Stephen A. Smith didn’t need much time to fire off another shot at the Cowboys after their Week 1 loss to the Giants, and he clearly enjoyed every second of it.
After Dallas stumbled in a letdown defeat on Sunday night, Smith jumped on video with a grin and made his point loud and clear: “How many times am I gonna be right?” Smith asked after getting in a good laugh to begin his video.
“How many times am I gonna be right? Just be patient.
They won't let you down.”
That kind of response has become part of the routine with Smith, who has built a reputation as one of the loudest Cowboys skeptics anywhere. He’s also one of the people most often talking about them on “First Take,” which makes the whole thing a little ironic given how often he complains about all the attention Dallas gets.
Smith also said he was scheduled to have Michael Irvin on “First Take” on Monday morning, though video of that appearance had not surfaced.
The back-and-forth with ESPN colleague Adam Schefter added another layer before the season even began. Schefter had bought into the rising optimism around Dallas and its defense, and Smith pushed back hard.
“I got some bad news for Stephen A. Smith.
The Dallas Cowboys are coming. They are coming this year and Stephen A. is going to be tested," Schefter said a few weeks ago.
"I'm telling you right now, it's going to be a long, nervous, anxious year for Stephen A. Smith.
Be ready.”
Smith’s reply was just as sharp.
"OMG! (Adam Schefter) has to get TESTED. He just went on (Get Up), mentioned MY NAME, and swore that the (Dallas Cowboys) are coming," Smith responded to Schefter.
"Like I'm supposed to be worried. They've got the great Schefty hooked now.
So sad! I can't believe I have to tell HIM.....
'Just be patient! Wait for the fall.
It's coming.'
For now, the fall Smith warned about looks a lot like the same old Cowboys story. The defense showed no sign of being fixed in 2026, and new defensive coordinator Christian Parker didn’t have a good night either, failing to make the adjustments needed against what New York was doing.
Dallas didn’t get much help from the offense, either. Once that side of the ball failed to carry its weight, the Cowboys had no real path to beating a Giants team they were expected to handle.
It’s early, and there’s still a long road ahead before anyone can fully stamp the 2026 Cowboys as more of the same. But after Week 1, the panic button is already getting plenty of use.
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