2-8.
That’s the Cowboys record against the Cardinals since 2006. Twenty years of futility being expressed in football form against an opponent that is has often been futile the last twenty years. The Cowboys coming off a win on the road at Philly are heading back home with an opportunity to break the streak against a Cardinals team that is 2-5 and looking for answers after a 30-16 loss to the Denver broncos in Week 7.
Arizona has struggled to turn drives into points, and its offense has managed just
two touchdowns over its last two games. That should give Dallas an opportunity to build on its momentum, particularly after the Cowboys rushed for a season-high 204 yards against Philadelphia.
Still, the Cardinals have playmakers who can cause problems if Dallas allows the game to become competitive. Here’s a look at Arizona heading into Sunday’s matchup at AT&T Stadium.
Jacoby Brissett is keeping the Cardinals’ offense afloat
Arizona’s quarterback situation has been a major storyline this season with Jacoby Brissett leading the offense. Through seven games, he has thrown for 1,600 yards, 10 touchdowns and six interceptions, completing 64.9% of his passes.
Brissett has provided some stability, but the Cardinals have struggled to turn that production into consistent scoring. Arizona is averaging 20.3 points per game, ranking 26th in the NFL, while its 313.9 yards per game rank 22nd. The biggest problem has been finishing drives: the Cardinals have converted just 42.9% of their red-zone possessions into touchdowns, the lowest rate in the league.
That inefficiency was on full display against Denver. Arizona reached the red zone five times but scored a touchdown on only one of those trips, eventually losing by 14 points. Against a Cowboys defense that has struggled to force turnovers, Brissett may have opportunities to move the ball.
Dallas has recorded just two interceptions this season, leaving opposing offenses with too many chances to stay in games. Brissett has been reasonably productive, but recently there have been calls to have him replaced with Carson Beck because the offense has not consistently delivered when it matters most.
Trey McBride is Arizona’s most dependable weapon
If there is one player Dallas needs to keep in check, it is tight end Trey McBride. The Arizona pass catcher has become Brissett’s most reliable target and leads the team with 59 receptions for 472 yards and four touchdowns through seven games.
McBride’s production comes from volume as much as explosiveness. He has been targeted frequently, giving Brissett a dependable option over the middle of the field and underneath the coverage. His ability to find open space and turn short completions into positive gains makes him a difficult matchup for linebackers and safeties. If McBride is allowed to settle into open zones, Arizona can use him to move the chains and keep the Cowboys’ defense on the field.
Arizona also has wide receiver Michael Wilson, who has 37 receptions 375 yards an a touchdown so far this season. With the Cardinals struggling to produce explosive plays consistently, Wilson and McBride are important pieces of an offense that needs to find more ways to stretch the field.
The Cardinals’ running game has taken a hit
Arizona’s rushing attack has struggled to provide the balance the offense needs. Rookie running back Jeremiyah Love has recorded 245 rushing yards on 67 carries, averaging 3.7 yards per attempt, but he has missed the Cardinals’ last two games with an ankle injury. Tyler Allgeier and Bam Knight have handled the workload in his absence.
Love’s availability is worth monitoring as Sunday approaches. If he remains sidelined, Arizona will have to rely on its remaining backs to establish a running game against a Dallas defense that has been vulnerable on the ground. If he returns, his workload and effectiveness will be important factors in determining how balanced the Cardinals can be offensively.
Arizona’s defense has playmakers, but the results have been inconsistent
The Cardinals have not been able to compensate for their offensive struggles with consistently strong defense. Opponents are averaging approximately six yards per play against Arizona, one of the worst marks in the NFL. That has made it difficult for the Cardinals to get off the field and keep games within reach.
There are still players capable of making an impact. Safety Budda Baker remains an important defensive presence, but potential trade-chip Josh Sweat hasn’t had a huge impact this year. Still, the Cardinals have generated 15 sacks and three interceptions through seven games. Baker has contributed as a pass rusher, recording 3.5 sacks, while the defense has occasionally found ways to disrupt opposing quarterbacks.
However, the Cardinals have not consistently turned that pressure into stops. Their defense has struggled against the run, coughing up 4.6 yards a carry, and the secondary has allowed offenses to move the ball too efficiently.
For the Cardinals, the challenge is to make the Cowboys one-dimensional. If they cannot slow Williams, Prescott should have the freedom to distribute the ball and keep the offense moving. Arizona has generated some pressure this season, but it needs to produce more consistent stops to have a chance against Dallas.
Dallas has the momentum, but Arizona has owned this matchup
The Cowboys enter Week 8 with a 3-4 record after their victory in Philadelphia, while Arizona sits at 2-5 following its loss to Denver. Dallas has the better statistical profile offensively, averaging 27 points per game and ranking fifth in the league in scoring. The Cardinals, meanwhile, have struggled to finish drives and have been particularly ineffective in the red zone.
Still, recent history should keep the Cowboys from taking this matchup lightly. Arizona defeated Dallas 27-17 on Nov. 3, 2025, extending its winning streak against the Cowboys to four games. The Cardinals have also won eight of the last nine meetings, dating back to 2006.
That history does not determine what happens Sunday, but it does show that Arizona has found ways to humiliate Dallas in recent years. The Cowboys need to avoid giving the Cardinals extra possessions, make their opportunities count in the red zone and continue the balanced offensive approach that worked so well against Philadelphia.
The matchup offers Dallas a chance to build momentum and to .500. If Williams can follow up his career performance with another productive outing, Prescott protects the football and the defense forces Brissett to earn every score, the Cowboys should have a path to victory. But if Dallas falls back into its earlier habits, Arizona has enough playmakers to make this a much more difficult afternoon than the records suggest.
