The Dallas Cowboys have no shortage of expectations entering the 2026 NFL season. After another offseason filled with optimism, head coach Brian Schottenheimer has made it clear that simply reaching the playoffs won’t be enough for his team. Appearing on the Twins Take Podcast, Schottenheimer made a bold prediction about what he believes lies ahead for the Cowboys.

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Super Bowl Is the Goal

Schottenheimer didn’t shy away from setting lofty expectations. During the interview, the Cowboys head coach expressed confidence that Dallas will be playing in the Super Bowl this season, making it clear that’s the standard the organization is striving for.

It’s an ambitious statement, especially considering the Cowboys have spent years trying to get over the postseason hump. While regular-season success has often followed the franchise, deep playoff runs have been much harder to come by.

Schottenheimer is hoping to change that narrative in his second season leading America’s Team.

Confidence or Pressure?

Making a prediction like that inevitably creates additional pressure. Cowboys fans already expect their team to contend every season, and now their head coach has publicly raised the bar even higher.

If Dallas gets off to a fast start, Schottenheimer’s comments will only add to the excitement surrounding the franchise.

However, if the team struggles early, those same remarks will quickly become a talking point for critics questioning whether the Cowboys were too confident heading into the season.

High Expectations in Dallas

Regardless of whether Schottenheimer made the prediction publicly, competing for a Super Bowl has always been the expectation in Dallas.

The Cowboys possess one of the league’s most recognizable brands and consistently enter seasons believing they have a roster capable of making a championship run.

Now, their head coach has openly embraced those expectations instead of trying to temper them. Only time will tell whether Dallas can back up Schottenheimer’s confidence on the field.

For now, though, one thing is certain: the Cowboys aren’t aiming to simply make the playoffs. According to their head coach, the goal is to be playing on the NFL’s biggest stage when the 2026-27 season comes to an end.

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The Dallas Cowboys are just two weeks away from the start of training camp in Oxnard, California, and the team’s revamped defense has already taken a blow.

On Tuesday evening, it was announced that one of the team’s newest additions, defensive end Charles Snowden, has been suspended for the first three games of the 2026-27 NFL season.

Despite his suspension, Snowden, who was suspended under the personal conduct policy because of a DUI, will be able to participate in training camp and the preseason.

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“Dallas’ Charles Snowden, DE, Virginia, has been suspended by the Commissioner for the first three games of the 2026 season,” a statement from the NFL read. “He is eligible to participate in all preseason activities, including games; his suspension will take effect as of the roster reduction to 53 players.”

Snowden signed with the Cowboys on June 18.

Before joining the Cowboys, Snowden had stints with the Chicago Bears, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Las Vegas Raiders. During the past two seasons with the Raiders, Snowden has appeared in 31 games with 18 starts, totalling 67 tackles, 8 tackles for a loss, and one interception.

While he is not expected to be a key player for new defensive coordinator Christian Parker, his versatility could allow him to carve out a role and earn a spot on the team’s 53-man roster. Of course, the three-game suspension could ultimately hurt his chances.

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The Dallas Cowboys’ Week 15 showdown against the Los Angeles Rams is seemingly about to get much scarier based on the latest news surrounding the NFC rival and… Aaron Donald.

Considering the Dallas Cowboys threw their hat into the ring during the Maxx Crosby sweepstakes, many assumed getting involved in the race for Myles Garrett made sense. Of course, no we know they didn’t.

But the latest NFL news has us thinking about it again because well, not trading for Garrett may turn out to be more expensive than previously thought.

Cowboys may face two-headed monster no NFL quarterback wants to face

You see, Garrett ended up going to the Los Angeles Rams, which are scheduled to play the Cowboys in Week 15. From the start, facing the consensus top defender in the NFL wasn’t ideal. But now, one of the all-time greats may be invited to the party, too.

That’s because Aaron Donald, who retired in 2024 after eight first-team All-Pro seasons in a ten-year career, is closer than ever to making a comeback. And that’s mostly because of the Garrett trade.

Donald recently practiced at the Rams’ facilities. ESPN’s Adam Schefter described the outing as a way of seeing how he felt as Donald mulls a comeback.

“(Donald) told the team that he wanted to go there, work out, see how he felt, see how he reacted,” Schefter said on The Pat McAfee Show. “I don’t know what he told them about that after he went through those workouts at the facility. But I know the thinking was just a trial method to see how his body reacted, how his mind reacted to being back out there.”

Schefter added his guess is Donald will indeed come back to the NFL and play this year.

When the Rams acquired Garrett, NFL fans immediately entered speculation mode. Donald making a return to a dream scenario made plenty of sense. After all, Donald didn’t retire because of age nor play decline. He pretty much got bored.

With the Super Bowl taking place at SoFi Stadium next year, it’s a near-perfect situation. Donald can join his old team, which already looks like the favorite to win it all, play with the best pass rusher there in football, all while potentially taking on a limited workload.

Rams matchup will likely be key for Cowboys

I know it’s not like Garrett will join the NFC East. But a late season showdown against a Top NFC opponent will likely be huge for the Cowboys, whose win total is projected at 9.5. Making the playoffs will come down to the wire with this team. Games like this will be incredibly important.

It will also be quite the measuring stick game in late December. It’s looking like to win, the offensive line will have a major challenge ahead: Blocking the league’s best defender today and one of the league’s greatest defenders ever.

This article was originally published on A to Z Sports. Read the full story here: The Dallas Cowboys not trading for Myles Garrett is seemingly about to get much more expensive based on latest news

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