‘Got me concerned’ – Stephen A. Smith shares his Dallas Cowboys prediction for 2026
By Staff Writer
DALLAS — The Dallas Cowboys kick off their 2026 season Sunday against the New York Giants, and the most polarizing voice in sports television has already made his call.
Stephen A. Smith, ESPN’s resident Cowboys antagonist, delivered a prediction this week that somehow managed to be both a compliment and a warning. The longtime “First Take” personality told viewers he believes Dallas will reach the playoffs and even win the NFC East — but the enthusiasm from Cowboys faithful has him deeply uneasy.
“You already got me concerned,” Smith said during Thursday’s broadcast, directing his comments at former Cowboys defensive end Marcus Spears. “Because the way you’re sticking your chest out about them Dallas Cowboys right now, I got to tell you, it ain’t wise. It ain’t wise at all. You’re sticking your chest out too much, Big Shay.”
Smith then laid out his full prediction: “Those Cowboys are going to the playoffs. I’m going to tell y’all that right now. They might even win the NFC East. Matter of fact, I’m here to predict to you, they’re going to win the NFC East.”
The pick represents a stunning reversal for Smith, who has spent years mocking Dallas’ annual offseason hype. In previous seasons, he has ranked the Cowboys outside his top ten and openly predicted their inevitable collapse. But something about the 2026 roster has shifted his calculus.
Smith has repeatedly praised the offseason work of owner Jerry Jones, who overhauled a defense that finished last season as one of the league’s worst. The Cowboys traded for edge rusher Rashan Gary, added linebackers, and signed veteran cornerbacks to complement a defensive line featuring Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark. The team also drafted Caleb Downs, a safety Smith called “one of the most exciting defensive rookies” in this year’s class.
Offensively, Smith sees a unit that can score with anyone. Dak Prescott returns after an impressive 2025 season, throwing to a receiving corps headlined by CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens — a duo Smith has called one of the NFL’s best.
“You got to score points to beat the Dallas Cowboys this year,” Smith said. “I got to give the Dallas Cowboys love… for now.”
That qualifier — “for now” — is where Smith’s caution lives. He has made clear that his optimism carries an expiration date. Speaking at an event in Atlanta earlier this month, Smith predicted the Cowboys would win 12 or 13 games before inevitably collapsing in January.
“They’re going to win the NFC East, and then they’re going to plummet,” Smith said. “They are going to have you talking about the Super Bowl and then they go flatline.”
Smith’s skepticism about Dallas’ postseason ceiling isn’t unfounded. The Cowboys have not reached an NFC Championship Game in nearly three decades, a drought Smith has cited repeatedly in his critiques. Even as he praised the roster construction this summer, he warned that the NFC is loaded with teams that could exploit Dallas’ weaknesses.
“Last time I checked, those Detroit Lions got an offense that you’ve got to behold,” Smith said. “Last time I checked, the Seattle Seahawks are reigning division champions with an elite defense. Last time I checked, the Los Angeles Rams will be better. And oh, the San Francisco 49ers…”
The warning has not been confined to the regular season. Smith released his preseason “Stephen A-List” earlier this month, ranking the Cowboys at No. 5 — behind the Rams, Seahawks, Broncos, and Bills. He described the ranking as “fluid” and made certain to clarify that it reflected September potential, not January reality.
“Surprised you didn’t I!” Smith exclaimed when revealing the Cowboys’ placement. “I didn’t say a damn thing about January. This is September, okay? That’s different. I got them top-five right now. They ain’t top-four though.”
The prediction has sparked debate across sports media. Adam Schefter, ESPN’s NFL insider and a notable Cowboys believer, challenged Smith on “Get Up” this week, declaring that Dallas is “coming this year” and that Smith will be “tested.”
Smith fired back on social media: “OMG! Schefter has to get TESTED. He just went on Get Up, mentioned MY NAME, and swore that the Cowboys are coming. Like I’m supposed to be worried. I can’t believe I have to tell HIM….. ‘Just be patient! Wait for the fall. It’s coming.’”
The exchange reflects the central tension of Dallas’ 2026 season: a roster that looks improved on paper, paired with a franchise that has consistently failed to convert regular-season promise into playoff success. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer enters his second year after a 7-9-1 debut, and the pressure to deliver is immediate.
Smith’s prediction ultimately functions as both an endorsement and a burden. By forecasting a division title and a 12-win season, he has raised the stakes for a team that has not won a playoff game since 2023. If Dallas meets those expectations, Smith can claim vindication for his uncharacteristic optimism. If the Cowboys falter, he will have set the table for the “I told you so” moment he has spent three decades perfecting.
For now, Smith is content to give Dallas its due — with a caveat that Cowboys fans have heard before.
“I got to give the Dallas Cowboys love… for now,” he said. “I didn’t say a damn thing about January.”
