Stephen A. Smith is never quiet. You know this. I know this. But what happened on stephen a smith today first take felt a little different, even for a guy who makes a living out of being the loudest person in any room. Today, January 17, 2026, the spotlight wasn't just on the usual NBA bickering; it was fixed squarely on the NFL playoffs and a Buffalo Bills team that Stephen A. basically just buried alive.
He didn't just say they'd lose. He said Josh Allen—a guy he literally called "one of the best in the business" in the same breath—cannot and will not get past the Denver Broncos this weekend.
The Josh Allen Dilemma: Genius or Disrespect?
Let’s be real for a second. The Buffalo Bills are walking into a meat grinder. Denver is preparing for its first home playoff game in a decade, and that altitude is no joke. But hearing Stephen A. Smith today on First Take dismantle Josh Allen’s chances was jarring. Allen is playing through a messed-up knee and a finger injury that would probably have most of us in a cast for a month. Stephen A. isn't buying the "warrior" narrative this time.
"He’s special, he’s a talent, he’s a superstar," Smith shouted, leaning so far into his camera I thought he might fall through the screen. "But you are going into Mile High with a depleted roster and a quarterback who is held together by tape and prayers!"
It’s classic Stephen A. logic. He praises you to the heavens just so the fall feels steeper when he pulls the rug out. Shae Cornette, who has taken over the moderator chair from Molly Qerim in this new 2026 era of the show, tried to bring some balance, but good luck with that. Once Stephen A. gets on a roll about "challenging environments," the segment belongs to him.
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Recovery from the Charlie Kirk Gaffe
We have to talk about the elephant in the room. If you’ve been following the show this week, you saw the absolute disaster that was the Tuesday broadcast. While trying to give flowers to Houston Texans wide receiver Christian Kirk for his monster game against the Steelers (8 catches for 144 yards, by the way), Stephen A. accidentally called him "Charlie Kirk."
Normally, a name slip is whatever. But Charlie Kirk—the political commentator—was assassinated back in September. It was awkward. It was dark. It was the kind of mistake that makes a studio go silent for three seconds too long.
Today felt like a hard pivot away from that mess. Smith seemed more dialed into the X’s and O’s, perhaps trying to prove he hasn't lost his fast-ball amidst all the political commentary he’s been doing lately. You've probably noticed he's been appearing on everything from NewsNation to HBO these days. His new $100 million contract—the one he famously said "took too damn long" to sign—gives him the freedom to do exactly that. But when he's on First Take, the fans want the sports expert, not the pundit.
The New First Take Dynamic in 2026
The show looks a lot different than it did a few years ago. With Molly Qerim having moved on in 2025, Shae Cornette has had the impossible task of keeping the train on the tracks.
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- Stephen A. Smith: The $20-million-a-year face of the network.
- Shae Cornette: The moderator trying to survive the verbal crossfire.
- The Rotating Analysts: Today it was Ryan Clark and Dan Orlovsky, who both looked like they wanted to fight Stephen A. over the Bills take.
Orlovsky, as usual, brought the film. He tried to show how Allen’s release hasn't actually been affected by the finger injury. Smith just waved him off. "I don't need the clicker, Dan! I have eyes!"
The Joy Reid Beef is Looming Large
You can't talk about stephen a smith today first take without mentioning the external noise. Joy Reid has been absolutely dragging him on her YouTube show lately. She called him a "grifter" and basically said he’s lost his soul for a paycheck.
Stephen A. addressed this indirectly today by leaning heavily into his "ambassador for HBCUs" persona. He’s helped generate over $150 million in scholarships. He’s from Hollis, Queens. He wants you to know that he hasn't forgotten where he came from, even if he’s sitting courtside at Crypto.com Arena telling LeBron James how to raise his son.
It’s a weird tension. He’s the highest-paid guy at ESPN, but he’s fighting for his life in the court of public opinion within Black America. You can tell it bugs him. Every time he defends a controversial take now, there’s this extra layer of "I know what I’m talking about, stop questioning my character."
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Why This Matters for Your Weekend
If you’re a betting person or just a fan, Stephen A.’s "Kiss of Death" is a real thing. When he goes this hard against a team like the Bills, they usually end up winning just to spite him.
But honestly? He might be right about Denver. The Broncos’ defense has been playing like it’s 2015 again. If Josh Allen can’t scramble because of that knee, the Bills are essentially a stationary target in thin air.
What to Watch for Next
Don't expect the Josh Allen talk to die down. If the Bills lose, Stephen A. will spend Monday morning taking a victory lap that will last the full two hours. If they win? He'll claim he "motivated" Allen. He’s built a career where he can’t lose.
Actionable Insights for the Divisional Round:
- Monitor the Injury Report: Josh Allen’s "limited" status in practice is the only thing Stephen A. is looking at. If he moves to "full" by Friday night, the First Take narrative might shift.
- Watch the Broncos' Home-Field Edge: It's their first home playoff game in ten years. The energy in that stadium is going to be suffocating.
- Check the Betting Lines: Since Stephen A. went on his rant this morning, watch for any slight shifts in the spread as public money reacts to the "noise."
Keep an eye on the Monday morning show. Whether he's apologizing for another name mix-up or screaming "I told you so" about the Bills, it's going to be loud.