Halloween may be over, but the horrors extended into November as the Cardinals curse over the Cowboys continued when Arizona shocked Dallas, handing them a 33-30 overtime loss. The boogeyman himself doesn't terrorize victims as much as Arizona does to Dallas, winning nine of the last 10 meetings. The Cowboys haven't beaten Arizona in Dallas since 2005 when Bill Parcells defeated Dennis Green's Cardinals behind QB Drew Bledsoe in Texas Stadium — a venue that no longer exists.
Odd things continue to happen in this matchup, and Cowboys fans should have known the bizarre would occur when running back Javonte Williams fumbled the ball into the end-zone for Dallas' first touchdown of the game.
As the Cowboys search for answers,this week's winners and
losers list contains no shortage of blame in what could be the final downward spiral of what is quickly becoming another lost season in Dallas.
Loser - Defensive Coordinator Christian Parker
Cowboys defensive coordinator Christian Parker is now eight games into his new gig in Dallas but its clear he is overwhelmed by his promotion and the team may have togo looking for their fifth DC in as many years.
After starting the game fairly well, only allowing three points at the half, his defense collapsed giving up 30 second-half points to Cardinals backup quarterback Gardener Minshew and running back Tyler Algeier.
I watched the Cowboys' second half defense against the Cardinals. I'd like some bleach for my eyeballs. pic.twitter.com/u5MzWUqWLf
— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) November 2, 2026
Prior to the game, the Arizona offense ranked 26th in points per game (20.3) and 22nd in total yards per game (314.3). The 34 points Arizona put up are the most they've had this season and with 467 yards, they obliterated their season average by 153.
For the season, the Dallas defense ranks 27th in points per game allowed (26.6), 28th in passing yards (1,953), and are dead-last giving up an average of152.8 rushing yards per game. Parker is close to being one-and-done in Dallas if this trend continues.
Winner - Defensive Tackle Quinnen Williams
Defensive tackle Quinnen Williams was the lone bright spot in the Cowboys' third embarrassing loss in four weeks.
'Big Q' recorded two sacks and five hurries. PFF credited him with an 82.4 overall grade including an 83 overall pass rushing mark — highest for the team. Williams also tied a consecutive team streak that had been just about non-existent before his arrival.
Quinnen Williams (@QuinnenWilliams) has tallied a sack in three consecutive games, his longest sack streak since 2022.
— Dallas Cowboys Public Relations (@DallasCowboysPR) November 1, 2026
He is the third Cowboys defensive tackle in the last 10 seasons with a three-game sack streak - David Irving (2017) and Osa Odighizuwa (2022-23).
Williams admittedly got off to a slow start but has picked up his pace the last few weeks. His TFL total is now 11 for the season which is the second-most in the NFL just behind Defensive Player of the Year hopeful, Will Anderson of the Houston Texans.
Dallas opted to kickoff to begin overtime and on the very first play of the session, it was Williams who set the tone and sacked Minshew contributing to the Cardinals three-and out. Too bad the Dallas offense returned the favor, punting it right back.
As the defense searches for answers, Williams is one of the few players who the Cowboys don't have to question moving forward making him the biggest winner against Arizona.
Loser - Head Coach Brian Schottenheimer
Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer might be better served staying off the internet for some time as calls for his job have gotten so loud that owner Jerry Jones repeatedly had to answer questions about his job security.
Schottenhiemer received tremendous criticism afterclaiming he was one of the elite play-callers in the NFL, but it's his decisions that have hindered one of the better collection of offensive talent throughout the league.
The Cowboys scored 30 points in their loss to the Cardinals. But Dak Prescott had fewer than 200 yards passing and CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens failed to score against the worst scoring defense in the NFL — one that allowed league-high 18 TD passes but only one to Dallas.…
— Ed Werder (@WerderEdNFL) November 2, 2026
With so much emphasis on his play calling, perhaps play design should be the next question asked. The ingenuity that once allowed for Dallas to become one of the more explosive teams has wayned and Schottenheimer is relying on pure talent rather than placing his players in position to expose opponents.
The offense may rank near the top in many categories but this coaching staff hasn't done them any favors ranking near or at the bottom of many pre-snap passing game designs. Burning first-round picks on offensive lineman only to become stagnant in the run game hasn't done the team any favors either.
For those keeping track at home, the #Cowboys rank (in terms of frequency):
— John Owning (@JohnOwning) November 2, 2026
32nd in motion at the snap rate
30th in any kind of motion rate
32nd in bunch rate
31st in rate of plays that use bunch or stacks alignments with its receivers.
Throwing this team's passing game design… https://t.co/A1n7eDAYHG
After Arizona pulled within three, the Cowboys recovered the attempted onside kick just before the two minute warning. Yet Schottenheimers' "elite" conservative play calling didn't yield many yards and barely took any time off the clock.
Arizona would march down the field without any timeouts and steal the victory if it weren't for missing the would be game-winning extra point.
Arizona forced a three-and-out on the Cowboys next possession in overtime en route to their shocking win.
Schottenheimer has won back-to-back games just once as Cowboys head coach and has amassed a 10-14-1 overall record. Six of those wins have come within the division and other than the Kansas City Chiefs victory on Thanksgiving last year, his other three wins have come against teams with losing records (Raiders, Jets, Texans).
Loser - Defensive End Rashan Gary
Packers fans and beat writers alikechastised Dallas for generating anything of substance for defensive end Rashan Gary when he was traded to the Cowboys. He was touted as a decent pash rusher but an above average run stopper.
According to PFF, Gary is the 113th ranked run stopping edge out of 113 qualifying players. Yes, he ranks dead-last in stopping the run this season.
The Cowboys front office is gaining a reputation for trading decent draft capital for overpriced defensive players that obviously shouldn't be NFL starters. Gary has turned into the 2026 version of what fans endured with linebacker Kenneth Murray last season.
Gary signed a revised two-year, $32 million deal with Dallas with $16 million guaranteed. These were the moves Dallas wanted to make when they balked at making a deal with edge Micah Parsons. Perhaps they should have added pieces to help him rather than jettison him to Green Bay.
Putting his hands up after the fact as if he didn’t just HEAD BUTT the QB, 3&11 btw on an incompletion. But let’s blame CP. pic.twitter.com/4kDa28dcgi
— Christian C. Sam (@ShowinStatsSam) November 2, 2026
On 3rd and 11 with 2:23 remaining in regulation and up 27-17, the Dallas defense forced an incompletion setting up what would have been fourth and 11 with 2:16 left on the clock and just inside the 30 yard-line.
Unfortunately for them, Gary lunged and hit quarterback Gardner Minshew in the head drawing a 15-yard roughing then passer penalty setting up Arizona just inside the 15 yard-line with just over two minutes in regulation. The Cardinals scored on the very next play on a busted coverage.
Additionally, on Tyler Algeier's second long run of the day, it was Gary who allowed himself to be washed out by tight end Trey McBride but astonishingly didn't touch either pulling lineman, allowing them to spring past the first level of the defense.
Dallas drafted a first-round defensive end in Malachi Lawrence and the time has come to bench Gary in favor of getting the young guy repetition and experience. Only, Lawrence now appears set to miss several weeks of action with an ankle injury. Christian Parker would also be wise to keep Gary on the bench if there is even an inkling that the opposing team might run the ball.
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This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Williams, Gary surging in different directions as Cowboys' D fails again
