The Cowboys haven't won the division for two seasons, but Schottenheimer stops that trend in Year 2, according to one ESPN analyst.
The Dallas Cowboys are going to enter the NFL offseason knowing there is a real chance for it to become a playoff contender, and maybe more in 2026.
Possessing an offense that, under Brian Schottenheimer, for most of the year, was elite, only to be let down by the NFL's worst defense, there are building blocks in place for Dallas.
Keeping George Pickens and Javonte Williams are two must-dos for the Dallas front office, which would then, theoretically, leave free agency and the draft to bolster Christian Parker's defense.
Many believe that last year, if Dallas' defense had been just average, Schottenheimer's team would have easily been playoff-bound thanks to the offense.
So, turning our attention to 2026, what are some predictions we are hearing about Schottenheimer's Cowboys?
Well, one thing we aren't is Super Bowl contenders, because, well, Dallas, at least right now, is the furthest thing from that.
But ESPN's Seth Walder, in one of his predictions, sees Dallas climbing the NFC East mountain after a two-year hiatus.
"The Cowboys will win the NFC East," Walder wrote. "Dak Prescott and the Dallas offense played extremely well last season, which went under the radar in part because the defense was so bad. The latter should improve through regression alone. If Dallas can get its defense to be just OK, the Cowboys could become contenders very quickly."
Is that plausible? Absolutely.
The Washington Commanders are an unknown with Jayden Daniels coming back from injury, and they will be without star tight end Zach Ertz for the majority of the year after a torn ACL. Plus, Deebo Samuel likely isn't back either.
The New York Giants could be interesting with Jaxson Dart, Cam Skattebo, and Malik Nabers under the eye of John Harbaugh, but are they real challengers? It remains to be seen.
As for the Philadelphia Eagles, with a new offensive coordinator, the loss of Parker to Dallas, along with losing star offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland, could set them back a step in 2026. Oh, and the A.J. Brown trade talks as well, add more to the fire.
That leaves the Cowboys, if they play free agency and the draft right, to shoot past all three NFC East teams for the division crown.
The opportunity is there. Staring them right in the face.
Will Dallas take advantage?