It’s Friday, December 19th, and Norm is doing that thing where he calmly lays out the facts… while quietly setting the building on fire.

After dumping Mike McCarthy for a 7–10 season (even with Dak missing half the year), the Cowboys hired Brian Schottenheimer and sold everyone the “new coach, new culture, new results” dream. Fast-forward to now: 6–7–1, which is basically the same meal served on a newer plate.

Norm runs through the offseason shopping spree and the draft picks that actually look like real football players… then asks the obvious question: how are they still mediocre? Spoiler: it’s hard to look at a defense giving up 30 points per game and not start writing farewell cards.

Then we get to the main event: Matt Eberflus’ countdown clock. Jerry Jones loves the offense (who wouldn’t?) but hates the defense with the intensity of a man who knows the actuarial tables and is very aware the last NFC Championship appearance was… 30 years ago. After the Vikings game where J.J. McCarthy looked like Tom Brady (no sacks, career-best passer rating), Jerry goes public: he’s “fine with the players,” but the system isn’t working. Which is convenient, because if it’s not the system… well… then it’s the roster. And if it’s the roster… who built it?

Exactly.

CHAPTERS

00:00 – The Premise: Why Are the Cowboys Still the Cowboys?

00:23 – Sponsor: Fluent Financial

01:27 – McCarthy Got Fired at 7–10… So How Is 6–7–1 “Progress”?

02:16 – The Offseason Reinforcements: They Actually Tried This Time

03:10 – Injuries, Diggs, and the “It’s One Player’s Fault” Debate

03:51 – The New Toys: Pickens, Kenny Clark, Quinn Williams, and More

04:35 – Draft Class Check-In: Booker, Aziraku, Revel, and Overshown’s Return

05:11 – The Real Question: With All That… Why Are They Still 6–7–1?

05:58 – Jerry’s Frustration Sets In (Again)

06:49 – Sponsor: Bob’s Steak & Chop House

07:19 – Sponsor: Full Moon Healing Balm

08:33 – The “Almost Certain” Firing: Eberflus’ Days Are Numbered

09:16 – 30 Years Since the NFC Title Game: The Loudest Clock in Dallas

10:11 – Offense = Elite, Defense = Big 12 Level (Allegedly)

10:11 – Defensive Rankings: 31st in Scoring, 29th in Yards, Can’t Cover Anybody

11:49 – The Vikings Game: J.J. McCarthy’s 8th Start Turns Into a Highlight Reel

12:27 – Jerry Goes Public: It’s the System, Not the Players (Sure, Jan)

13:24 – The Real Subtext: If It’s Not the Coach… Then It’s the Guy Picking the Players

14:08 – Sponsor Wrap + Subscribe/Follow

15:11 – Stolen Water Media Sign-Off

It’s Wednesday, December 17th, and Norm Hitzges is already treating the Cowboys like it’s January—because let’s be honest, they’ve been playing for “next year” for a while now.

Norm lays out the real offseason problem: this team can score like a contender (historically so), yet they’re wandering toward mediocrity because the defense couldn’t stop a parade—much less an NFL offense. And now comes the big-money question: do you spend $30M a year to keep George Pickens… or do you use that money (and maybe even the Trayvon Diggs cap savings) to build a defense that doesn’t actively ruin your weekend?

Then we pivot to college football, where head coaches are getting fired like it’s a Black Friday sale—because one man (Kurt Cignetti) showed the entire sport what a fast turnaround looks like. And now every “big program” is staring at Indiana like: Wait… y’all did WHAT?

Sarcasm? Yes. Numbers? Also yes. Existential dread? Of course. Welcome back to Just Wondering.

CHAPTERS

00:00:00 – Cowboys Offseason Decisions + Why College Coaches Are Getting Fired

00:00:29 – Fluent Financial Sponsor Read

00:01:29 – The Cowboys Offseason Has Already Begun (Yes, Really)

00:02:18 – Play the Kids: Who Needs Reps Over the Final Games

00:03:03 – Tyler Guyton, Flournoy, Mingo & The “What Do We Actually Have?” Tour

00:03:45 – Protect Javonte Williams: Reduce the Workload Before You Break Him

00:04:33 – The Cowboys Can Score… So Why Are They Still Mid?

00:04:56 – The Defense Can’t Stop Anything (Norm’s Example Is… Vivid)

00:05:17 – Pinball Football Returns: Ding Ding Ding, Everyone Scores

00:06:02 – 14 Opponent Scores in Two Games + Only Four Punts Forced

00:06:38 – Takeaways: The Cowboys Are Down There With the Truly Miserable Teams

00:06:56 – Defense Wins Titles… So This Is a Problem

00:07:45 – Is It Eberflus… Or Is It the Players? (The Harder Answer)

00:08:31 – The Diggs Decision: Cap Space vs Creating Another Hole

00:09:17 – Defensive Shopping List: Safeties, Corners, Linebackers, Ends… All of It

00:10:12 – The Pickens Question: Jerry Wants Him Back—But At $30M?

00:11:00 – Would Pickens Money Be Better Spent Fixing the Defense?

00:11:37 – The Bottom Line: Cowboys Don’t Need More Offense—They Need a Defense

00:12:27 – Bob’s Steak & Chop House Sponsor Read

00:13:13 – Full Moon Healing Balm Sponsor Read

00:13:49 – College Football Coach Firings: This Is Not Normal

00:14:56 – The Alleged Culprit: Kurt Cignetti and the Turnaround Blueprint

00:15:52 – Stop #1: Indiana (PA) — Instant Winner

00:16:52 – Stop #2: Elon — Another Flip

00:17:52 – Stop #3: James Madison — Monster Built

00:18:57 – Indiana’s “Before” Stats: Historically Bad, Truly Grim

00:19:48 – Indiana’s “After” Stats: Wins, Big Ten Title, Heisman, Playoff Bye

00:20:31 – Why Everyone’s Firing Coaches: They’re Hunting the Next Cignetti

00:21:14 – Sponsor Close: Fluent Financial + Bob’s

00:21:36 – Wrap-Up: Follow, Share, and Keep Wondering

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The Cowboys just played another game that looked competitive if you squinted… and Norm Hitzges is once again left just wondering what exactly the offseason plan is supposed to be — because whatever this is, it ain’t it.

After watching Dallas turn Sunday night into a live-action pinball machine (points flying everywhere, very little resistance), Norm breaks down how a team that can score nearly 30 a game somehow still looks miles away from relevance. From a defense that politely escorts opponents down the field, to penalties that actively sabotage momentum, to JJ McCarthy having the best night of his young career thanks to zero pressure — it’s all on the table.

Yes, there were early points. Yes, CeeDee Lamb was great. And yes, Brandon Aubrey missed two field goals, which should legally require a congressional hearing. But the larger question remains: how does a team this talented end up flirting with historically bad defense?

Norm connects the dots, looks ahead to the Chargers (spoiler: they’re better), and explains why this offseason must be about defense — unless the Cowboys are aiming to redefine “bend but don’t break” as “collapse entirely.”

Pull up a chair. Try not to scream. Norm’s wondering so you don’t have to.

CHAPTERS

00:00:00 – Just Wondering What the Cowboys’ Offseason Plan Even Is

00:00:15 – Fluent Financial: Because Retirement Planning Is Calmer Than Cowboys Football

00:01:18 – Late Night Thoughts After Watching Pinball Football

00:01:44 – Cowboys Playoff Math That Requires Science Fiction

00:02:49 – A Fast Start, a Fake Field Goal, and Then… Nothing

00:03:41 – Brandon Aubrey Misses Two (Yes, Two) Field Goals

00:04:52 – A Defense That Simply Does Not Stop Anyone

00:05:51 – The Numbers That Make This Defense Hard to Defend

00:06:38 – Penalties: Creative Ways to Lose Field Position

00:07:25 – The Kevonte Turpin Return That Never Got to Count

00:08:55 – JJ McCarthy vs. Dak… and Only One Was Pressured

00:10:01 – The Best Game of McCarthy’s Career, Courtesy of Dallas

00:11:03 – George Pickens Goes Missing (Again)

00:11:46 – CeeDee Lamb Reminds Everyone Who WR1 Actually Is

00:12:49 – Chargers Up Next: Reality Sets In

00:13:42 – The Defensive Shopping List Gets Longer

00:14:19 – Scoring Isn’t the Problem. Defense Is. Always Defense.

00:14:48 – Bob’s Steak & Chop House: Consistency You Can Trust

00:15:25 – Full Moon Healing: Because Cowboys Fans Age Faster

00:16:40 – Sponsors, Thanks, and Wondering Never Stops

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