Can the Cowboys capitalize on a weaker NFC East?
Yahoo Sports NFL analyst Nate Tice is joined by ESPN NFL analyst Benjamin Solak to discuss why Dallas could make the case as one of the top contenders in the NFC with an improved defense in 2026. Check out the full conversation on "Football 301" - and subscribe on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , YouTube or wherever you listen.
Video Transcript
If anyone heard me on this show or any other show, I'm very high on the Cowboys this year.
I think their offense is gonna be awesome.
I think their defense will be at the very le- much, or very least better, and I think it'll be the league average actually is where I'm kind of predicting them, like 14th, 15th- Yeah 16th range when we look at the nerd stats.
So I'm, I'm I just think that division's not as great as some people are making it out to be, and I also do think that this is just a really good team.
Like, I picked them as the third favorite in the NFC to me, outside the two West teams- Yeah the Rams and Seahawks.
So Cowboys alternate 10 and a half wins.
I have some other touts on this, but I'm What are your Cowboys takes so far for the season?
Yeah.
You said they're third best team in the NFC.
They're, like, dead even yes/no to make the playoffs.
And that's where most of my Cowboys exposure is, is yes to make the playoffs.
Yeah.
Because even if we get the Sun Run Eagles season, which I do think is possible, Eagles have a very wide range of outcomes.
Mm-hmm.
Okay, you know, maybe the Cowboys don't win the division.
What 10, what 10 and seven team do I wanna be, you know, investing in to actually be able to make the, the seven seat?
Well, the Cowboys are for sure gonna be second in their division, right?
I think they're clear cut above the Commanders and of the Giants.
I think the NFC North can totally cannibalize, and there's just gonna be room in the wildcard round for the Cowboys.
And so I've, I've been there on Cowboys to make the playoffs.
I am experiencing, and I think you're doing this too, just 'cause I've, I've listened to your shows all summer, power creep with where I'm expecting the Cowboys defense to be, right?
Yeah.
And then August 1st I was like, "If they get, if they could be 22nd," and then August 15th, "Listen, if they could be, like, 20th," and then by, by end of August- 14th "Listen, if they're, if they're 18th," right?
I just keep on getting, making them, like, a little bit better in the league rankings- Yes to, like, assuage myself.
Yes.
My line on the Cowboys is, like, I don't think the defense is gonna be perfect in September, October.
If you are functional by November, December, right, then you can make the run.
And obviously if the Eagles have one of their lower tail outcomes, you can still get yourself a home playoff game, even if you don't have a perfect defense for the first two months of the season.
