Wow. It’s hard being a fan of the Dallas Cowboys these days, and those difficulties reached a new level after an indescribable 33-30 overtime loss to the Arizona Cardinals. While most of us were guarded against these pesky Cardinals due to the history between these teams, our guard was lowered just long enough to raise our hopes so they could be snatched away yet again. This one was a tough one, and here are 10 thoughts on this really sad Sunday morning showing.
1. The streak continues
Another game against Arizona, another
loss. It’s just not in the cards. For reasons as mysterious as the Loch Ness monster, the Cowboys cannot beat this football team. Even when it looks like the Cardinals are dead in the water, they find a way to rise up and defeat Dallas. The losing streak now sits at five straight and nine of the last 10 games. It’s frustrating, it’s peculiar, and it’s downright tiring.
2. Getting all the breaks
What’s even weirder about this loss is that so many things went in the Cowboys’ favor. They won the turnover battle, they won the penalty battle, and when loose balls were flying around, they were landing in the Cowboys’ hands. Jonathan Mingo muffed a punt. No problem. Javonte Williams fumbled in the end zone. Don’t fret; still a touchdown. Early in the game, the Cardinals receivers were dropping passes left and right, and it just felt like everything was working in the Cowboys’ favor. Little did we know what lay ahead.
3. Sneaky suspicious
When the Cowboys get backed up deep in their own territory, they love to waste a down and QB-sneak it. They did it last week against the Eagles, and they did it again on Sunday. Both times resulted in a quick possession, as the Cowboys were forced to punt. Brian Schottenheimer clearly values safety over extending the drive. His team. His choice. If he likes to sneak so much, then why didn’t he do so when he decided to go for it on 4th-and-inches at his own 30-yard line? Instead, he opted to run, and Williams was stuffed behind the line of scrimmage.
4. Other weird stuff
The playcalling was weird sometimes, but some of the logic behind the Cowboys’ choices was equally puzzling. Going for it at your own 30-yard line is certainly a choice. In that moment, he chose to be aggressive. We get it. That’s what makes his other passive moments really confusing. Late in the first half, the Cowboys had a shot at a field goal, and they chose to run the ball to get a little closer for Brandon Aubrey, but even still, it was a 60+ yard field goal attempt? Just because he’s capable of booming those kicks doesn’t mean you shouldn’t at least try to get closer. It didn’t seem like a whole lot at the time, but those three points would’ve come in handy later.
5. Second half collapse
The Cardinals aren’t viewed as a strong offensive team, but for the Cowboys to still hold them to just three points in the first half was impressive, especially considering the Dallas offense turned the ball over on downs in their own territory. Nice recovery, defense. But as good as they were in the first half, they were equally disastrous in the second half. They surrendered four second-half touchdowns, including three in the fourth quarter alone. The defense allowed two 50+ yard runs from Tyler Allgeier and couldn’t make a stop to save their lives. It was a complete meltdown.
6. One first down, please
Despite the late comeback, the Cowboys still had a chance to ice the game. After a failed onside kick, Dallas was sitting in great shape. All they needed was one first down, and the game was over. The Cardinals only had one timeout left, and Mike LaFleur opted to use it on the plus side of the two-minute warning after a running play that went nowhere. This dared the Cowboys to pass on second down because the clock would stop after the next play no matter what. Dallas took the bait; only Prescott took the conservative approach and cautiously fell into a sack after his first read wasn’t there. This resulted in a sack and gave them no chance to get a first down and run out the clock.
7. Another gift
After the Cardinals scored a touchdown with just six seconds left, the life was sucked out of AT&T Stadium. The only thing left was for Arizona kicker Chad Ryland to hit the extra point and leave Dallas with another victory. Shockingly, he shanked it, missing his first extra point since 2024, and giving the Cowboys another chance they didn’t deserve.
8. A wasted stop
Despite transforming into a red-carpet defense in the second half, the Cowboys surprisingly forced the Cardinals to go three-and-out in their first possession of overtime. It set up a perfect opportunity for the Cowboys’ offense to take control of the game and move into Aubrey range for the game-winner. They never got close. The offense’s final possession was pathetic. It was a quick three-and-out, and they went backwards. The Cowboys punted the ball away and never got a chance again. The defense just didn’t have it in them to make another stop.
9. Under pressure
It feels less exhilarating now, but there was a time when it was exciting to see Jacoby Brissett repeatedly succumb to pressure. The Cowboys sacked the Cardinals’ quarterbacks five times, with two coming from Quinnen Williams, and one each from Donovan Ezeiruaku, Von Miller, and James Houston. Defensive tackle Elijah Garcia almost had another one, but Brissett was able to get rid of it at the last second. While most of the damage happened in the first half, it was good to see the Cowboys’ pass rush show some life.
10. Brissett still undefeated
Entering the game, Brissett remained the only quarterback from Prescott’s draft class in 2016 whom the Cowboys have yet to beat. They have faced seven quarterbacks from that draft, including Jared Goff, Carson Wentz, Cody Kessler, Nate Sudfeld, Brandon Allen, Jeff Driskel, and Brissett. All of them have fallen to the Cowboys at some point over the years, with the exception of Brissett, and it looked like they would finally be able to check him off the list as well. They had his number so well that he was benched and replaced with quarterback Gardner Minshew. The veteran came to the rescue and kept Brissett’s winning streak against Dak and the Cowboys alive and well.
