The Dallas Cowboys’ biggest problem in Week 8, final score prediction versus the Cardinals, and other final thoughts
The Dallas Cowboys will take on a 2-5 Arizona Cardinals team. Here are my final thoughts on the matchup entering the weekend.
After three consecutive primetime showdowns, it will be a noon matchup for the Dallas Cowboys in Week 8. And though they enter as large favorites, the Arizona Cardinals present some challenges that could make this one a very close matchup.
Let’s dive into five thoughts and a score prediction for Cowboys vs. Cardinals set for Sunday.
1. Cowboys will face solid run game
One week after establishing the run themselves, the Cowboys will have to be ready to defend it on this one. Quietly but surely, the Cardinals have a Top 15 rushing offense per EPA/play and success rate. And they get there with creative run design that features a lot of gap schemes (where blockers take on specific defenders as opposed to blocking a zone).
For the Cowboys, this means mantaining gap integrity (something they have struggled with this season) will be crucial. The Cardinals will use pulling blocks, get multiple tight ends involved, and will motion blockers into the formation at the last second to mess with defense’s run fits. They’ll do the same with wide receivers.
With the league’s fifth-highest motion at the snap rate, the Cowboys defense will have to be very disciplined on this one—particularly at linebacker. LB Shemar James is set to be the green dot defender once again with a rotation of DeMarvion Overshown and Jaishawn Barham next to him.
2. About the Cowboys’ record versus the Cardinals
A lot has been made about the Cowboys losing four in a row to the Arizona Cardinals since 2020, and rightfully so. But I’m skeptical about such a trend having any impact on Sunday’s game.
Sure, as WR CeeDee Lamb pointed out, it serves as a reminder for the team to heighten its focus and not take anyone for granted. But there’s a massive difference between the last two matchups between these two teams (which should be the ones that matter, to be honest, as anything before that matters little with these two being vastly different teams) and today.
Then Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon held the Cowboys to 16 and 17 points in those matchups. That’s the same Gannon who coordinates the Green Bay Packers defense nowadays and held Dallas to 13 points in Week 6. He just has Dak Prescott’s and the Cowboys’ number.
Today, the Cardinals are 29th in defensive EPA/play. Against the pass, they give up explosive plays left and right. They’re the second worst defense in the league on explosive pass rate (11.4%). Expect the Cowboys to attack that via George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb on Sunday.
3. A lot of playmakers
What should worry Cowboys Nation the most about this matchup is the fact that Arizona has playmakers on offense. Particularly, I’m talking about TE Trey McBride, WR Michael Wilson, and rookie RB Jeremiyah Love (who is expected to return from injury on Sunday).
While the Cardinals haven’t been nearly as explosive as you might expect with that talent, they do keep the chains moving and don’t turn the ball over. They have 10+ plays in 35.5% of their drives.
Taking on a struggling Cowboys defense, the Cardinals could go from efficient to explosive in the blink of an eye. Defensive corodinator Christian Parker’s unit better be ready to go.
4. Cowboys shouldn’t abandon their run intentions
The stats suggest the Cardinals passing defense is much worse than its rushing defense. But that shouldn’t deter the Cowboys from running the ball on an Arizona unit allowing 4.7 rushing yards per attempt.
It doesn’t sound like they plan to, either.
“It was an attempt at re-identifying who we want to be,” Prescott said about the Cowboys’ run game in Philadelphia. “We obviously know we love our run actions and throwing the ball like that, but you’ve got to get the run going.”
Sounds like jumbo packages and under center runs will be back on Sunday.
5. My score prediction
Give the Cowboys in a relatively close one. I could see them pulling away but I have to see more from the defense to believe. Both these teams are the NFL’s best in sustaining long drives, so don’t be shocked if the scoreboard isn’t as high as many would assume.
I think the Cowboys stick to their run game focus but hit multiple explosive passes as they embrace a new identity.
Cowboys 28, Cardinals 23
