The Cowboys finally got back in the win column Monday night against Philadelphia, and now they have an opportunity to do something they haven’t done much of this season: build some momentum.
Dallas enters its matchup with Arizona at 3-4, looking to get back to .500 against a Cardinals team that has struggled to find consistency. Arizona sits at 2-5, with both victories coming at SoFi Stadium, and has yet to win anywhere else this season.
But for whatever reason, the Cardinals have had the Cowboys’ number.
Arizona has won four consecutive meetings against Dallas and eight of the last nine dating back to 2008. In fact, the Cowboys haven’t beaten the Cardinals at home since 2005, when Bill Parcells was the head coach and Drew Bledsoe was under center.
Regardless, Dallas should feel confident heading into this matchup. The Cowboys are coming off their best rushing performance of the season, and Arizona presents another opportunity to establish the ground game while taking advantage of a struggling offensive line on the other side.
The Matchup: Trey McBride vs. the Cowboys Defense
If there’s one player on Arizona’s roster that concerns me, it’s Trey McBride.
McBride has established himself as one of the NFL’s premier tight ends, and he’s easily the Cardinals’ most reliable offensive weapon. Whether he’s working underneath against linebackers or finding space against defensive backs, he’s the player Jacoby Brissett can consistently turn to when the offense needs a completion.
And unfortunately for Dallas, this is a matchup that could cause some problems.
According to Next Gen Stats, McBride leads all tight ends with 26 receptions against linebackers and 31 against defensive backs this season. He’s caught nearly 90% of his targets when matched up against linebackers, making him particularly difficult to defend underneath.
Meanwhile, Cowboys defensive backs have allowed an 84% completion rate against opposing tight ends, the second-highest mark in the NFL.
We’ve already seen Dallas struggle to get off the field on third down, and McBride is exactly the type of player who can extend drives with short, reliable completions. The Cowboys need to make him earn every reception and prevent Arizona from consistently moving the chains.
An Opportunity for the Pass Rush
The other matchup I’ll be watching is Dallas’ defensive front against Arizona’s offensive line.
The Cardinals had major protection issues against Denver last week, allowing pressure on 50.9% of Brissett’s dropbacks. Rookie left tackle Jayden Williams was responsible for 15 pressures, the most allowed by an offensive lineman in a game in two years.
That creates a significant opportunity for Donovan Ezeiruaku and the Cowboys’ pass rush.
Dallas hasn’t consistently generated pressure with its front four, but this is a matchup where that needs to change. If the Cowboys can make Brissett uncomfortable without having to send additional defenders, it should make life much easier for Christian Parker’s secondary.
Offensively, I’d like to see Dallas continue what worked against Philadelphia. Javonte Williams is coming off a career-high 155 rushing yards, while Tyler Smith and Tyler Booker helped establish a physical running game that allowed Dak Prescott to attack downfield.
There’s no reason to abandon that formula now.
Final Thoughts
This isn’t a matchup that needs to be overcomplicated.
Arizona has some talented players, particularly McBride, but the Cowboys should be the better football team. After finally putting together a balanced offensive performance against Philadelphia, Dallas needs to prove it can carry that momentum into another week.
And with the NFC East still within reach, these are the games the Cowboys simply cannot afford to lose.
Beat Arizona, get back to .500, and keep moving forward.
That’s the expectation.
Leave a Reply