The Dallas Cowboys haven’t seen the postseason since 2023, a tough stretch for a franchise built on winning. But hold up, because Jerry Jones and company might be staring down one of their easiest paths back to the playoffs in 2026. Yeah, you heard that right, “easy” in the NFL, which is practically an oxymoron. One NFL analyst is absolutely convinced the Cowboys won’t need to break a sweat to clinch a postseason spot, all thanks to some massive offseason moves and how they’ve absolutely loaded up their offense.
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell Drops a Low Bar for Dallas
On Wednesday, ESPN’s Bill Barnwell unleashed his 2026 NFL playoff projections, and his take on the Cowboys is a stunner. According to Barnwell, this Cowboys defense doesn’t even have to be great to get them into the dance. Forget elite, forget even “good” apparently. They just need to be “adequate.” “Adequate!” Can you believe that? That’s a pretty low bar for a team with championship aspirations, but Barnwell sees them cruising into the NFC wild-card round with that level of defensive play.
An Offense That’s Absolutely Stacked (But With One Early Hurdle)
So, why such a low bar for the defense? It all comes down to their offense, which Barnwell highlighted as “one of the league’s best” in 2025, and they’re bringing back all 11 starters from that unit. Talk about continuity! When you’ve got Dak Prescott slinging it to CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens on the same side, that’s just pure fire. It’s a legit offensive juggernaut, the kind that can bail out a defense that’s just… well, adequate. The only real hiccup is star guard Tyler Smith, who’s unfortunately out for the first month with a thumb injury. Still, returning all those offensive weapons, even with one starter sidelined temporarily, makes Barnwell’s projection look mighty compelling.
So, the stage is set. Can the Cowboys’ offense carry them, even if their defense is just good enough? It’s going to be wild to see if Jerry Jones’ squad can capitalize on what’s being called an “easy year” to get back to the postseason. The stakes are clear: prove Barnwell right, or face another year outside the playoff picture.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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