Stephen A. Smith didn’t need much time to enjoy the Cowboys’ Week 1 collapse.
After Dallas stumbled in a loss to the New York Giants on Sunday night, the ESPN host wasted no time taking his victory lap. Smith opened his video with a laugh and then delivered the line Cowboys critics know all too well: "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 was vintage Stephen A., the loudest and most persistent voice in the long-running chorus of Cowboys skepticism. He’s built a reputation for warning people not to get carried away with the preseason buzz around Dallas, even as he spends plenty of time talking about the team on "First Take."
Smith had already been trading jabs with fellow ESPN personality and NFL insider Adam Schefter before the season began. Schefter had bought into the optimism around Dallas and its defense, saying a few weeks ago: "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 response was immediate and 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.'
Sunday night gave Smith a fresh opening, and he leaned right into it. He also pointed out that Michael Irvin was scheduled to join him on "First Take" Monday morning.
On the field, the problems were bigger than any debate show feud. Dallas didn’t just play poorly; the defense looked nowhere near fixed, despite hopes that things would be different in 2026. New defensive coordinator Christian Parker also took heat for a game plan that didn’t hold up and for not making the right adjustments to what New York was doing.
And when the offense failed to do its part, the game got away for good. Once Dallas fell behind that way, there wasn’t much left to work with against a Giants team it was supposed to handle.
It’s still early, and there’s a long road left before anyone can stamp the 2026 Cowboys as the same old Cowboys. But after one ugly night, Smith got exactly the kind of evidence he’s spent years waiting for.
In Other News...
C.J. Strouds Brutal Texans Stat Says Everything About This Loss
Even in a game where the scoreboard told the story, C.J. Stroud managed to carve out a strange little corner of NFL history. In the Texans 20-6 loss to the Bengals in Week 2, the second-year quarterback did what he could to keep Houston afloat, throwing for 353 yards on 55 attempts while avoiding turnovers in a night when the offense rarely found the end zone.
The result made the stat line feel even more jarring: Stroud became the first quarterback in NFL history to top 350 passing yards without an interception in a game his team still scored fewer than 10 points. For Houston, it was the kind of loss that leaves both sides of the ball with questions, but it also showed how much the Texans are leaning on Stroud even when the offense around him isn't finishing drives. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Run Game Faces An Early Test C.J. Stroud Cant Ignore
The Texans spent the offseason trying to take some of the burden off C.J. Stroud by giving their ground game more structure and support, and Week 1 offered an early look at where that project stands. Against the Bills, the running backs brought effort but not much efficiency, with David Montgomery finishing at 3.0 yards per carry as Houston searched for a steadier way to stay ahead of the chains.
Now the attention shifts to Cincinnati, where the rebuilt offensive line and backfield get another tough assignment. The Bengals bring a defensive front that can make life difficult in a hurry, and the presence of Dexter Lawrence II only raises the degree of difficulty for a Texans run game still trying to prove it can be more than a work in progress. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Offense Already Has An Early Problem They Need To Fix
The Texans are already dealing with an offense that looks out of sync two weeks into the season, and the loss to the Bengals only sharpened the concern. Without Nico Collins because of a hamstring injury, Houston had trouble stretching the field, and the passing game leaned heavily on Dalton Schultz, who finished with 12 catches for 140 yards while the rest of the attack struggled to find much rhythm.
The bigger issue was how little the run game and red zone offense offered when the Texans needed balance most. David Montgomery and Woody Marks combined for just 18 yards on 14 carries, and Houston came away empty on all four of its red zone trips. At 0-2, the Texans do not need to panic yet, but they do need answers quickly if this offense is going to keep up in the AFC South. [Read more 🡒]