MNF Week 9: Cardinals at Cowboys
AT&T Stadium | Monday, November 3, 2025 | 8:15 PM ET (ABC/ESPN)
The Arizona Cardinals have mastered the art of breaking hearts—mostly their own. As they prepare to face the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football, the Cardinals find themselves in the unfamiliar territory of being everyone’s favorite underdog, despite carrying a five-game losing streak into Arlington. But here’s the twist that makes this matchup fascinating: Arizona’s recent losses have come by a combined 13 points, while Dallas just surrendered 44 points to Denver. In a game where one team can’t finish and another can’t defend, something has to give under the primetime lights.
Record: 2-5
enter Week 9 as the NFL’s most heartbreaking team. They started the season 2-0, defeating New Orleans and Carolina in back-to-back nail-biters. Then the wheels didn’t fall off—they just slowly deflated over five excruciating weeks. The Cardinals became the first team in NFL history to lose three consecutive games after leading by at least seven points entering the fourth quarter. Their point differential sits at just -1 for the season, making them arguably the unluckiest 2-5 team in recent memory.
Record: 3-4-1
The cowboys present a paradox wrapped in star-spangled enigma. They boast the NFL’s second-best offense (30.8 PPG) but field the second-worst defense (31.3 PPG allowed). Head coach Brian Schottenheimer’s first season has been a rollercoaster—they destroyed Washington 44-22 in Week 7, only to get demolished by Denver 44-24 in Week 8. Their Week 4 tie against Green Bay (24-24) was their first since 1969, a footnote in what’s becoming a season of contradictions.
For both teams, playoff hopes are flickering but not extinguished. The Cardinals sit 4th in the NFC West with a brutal remaining schedule (.596 strength, second-toughest in the NFL). Dallas holds 2nd place in the NFC East but needs to start stacking wins against beatable opponents. Monday night could represent a last stand for Arizona and a momentum builder for Dallas—or vice versa.
What Are The Odds?
This game should be entertaining to say the least. The Dallas Cowboys, despite their three wins this season, have an explosive offense. Every game is similar: high-scoring, lots of points, on both sites. The Cowboys’ defense is not very good, and when I say that, I’m being kind. They are the worst defense statistically across the board. That being said, the Cowboys are 3.5-point favorites in this game.
Normally, I would suggest taking the favorite and working in an alternate line with the under, but not in this matchup. I think this will push the limits early on. The Cowboys -3.5 and the over would make for a solid parlay. If you’re interested in getting ino on this game, ot any NFL game, make sure you research what sportsbooks are available in your area. A wagered casino no deposit bonus, is also an option. The first time signups for sportsbooks or casino sites is usually pretty good, so make sure you take advatange of that. Also remember to use your game sense.
Key Storylines: Desperation Meets Vulnerability
The Murray Question: Kyler Murray won’t start despite being listed as questionable all week. The Cardinals’ franchise quarterback remains sidelined with a foot sprain, marking his third consecutive missed game. Veteran Jacoby Brissett gets the nod instead, and here’s the wrinkle—Arizona’s offense has actually shown more balance with Brissett under center. The Cardinals averaged more play-action passes with Brissett, which has unlocked tight end Trey McBride, who posted games of 8-72-1 and 10-74-2 in his two starts with the backup QB.
Historic Home Struggles for Dallas: The Cowboys have never beaten the Cardinals at AT&T Stadium (0-3). Along with Green Bay (3-0-1), Arizona remains undefeated in Arlington despite having far less overall success as a franchise. Dallas enters this game hoping to exorcise those demons while Arizona seeks its fourth consecutive win over the Cowboys.
Fourth Quarter Collapses: Arizona has been outscored 44-6 in fourth quarters over their last three games. Meanwhile, Dallas allows a league-high 34.5% touchdown rate on opponent possessions. When the Cardinals’ inability to close meets the Cowboys’ inability to stop anyone late, expect fireworks in the final 15 minutes.
Head-to-Head History
The Cowboys-Cardinals rivalry dates back decades, but recent history heavily favors the visitors. Arizona has won three straight against Dallas, including a stunning 28-16 victory in Week 3 of the 2023 season—ironically, without Kyler Murray. The Monday Night Football series stands tied at 4-4, with Arizona famously embarrassing Dallas 38-0 at the Cotton Bowl in their first-ever MNF meeting.
That 2023 matchup in Glendale should give the Cardinals confidence: they dismantled a 12-5 Cowboys team that was supposed to roll through the schedule. Now, with Dallas sporting the league’s worst defense and Arizona desperate for any semblance of a win, history suggests we shouldn’t write off the underdogs.
Offensive Matchups: Exploiting Fatal Flaws
Brissett vs. Dallas’ Secondary
Dak Prescott holds a 113.3 passer rating against zone coverage (2nd in NFL), completing 77.5% of his passes. Good news for Dallas—Arizona plays zone 75% of the time, including a league-high 29.5% in Cover 4. Prescott averages 9.1 yards per attempt against Cover 4 looks. Jonathan Gannon’s passive defensive scheme is built to prevent explosive plays, but against an offense averaging 271 passing yards per game (1st in NFL), that strategy could backfire spectacularly.
On the flip side, Brissett faces a Dallas defense ranked 32nd in third-down conversions allowed (52.4%) and last in defensive success rate (50.7%). The Cowboys have surrendered the most 30+ yard passing plays (15) while also leading the league in creating them (13). This game screams shootout, even with Arizona’s backup quarterback.
McBride’s Matchup Advantage
Trey McBride enters as a TE1 in fantasy circles for good reason. He’s second in the NFL in target share on play-action passes (35.1%), and Brissett loves play-action. Dallas allows 5.8 receptions per game to tight ends (22nd) with a 79.3% catch rate (28th). Expect McBride to feast across the middle.
Williams vs. Arizona’s Run Defense
Cowboys running back Javonte Williams faces a Cardinals front allowing 100.9 rushing yards per game (12th). However, Arizona has struggled to generate push at the line of scrimmage, ranking 31st in the percentage of rushing plays gaining five or more yards (30.5%). Dallas running backs should find space, especially against a Cardinals defense that’s surrendered 159.9 total yards per game to backfields in recent weeks.
Defensive Matchups: Two Sieves, One Ball
Dallas’s Historically Bad Defense
The Cowboys allow 2.85 points per drive (32nd), 8.0 yards per play on third down (32nd), and have the worst defensive success rate in football. Defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus has presided over a unit that makes every opposing offense look elite. The Cardinals’ 21.9 PPG (19th) could look like a top-5 unit against this porous group.
Arizona’s Fourth-Quarter Collapse Concerns
In their five-game skid, the Cardinals have allowed 11 scoring drives in fourth quarters alone (seven TDs, four FGs) compared to 13 across the other three quarters combined. Whether it’s fatigue, focus, or fundamentals, Arizona’s defense morphs from grizzly bear to gummy bear when games enter crunch time. Against a Prescott-led offense that thrives in two-minute situations, that’s a recipe for another late-game disaster.
X-Factors
- CeeDee Lamb’s Volume: The Cowboys’ All-Pro receiver has been targeted on 26.9% of his routes and averages over 2.0 yards per route in every game this season. Arizona hasn’t allowed a touchdown to a WR1 all year, but Lamb’s volume alone could break that streak. If Prescott feeds him 12+ targets, the Cardinals’ secondary will crack.
- Baron Browning’s Impact: The Cardinals acquired the linebacker from Denver before the deadline. His ability to pressure Prescott could swing momentum. Dallas has allowed 24 sacks (3rd-most), and if Browning combines with Josh Sweat and Calais Campbell to generate four-man pressure, Brissett might have time to dissect the Cowboys’ zone.
- Special Teams Chaos: Chad Ryland’s kickoff mishap cost Arizona dearly against Seattle (penalty gave Seahawks great field position for game-winning FG drive). Dallas kicker Brandon Aubrey has been automatic, but any special teams blunder in a close game could define the outcome.
