Arizona Cardinals @ Dallas Cowboys
Final Score: Cardinals 27, Cowboys 17
Writer: Steven Pintado (@coachstevenp)
The Arizona Cardinals came into Dallas and dominated in all phases of the game. Led by quarterback Jacoby Brissett, the Cardinals’ offense carved up the Cowboys’ struggling defense. The passing game looked unstoppable, keeping the Dallas secondary on its heels all night.
Meanwhile, the Cowboys’ offense took far too long to get going. Things didn’t start to click until midway through the third quarter, when they finally found some success pushing the ball downfield. By then, though, the damage had been done. Arizona’s defense made life miserable for Dak Prescott, forcing him to scramble throughout the game. The Cardinals’ defense tallied five sacks and forced two fumbles, setting the tone with relentless pressure. In the end, the Cardinals came to play — and left Dallas with an impressive win on Monday Night Football.
Three Up
- Marvin Harrison Jr. – The young receiver had one of his best games of the season and made light work of the Cowboys’ secondary with 96 yards and a touchdown.
- Jacoby Brissett – The veteran QB on the road was able to lead this offense and put up solid numbers while scoring 3 touchdowns of his own.
- Emari Demercado – Finally out of the dog house, he led this team in carries and was used early on in the Cardinals’ offense.
Two Down
- Bam Knight – The presumptive starter coming into this game, but split touches early with Demercado and failed to produce in a good matchup.
- Dak Prescott – The Cowboys quarterback was pretty average in this game, and most of his yardage came in garbage time.
Arizona Cardinals
Quarterback
Jacoby Brissett: 121/31, 261 Yards, 2 TDs | 5 Carries, 4 Yards, TD
Veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett continues to show why he’s likely the better fit for this Cardinals offense and their pass-catchers. Brissett operated as a steady game manager, making the right throws when needed and keeping the offense on schedule. He looked a bit rusty early with a few overthrows in the first quarter, but once he settled in, he helped Arizona jump out to an early lead.
Brissett stood strong in the pocket, willingly taking hits to deliver passes under pressure. He did take multiple sacks — his limited mobility remains a factor — but he managed the offense efficiently throughout. He capped off his solid performance with a one-yard rushing touchdown, finishing with one of his strongest outings of the season.
Running Back
Emari Demercado: 14 Carries, 79 Yards | 1 Target, 1 Reception, -1 Yards
From the start, there was a noticeable split between Emari Demercado and Bam Knight, but as the game went on, Demercado took over the bulk of the workload. There were multiple drives where Knight didn’t even see the field.
Demercado ripped off a couple of strong runs of 15+ yards, flashing his burst and hitting lanes with real speed up the middle for chunk gains. It was one of his more explosive showings this season and a reminder of what he can bring to this backfield when trusted.
With Trey Benson expected back soon, Demercado may not hold a significant role going into next week, but he made his case with a strong performance here.
Bam Knight: 9 Carries, 27 Yards | 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 20 Yards
I’m not sure what happened with Knight in this one, especially since it was viewed as a favorable matchup for him coming in. Knight struggled to separate himself from Demercado as they split the workload. His rushing performance was average at best. As the game went on, he lost more and more carries to Demercado, which shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise given how the Cardinals have rotated running backs since Benson went down.
If Benson returns next week, Knight may not be anything more than a low-end RB3 or desperation flex play, as his role looks far from secure.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Marvin Harrison Jr.: 9 Targets, 7 Receptions, 96 Yards, TD
Marvin Harrison Jr. came out on MNF and absolutely put on a show. Brissett locked onto him early, repeatedly targeting him on deep curls where Harrison consistently created separation. It was clear from the opening drive that Brissett wanted to feed his rookie star — and Harrison rewarded that trust every time the ball came his way.
He showcased his smooth speed, route precision, and effortless separation throughout the first half. His 4-yard touchdown was a highlight, as he foot-checked DaRon Bland on a quick slant, leaving the defender stumbling to the turf as Harrison glided into the end zone. Pure technician work.
His opportunities dipped in the second half with Arizona playing comfortably ahead, but the early volume and efficiency stood out. It’s becoming clear that Brissett can unlock Harrison Jr.’s ceiling — the question now is whether Kyler Murray (if he returns next week) will keep feeding him at this level.
Trey McBride: 9 Targets, 5 Receptions, 55 Yards, TD
Tight end Trey McBride couldn’t get anything going in the first half. He was overthrown multiple times early, dropped a deep over-the-shoulder ball, and even had one catch wiped out due to a penalty. His first official reception didn’t come until late in the second quarter.
But after halftime, McBride flipped the switch. He became the focal point of the passing attack, posting 55 yards and a touchdown in the second half alone. With the defense shading heavy attention toward MHJ, McBride took advantage and led the team in targets over the final two quarters.
McBride continues to make his presence felt in the red zone with another touchdown grab and remains locked in as one of the Cardinals’ top two target earners every week.
Michael Wilson: 4 Targets, 3 Receptions, 61 Yards
Elijah Higgins: 3 Targets, 3 Receptions, 30 Yards
Greg Dortch: 1 Carry, 9 Yards
Dallas Cowboys
Quarterback
Dak Prescott: 24/39, 250 Yards, TD, INT | 4 Carries, 34 Yards
Dak Prescott turned in a very uneven performance against the Cardinals. Arizona’s defense created pressure throughout most of the game, forcing Prescott to move around the pocket to extend plays nearly every drive. Early on, that constant pressure led to several poor throws, as Prescott held onto the ball too long — a mistake that caused the Cowboys’ offense to unravel in the first half.
In the second half, Prescott adjusted by getting the ball out more quickly, which seemed to spark some rhythm for Dallas. He started making sharper throws and keeping the chains moving. It’s worth noting, however, that Prescott appeared to be shaken up near the end of the first half. The injury didn’t stop play, but it was noticeable and may have contributed to his struggles and quicker plays.
Prescott’s night ended on a low note when he threw a Hail Mary interception late in the game, sealing the win for the Cardinals. He nearly had another pick earlier in the first quarter, but the defender dropped it. It wasn’t Prescott’s best outing, and with the Cowboys heading into their Week 10 bye, some rest might be exactly what he needs to bounce back.
Running Back
Javonte Williams: 15 Carries, 83 Yards, FUM (Lost) | 1 Target, 1 Reception, 0 Yards.
The Cowboys’ running back had a solid game on the ground, taking all but one of the team’s running back carries. Williams ran efficiently with multiple chunk gains throughout the afternoon, consistently making defenders miss and showing the agility that has fueled his breakout season. Unfortunately, game script eventually worked against him as Dallas was forced to abandon the run while playing from behind.
His biggest play came late in the fourth quarter — a 19-yard burst that pushed him to 83 rushing yards on the day. However, he remained a non-factor in the passing game despite often being open underneath. A costly fourth-quarter fumble also put the Cowboys in a tougher position as they attempted to rally.
Even in what goes down as a relatively average outing, Williams once again flashed the talent and efficiency that have defined his breakout campaign.
Malik Davis: 1 Carry, 3 Yards
Wide Receiver/Tight End
CeeDee Lamb: 12 Targets, 7 Receptions, 85 Yards
Star receiver CeeDee Lamb led the Cowboys in targets, receptions, and yards. He got off to a slower start with minimal usage in the first half, and there were a few plays early where he wasn’t as aggressive attacking the ball, allowing defenders to punch passes away from behind.
Lamb’s biggest play came on a blown coverage, breaking free for a 37-yard gain and jump-starting his production. As Dallas shifted into catch-up mode, Lamb became the focal point of the offense, seeing 8 of his 12 targets in the second half.
While his day ended up looking strong in the box score, much of his production came during late-game “garbage-time” volume. Still, Lamb did what elite receivers do — he took advantage of opportunities when they finally came and delivered solid fantasy numbers.
George Pickens: 9 Targets, 6 Receptions, 79 Yards
George Pickens delivered another solid fantasy outing, finishing with 6 receptions for 79 yards. He found separation at times and made plays when given opportunities, continuing to flash his big-play ability. One of the stranger moments of the game came early in the fourth quarter, when Pickens had back-to-back catches but fumbled on both plays — fortunately, the Cowboys recovered each time, avoiding disaster.
While Pickens posted respectable numbers, the offensive rhythm wasn’t always consistent, and he dealt with some streaky usage throughout the game. Even so, he continues to be a reliable fantasy contributor and remains a key weapon in this offense when the passing game is clicking.
Jake Ferguson: 7 Targets, 5 Receptions, 50 Yards, FUM (Lost)
Tight end Jake Ferguson turned in a solid outing, seeing consistent involvement early as the Cowboys looked to feature him as a key weapon in the passing game. Prescott went to Ferguson often in the first half, and once the ball was in his hands, he did well to break tackles and pick up yards after the catch.
However, one of those plays ended in a costly mistake, as Ferguson fumbled inside the opponent’s 30-yard line, stalling what looked like a promising drive. As the Cowboys fell behind in the second half, he faded from the game plan with Prescott leaning more heavily on Lamb and Pickens in comeback mode.
KaVontae Turpin: 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 10 Yards | 1 Carry, 3 Yards
Luke Schoonmaker: 2 Targets, 1 Reception, 14 Yards
Ryan Flourney: 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 12 Yards, TD