The Cowboys are seen as one team set ot have a bounce-back season, while the Steelers are somewhat of an unknown commodity.
This offseason, I wouldn't have been expecting to talk about the Dallas Cowboys and the Pittsburgh Steelers in the same breath, but here we are.
The Cowboys have been the big topic of the offseason, and rightly so, with the overwhelming changes that have happened on the defensive side.
Plus, the offense has seen all of its 2025 players return (Jalen Tolbert aside), and looks every bit a top-five offense.
As for Pittsburgh, former Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy is the leading man, and he has an aging Aaron Rodgers returning for another year, along with what many think should be an improved defense and skill position players.
So, why are the Cowboys and Steelers being mentioned in the same sentence?
Because a question was posed to ESPN analyst Jordan Rodgers. Who will win more games in 2026, Dallas or Pittsburgh?
And his answer was surprising.
"I'm going to go the Steelers, and both have big ifs," Rodgers said. "If the Cowboys can get an average defense, instead of a league-worst, they're going to be a really good football team.
"If the Steelers, if they can stay healthy, they're going to be a really good football team. The reason I go Steelers is because the biggest, glaring weakness they had last year was they had nobody by DK Metcalf. They go get Michael Pittman Jr., they go get Jeremy Bernard, the second-round draft pick."
Right, let's go through it, shall we?
Last season, Dallas fielded the worst defense in football and won seven games. The Steelers won 10 with Rodgers.
Now onto 2026.
The Cowboys are again poised to have an elite offense and a vastly improved defense under Parker, though that defense is a question mark right now. But not as much as what is hanging over Pittsburgh.
Can Rodgers, who is another year older, navigate the brutal AFC North? Plus, Jordan mentioned DK Metcalf, who, as we know, is a little fiery on the field; Pittman Jr. is a solid receiver, and Bernard is a rookie. Neither Pittman Jr. nor Bernard is seen as a difference-maker, at least right now.
Plus Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle as the running backs. That is a solid group of offensive players. But it doesn't compare to Dallas with Dak, CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, Javonte Williams, and Jake Ferguson, does it?
But the real test is the schedule.
The Steelers face the Falcons, Patriots, Buccaneers, Eagles, Broncos, Texans, and Jaguars, which is seven tough games. Then we have the Bengals, Browns, and Ravens twice each in the division.
That is a tough schedule.
Dallas faces the Ravens, Buccaneers, Packers, Buccaneers, Texans, 49ers, Seahawks, Rams and Jacksonville. That also is tough, but where the Cowboys could have the edge is the division, which Dak owns. The Giants, Eagles and Commanders twice.
At a quick glance, I have Dallas going 10-7 in 2026 and Pittsburgh going 7-10. Yes, I know it is a tough thing to predict at this stage of the offseason, but I can't see the Steelers winning more games than the Cowboys if both teams are fully healthy.
Will it happen? Who knows, but the Cowboys feel like they have far more upside than the Steelers as we turn for training camp.
