It's a classic "boy who cried wolf" situation. The Dallas Cowboys are the subject of playoff hype every offseason, and they tend to fall short when it matters most. Fans have been burned so many times by late-season collapses that they're hesitant to buy in again. But this time, it's different.
Dallas has a competitive roster in place after balancing its electric offense with a competent defense this offseason. Jerry Jones' reconstruction has analysts believing the best for this year's Cowboys. NFL insider Adam Schefter took to ESPN's Get Up recently to air his optimism.
Schefter said, "There are a lot of defensive reinforcements. The defense was playing better at the end of the year last year, which isn't saying all that much, but they were better. And I think this team could be dangerous."
The Dallas Cowboys preseason playoff hype is real this time
Underperforming Cowboys teams typically carry a common theme. They're imbalanced. Whether it's an elite rushing attack, dominant receivers, or a secondary capable of producing turnovers at any moment, their best qualities distract from the weaknesses that end up derailing the season. It's the product of star-studded rosters with questionable depth.
The 2026 version of the Cowboys has a chance to be different. Jones addressed all of the glaring weaknesses that the team carried into the offseason. He added competent cornerbacks. The safety room is completely rebuilt. The defensive line is much deeper. While there are still some questions at linebacker, Dee Winters makes the group passable.
There's not an obvious roster deficiency waiting to shatter playoff hopes. It's why analysts like Schefter are so optimistic heading into the season. The Cowboys haven't lost any major pieces from the offense that made them dangerous in 2025, and they've managed to build a solid defense to complement it.
It still takes a bit of projection to see the best-case scenario for Dallas. Caleb Downs needs to be an immediate star, Quinnen Williams needs to continue his play from the back half of last season, and other young players on defense need to take a step forward.
There's no guarantee that Brian Schottenheimer's offense can continue to produce at the level fans enjoyed last season.
But all of the pieces are in place for a truly competitive team. We're not booking Super Bowl tickets, but this Cowboys squad has a better chance to meet expectations than previous iterations have.
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