Recent Stretch and Lions Loss

[00:35-05:14]

• Three Areas of Concern Post-Lions Loss:

  • Fatigue: The Lions game was the fourth contest in 17 days. Both hosts concurred that the Cowboys looked worn out. (“It felt like a team that might have been running on fumes a little bit...they were just going to come up empty and, and they were playing a desperate Lions team.” — Bob Sturm, 02:20)

  • Missed Opportunities Earlier in Season: Multiple earlier “killer losses” (Arizona, Carolina, Chicago) now loom large in the playoff race.

  • Game-Specific Problems: Gave up 91 points to Detroit across last two meetings, exposing their defense's inability to adapt.

• Special Teams Disasters and Hidden Yardage:
  Dallas constantly surrendered field position due to poor coverage and critical penalties (e.g., kick returns to the 47, turnovers in their own territory).
  (“There's 30 yards in hidden yardage and it's not that hidden when it's that obvious.” — George, 05:14)
  Turnover margin now a staggering -8.

• Notable quote:
  “There is no way a team has ever won the Super Bowl with a minus eight this late in the season.” — George, 06:17

2. Anatomy of a Team Loss – Blame to Share

[06:41-09:34]

• No Individual Scapegoats:
  The disaster was collective—offensive line ("brutal"), Jake Ferguson’s fumble ("killer"), George Pickens’ lack of effort, special teams ("fake fair catch"), and defensive lapses.

• Turnovers Are Plaguing the Cowboys:
  Both hosts are exasperated by the inability to win turnover battles. Ferguson and Pickens are singled out for pivotal mistakes that changed momentum.

3. Defensive Woes and the Post-Parsons Reality

[11:13-14:16]

• Even With Mistakes, They Had a Chance:
  With 9:52 left, Dallas had trimmed the lead to 30-27, only to let Detroit waltz down the field. Missed tackles, lack of pass rush, poor third-down defense.

• The “Post-Parsons” Conundrum:
  “Now that we are post Micah Parsons and he’s not coming back, they don’t get sacks and they don’t get takeaways.” — Bob, 12:24
  The Cowboys previously thrived on defensive “cheat codes” (sacks, takeaways, holding penalties), but these are now gone.

• Defensive Resource Allocation:
  Trading defensive stars (Parsons, Lawrence) for defensive tackles has weakened strengths while not solving the main problems.
  “Now it’s the holes in the dike. And you’re using this hand to plug this one, but now this one springs open.” — Bob, 14:42

4. Lions’ Offensive Gameplan & Weak Links in Cowboys Defense

[16:00-20:56]

• Lions isolated their RB Gibbs on Cowboys LBs, used quick passes to avoid pressure, attacked with “catch and run” plays.
• Cowboys’ defense is hamstrung: when playing man coverage, lack the personnel to keep up; forced to zone due to lack of viable corners.
• Quote:
  “Detroit spreads you out. And if they want to go at Kenneth Murray, they can. If they want to go at Ready Steward, they can...Football teams can spread you out and find your weak link.” — Bob, 18:38

5. George Pickens Under the Microscope

[20:56-26:43]

• Effort Level Questioned:
  Following a muted game, Pickens’ motivation and body language are dissected. Both hosts agree this was his worst performance of the season, marked by poor third-down efforts and questionable route-running.

  • “That jogging route that went incomplete where Dak went to talk to him, like, what exactly was that?” — George, 21:53

• Contract Debates:
  Extensive discussion about risk of giving Pickens a big extension — can his behavior remain stable with a long-term deal?

  • “If I hand this guy the moon, is it going to make his behavior untenable?” — Bob, 25:00
  • Bob’s stance: "This is something on the page, but it’s not the whole page...Are you still okay extension wise?" [26:43]

• Leadership Factors:
  Both trust in Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb’s leadership to keep Pickens in check.

  • “With those two guys running my offensive huddle, I’d ask both if they want this trade to happen. And there’ll be times where I’ll need you to police him.” — Bob, 27:34

6. Cowboys’ Playoff Chances and the Eagles’ Collapse

[30:16-38:30]

• Playoff Math:

  • Cowboys at 6-6-1, Eagles at 8-5. A game and a half back, with four games remaining.
  • Division remains, barely, in play; wild card “pretty difficult.”
  • Losses to direct rivals (Chicago, Detroit, Carolina) make tiebreakers tough.

• Eagles Problems:

  • Three straight losses for Philly. Offense called “absolutely brutal,” with quarterback issues and team-wide tension.
  • “I cannot explain to you how bad their quarterback play has been since October and since their bye week.” — Bob, 40:11

• Emotional Leadership Comparison:

  • Dak’s sideline energy and engagement highlighted as a contrast to Hurts’ withdrawn, passive demeanor during Eagles’ crisis.
  • “You look at Dak on the sideline versus Jalen Hurts. Dak is up and down the line, hey, let’s do this...And you look at [Hurts, he’s] just sitting by himself saying that’s my bad. Maybe that’s what that team’s waiting for from him...” — George, 42:15

7. Remaining Schedules — Can the Cowboys or Eagles Take Control?

[44:57-46:18]

• For Dallas to overtake Philly, they’d need to win out and Philly would need to stumble, possibly twice, in their remaining games (Raiders, two Washington games, at Buffalo).
• "I don’t hate a 4-0. I feel way more comfortable with 3-1, but that’s not going to get you there." — Bob, 45:58

8. Vikings Preview: Scouting the Matchup

[47:50-56:05]

• Vikings Context:

  • Minnesota enters at 5-8, with rookie QB JJ McCarthy struggling with NFL adjustment (“he just doesn’t know what he’s looking at” — Bob, 52:50).
  • Defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ blitz-happy unit: #1 in NFL in blitz rate (49%), top-15 in most defensive stats.
  • “Those Vikings defenses do not play around. There are many times...where they can totally reduce you to something that is not particularly what you had in mind.” — Bob, 50:12

• Cowboys Offense vs. Vikings D:

  • Javonte Williams’ challenge picking up blitzes has grown worse through the season; expect the Vikings to attack this weakness.
  • Anticipate a game where Cowboys’ WRs (Pickens, Lamb) will have opportunities on slant/comeback routes against aggressive pressure.

• Cowboys Run Game Crisis:

  • Dramatic drop: from top-three in run-game success rate after 5 games (jet game) to 30th since then.
  • Both hosts express concern about line, backfield fatigue, and the need to address RB in the offseason.
  • “From third to 30th is drastic.” — Bob, 57:52

9. Closing: The Tall Odds and the Cowboys’ Mindset

[59:23-end]

• Both express skepticism that division will flip, but acknowledge “anything can happen” if Eagles lose to the Raiders.
• Empathy for Raiders fans’ misery: “Having season tickets to the Raiders. You would just be dreading Sunday arriving.” — George, 61:29
• The show closes with the hope that the coming week brings renewed optimism for Cowboy Nation, and a mutual pledge:
  • “Let’s reconvene and do this again next week. What do you say?”
  • “I can’t wait. We will be here. Football Friends.” — 62:32

Memorable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• “91 points in two games against Detroit in consecutive years, different coordinators, but 91 points and you just have no prayer of stopping the Lions offense.” — Bob, 04:29
• “There is no way a team has ever won the Super Bowl with a minus eight this late in the season.” — George, 06:17
• “Now that we are post Micah Parsons and he’s not coming back, they don’t get sacks and they don’t get takeaways.” — Bob, 12:24
• “Football teams can spread you out and find your weak link.” — Bob, 18:38
• “If I hand this guy the moon, is it going to make his behavior untenable?” (on George Pickens) — Bob, 25:00
• “I cannot explain to you how bad their quarterback play has been since October and since their bye week.” (on the Eagles) — Bob, 40:11
• “Having season tickets to the Raiders. You would just be dreading Sunday arriving.” — George, 61:29

Important Segments & Timestamps

• Lions Loss Analysis & Special Teams Discussion: 00:35 – 09:34
• Defensive Problems Post-Parsons: 11:13 – 14:42
• Pickens’ Effort and Contract Talk: 20:56 – 27:34
• Cowboys’ Playoff Outlook & Eagles’ Collapse: 30:16 – 44:57
• Vikings Preview & Run Game Concerns: 47:50 – 58:35

Takeaways

• The Cowboys are a team fraying at the seams in key areas: defense without star playmakers, a run game that’s vanished, special teams miscues, and offense dependent on volatile personalities.
• The division is mathematically alive, but only most optimistic scenario-breakers believe fully.
• The Eagles’ collapse is as much emotional as it is tactical, with Hurts’ body language and sideline demeanor drawing pointed contrast to Prescott’s.
• The next matchup with Minnesota is both a potentially favorable “get right” game—but the Vikings’ defense is not to be underestimated.

Tone and Vibe

Wry, honest, and football-nerdy with a heavy dose of gallows humor. George and Bob break down ugly losses with both clinical and comedic insight, never losing sight of the absurdities and hopes unique to Cowboys fandom.

For die-hards and casual fans alike, this episode delivers a transparent, often funny but never sugarcoated picture of where the Cowboys’ season stands, and what to expect as the playoff race tightens.