Stephen A. Smith couldn’t hide his disbelief on ESPN’s First Take when analyst Gary Striewski dared to say Dak Prescottcould be the NFL quarterback to dethronePatrick Mahomes. In typical Stephen A. fashion, the reaction was golden-cue the eye roll, the head in hands, and the unmistakable sigh of disapproval.

Striewski, well aware of Stephen A.’s notorious disdain for the Dallas Cowboys, knew he was walking into the lion’s den with this take. But, undeterred, he came armed with stats to back up his bold claim. He highlighted Prescott’s impressive numbers, pointing out that the Cowboys had the NFL’s highest-scoring offense last season. Striewski wasn’t about to back down, especially with a 68% completion rate, 105 passing touchdowns, and fewer interceptions than Mahomes in his arsenal of arguments.

SportsCenter anchor Gary Striewski understood the First Take assignment. Names Dak Prescott as the quarterback most apt to beat Patrick Mahomes. pic.twitter.com/HKW6njsLzI

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) August 15, 2024

As Striewski laid out his case, you could almost hear the collective gasp from First Take viewers. It wasn’t just about the numbers, though. Striewski was quick to clarify that he was stripping away the weight of divisional rivalries and focusing purely on the head-to-head battle between two of the league’s top gunslingers.

Striewski’s bold take: Dak Prescott could outshine Patrick Mahomes, and Stephen A. Smith can’t handle it

The moment Prescott’s name left Striewski’s lips, the camera cut to Stephen A., capturing the reaction everyone knew was coming. And there it was-pure, unfiltered exasperation from the First Take star. But Striewski wasn’t done; he wasn’t just talking numbers-he was making a case for Dallas’ chances in a potential Super Bowl showdown with Kansas City. Forget the Cowboys’ playoff struggles; Striewski was talking about a one-game scenario, and in his mind, Prescott and Co. had what it takes.

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Striewski wasn’t just predicting a victory; he was laying out a vision where Dallas’ offense and defense, led by stars like Micah Parsons, could finally deliver where others had failed. The Cowboys, according to Striewski, were the only team that ranked in the top five on both sides of the ball last season, making them a legitimate threat to Mahomes and the Chiefs.

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As the segment reached its climax, Striewski threw in one final jab, acknowledging that his hot take might be his last on First Take. But he was unapologetic, standing by his prediction even as Stephen A. prepared to unleash his signature fury. The Cowboys might have stumbled in the playoffs in recent years, but Striewski was all in on Prescott being the one to outshine Mahomes on the biggest stage.

Stephen A. may not have been convinced, but Striewski wasn’t backing down. And with Prescott’s future in Dallas still up in the air, it’s anyone’s guess what the next chapter holds for the Cowboys’ star quarterback. One thing’s for sure: Striewski left his mark on First Take, and the debate is far from over.