Stephen A. Smith’s cranking up the drama on NFL talk shows! The latest buzz? ESPN’s Gary Striewski threw down a hot take, picking Dak Prescott as the QB he trusts to topple Patrick Mahomes this season. 

During an ESPN sit-down, SportsCenter anchor Striewski put all his chips on QB Prescott, saying, “If you give me one quarterback to be Mahomes, give me Dak Prescott. I want Prescott and the Cowboys against Mahomes and the Chiefs. We’re playing one game—NFC, AFC—which means the Cowboys have run through the playoffs. I’m putting them in the Super Bowl.” Bold move, but sports radio host and journalist Smith was ready to fire back!

Stephen A. Smith tore into Striewski’s pick, calling it ‘utterly ridiculous.’ He fired back, saying Dak Prescott doesn’t even belong in the same conversation as Mahomes. “You can’t have two playoff wins in eight years and be mentioned in the same breath as a three-time Super Bowl champ.” The journalist also pointed out that Prescott’s playoff record is 2-4, while the Kansas City QB’s cruising with a 10-3 postseason star. 

Smith didn’t stop there, though. He further emphasized the disparity between the two QBs, pointing out that Mahomes has dominated every QB he’s faced, including Josh Allen and Joe Burrow. But Burrow’s still a much better fit to challenge the Chiefs’ superstar. “Patrick Mahomes against Josh Allen is undefeated 3-0 in the postseason,” Smith explained. “Against Joe Burrow, he’s 1-3, including a loss in the AFC title game. Burrow’s got the numbers and the wins that Prescott just doesn’t.” 

Smith’s take might be pretty tough to argue with, but let’s not forget Prescott’s level-up. Last year, he tossed for 4,516 yards and 36 TDs—snagging All-Pro honors. While he’s been leveling up for good, Smith doesn’t think that way. 

So, if not Prescott, then who, according to him, has the best chance of dethroning Mahomes?

Bengals’ Joe Burrow can challenge Mahomes?

Burrow’s eyeing the top spot against the reigning MVP. At the Bengals’ minicamp, the Buckeyes star gave a shout out to Mahomes, admitting, “I don’t think there is any argument now; it’s Pat. Until somebody has a better year than he’s had, he’s the one to knock off.”

Both QBs have faced off in the AFC Championship for the last two seasons. Burrow and his team got the edge in 2022, but Mahomes came roaring back the next year with a Super Bowl win for Kansas City. Mahomes lit it up with 5,250 passing yards, 41 TDs, and a 77.6 QBR—plus, he bagged his second MVP trophy.

Burrow wasn’t slacking off either. He tossed a career-high 35 TDs, snagged an MVP finalist spot, and landed his first Pro Bowl invite. Even though Cincinnati missed the Super Bowl repeat, Burrow’s mindset is still locked in: “The top of the mountain is always the goal.” 

With an amazing team and supportive teammates backing him up, Joe Burrow’s ready to shake up the league again this year. But can he take up the challenge that is Mahomes? Well,i only the upcoming season can reveal that.