In a thrilling matchup at AT&T Stadium on Monday Night Football, the Arizona Cardinals snapped their five-game losing streak with a decisive 27-10 victory over the Dallas Cowboys. This win not only ended a frustrating stretch for the Cardinals but also ignited a potential quarterback controversy as the team looks to solidify its future.
The Cardinals entered the game with established starter Kyler Murray, who holds a lucrative $230.5 million contract. However, the performance of Jacoby Brissett during the game raised questions about who should lead the offense moving forward. Brissett displayed remarkable efficiency, passing for 261 yards and two touchdowns without an interception, making him the standout quarterback of the season for the Cardinals.
Brissett has now recorded the top three passing games for the team this season, having started only three times. Under his leadership, the Cardinals' offense exceeded 300 yards for the third consecutive game, a significant improvement compared to their earlier performance when Murray was at the helm.
Among the notable performances, rookie wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. shone brightly, setting a career high with seven receptions for 96 yards. His impressive first-half performance included 80 yards, marking his best first half since Week 2 of the previous season.
Another player to watch is tight end Trey McBride, who caught a touchdown pass, bringing his total to four touchdowns in just three games started by Brissett. In stark contrast, McBride has managed only five receiving touchdowns over 39 games with Murray as the starting quarterback.
With this victory, the Cardinals improve to 3-5, setting the stage for a crucial matchup against the Seattle Seahawks next Sunday at 4:05 p.m. ET on CBS. The team's momentum will be essential as they aim to build on this win and navigate their remaining schedule.
For the Dallas Cowboys, the loss to Arizona signifies a grim outlook for their season, dropping their record to 3-5-1. As they look to make a playoff push, they will require significant help, particularly from the Philadelphia Eagles and in the wild-card chase, where they currently face tiebreaking losses to teams like Chicago and Carolina.
Despite the Cowboys' offensive prowess at AT&T Stadium, averaging over 40 points per game prior to this contest, they struggled significantly. A particularly disappointing aspect was their inability to convert on two goal-to-go possessions, ultimately managing to score just once throughout the game.
The Cowboys' defensive struggles were evident, especially on third downs. Heading into Week 9, Dallas had the worst third-down defense in the league, allowing opponents to convert 52.4% of their attempts. In the first half against the Cardinals, they permitted Arizona to convert 7 of 9 third-down opportunities, an alarming trend that has become all too familiar this season.
The turning point for the Cowboys came after a blocked punt by Sam Williams was recovered for a touchdown by Marshawn Kneeland, narrowing the score to 10-7. However, the Cowboys failed to capitalize on the momentum, allowing the Cardinals to respond with a commanding 11-play, 74-yard drive, culminating in a touchdown that extended their lead to 10 points at halftime. Historically, the Cowboys have struggled when trailing by 10 or more points at halftime, with a record of 1-19 under quarterback Dak Prescott in such situations.
The Cowboys now face a bye week, with their next game scheduled against the Las Vegas Raiders on November 17. They must regroup and address both offensive and defensive shortcomings if they hope to remain competitive in the NFC East.
As both teams move forward from this pivotal game, the Arizona Cardinals will be looking to build on their success while the Dallas Cowboys must confront their challenges head-on if they want to salvage their season.
