Stephen A. Smith insists Cowboys won't beat Eagles for NFC East title

ESPN personality and outspoken Dallas Cowboys hater Stephen A. Smith has backup quarterback Cooper Rush guide "America's Team" to three straight victories playing in place of Dak Prescott, who hasn't yet returned to the lineup since he went down with a thumb injury on Sept. 11. 

The 3-1 Cowboys are mathematically tied with the New York Giants in the NFC East standings (Dallas won at Big Blue last Monday) and trail the 4-0 Philadelphia Eagles by just a single game. Nevertheless, Smith poured cold water over the Cowboys' playoff hopes during Monday's edition of the "First Take" program. 

"They won against a Cincinnati Bengals team whose offensive line was ravaged, and obviously they were trying to find themselves," Smith explained about the Cowboys' results. "But that's fine. They're the AFC champions. That's a legitimate win. 

"The last two weeks, they beat Daniel Jones (Giants) and Carson Wentz (Washington Commanders)." 

Smith continued: 

"When I made the statement that the Dallas Cowboys' season was over, what I was saying was 'you ain't gonna make the playoffs.' That's what I meant by it." 

He later added: 

"We know they're competing for a wild-card (playoff berth). They ain't beating the Eagles for the NFC East. They're going to find that out in two weeks."