The Cardinals host the Dallas Cowboys this week as Arizona plays its third straight game vs. a team from the NFC East to begin the 2023 season. After dropping a pair of close games – decided by a combined seven points – the Cardinals will be looking for their first win of the year against a team they have had recent success against. Arizona enters this week’s contest having won two straight – and six of the last seven – in the series vs. the Cowboys.
After winning on the road in both 2020 and 2021, the Cardinals now face the Cowboys in Arizona – where they have won three of the last four vs. Dallas. The series between the Cardinals and Cowboys dates back to 1960, and from 1970 to 2001 the teams met twice annually as members of the NFC East. Since the Cardinals left to join the NFC West in 2002, the two teams have met 11 times. The Cardinals are 7-4 in those contests.
Arizona enters this contest missing two Pro Bowlers and team captains who have played a big role in the recent success vs. the Cowboys: QB Kyler Murray and S Budda Baker. Murray – who is 2-0 vs. the Cowboys in his career – remains on PUP. Baker – who has 10 tackles, an INT, 2.0 sacks, 3 QB hits, 2 tackles for loss, 3 passes defensed and a forced fumble in two career starts vs. Dallas – went on IR this week after suffering a hamstring injury that forced him to miss the game vs. the Giants in Week 2.
Going head-to-head this week are Cardinals QB Joshua Dobbs and Cowboys signal-caller Dak Prescott. Dobbs will be making his fifth career start, and is coming off a performance last week vs. New York in which he had both a passing and rushing TD and posted a career-high 99.9 passer rating. Prescott threw a pair of TD passes in the Cowboys win vs. the Jets last week.
Both Dobbs and Prescott will deal with pressure on Sunday. Arizona (9.0) and Dallas (10.0) rank third and first, respectively, in the NFL in sacks so far this season. The matchup also features three of the eight players in the NFL this season with 3.0+ sacks: AZ’s Dennis Gardeck (3.0) and DAL’s Micah Parsons (3.0) and Osa Odighizuwa (3.0).
THE HIGHLIGHTS
The Cardinals and Cowboys square off this week in the 91ǥǦ all-time regular season meeting between the two teams. Arizona is hosting Dallas for the first time since 2017.
TE Zach Ertz has played 17 career games vs. the Cowboys, accumulating 77 receptions for 735 yards and five TDs. Ertz has more receptions and receiving yards vs. the Cowboys than any other active player. His 77 receptions are also the most-ever by a TE vs. Dallas.
The Cardinals (9) and Cowboys (10) are among the four teams with at least nine sacks on defense through the first two weeks of the 2023 season. Washington (10) and Pittsburgh are the others.
Through two games, LB Dennis Gardeck has eight tackles, 3.0 sacks, three tackles for loss, four QB hits and a forced fumble. Only Minnesota’s Danielle Hunter (4.0) and PiƩ sburgh’s T.J. WaƩ (4.0) have more sacks than Gardeck.
Against the Giants last week, Arizona’s offensive line did not allow a sack on 31 pass attempts and also paved the way for the Cards to rush for 151 yards and two TDs on 20 carries (5.2 avg.). It marked the first time in a span of 45 games Arizona had 150+ rushing yards and 0 sacks allowed.
In two games this season, Arizona’s defense has 9.0 sacks, 4 takeaways (2 INT, 2 FR), 1 TD (FR), 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, 14 passes defensed, 11 QB hits and 11 tackles for loss.
Arizona has had seven different players record at least a partial sack this season: LBs Dennis Gardeck (3.0), Victor Dimukeje (1.5), Kyzir White (1.0) Zaven Collins (0.5) and DLs Jonathan Ledbetter (1.0), Carlos Watkins (1.0) and Leki Fotu (1.0). Only Miami and Washington (both with 8) have more players with at least a partial sack.
AZ GOES FOR THIRD STRAIGHT VS. DALLAS
Sunday’s matchup between the Cardinals and Cowboys marks the 92nd all-time meeting between the former NFC East rivals. It will be the 91st time they have met in the regular season.
Arizona enters the contest having won two straight – and six of the last seven – in the series. After winning at Dallas in both 2020 and 2021, the Cardinals will face the Cowboys at home this week. Arizona holds a 3-2 record at home vs. Dallas since beginning play at State Farm Stadium in 2006.
The series between the Cardinals and Cowboys dates back to 1960, and from 1970 to 2001 the teams met twice annually as members of the NFC East. Since the Cardinals left to join the NFC West in 2002, the two teams have met 11 times. The Cardinals are 7-4 in those contests.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN WEEK 3
WITH A WIN THIS WEEK…
The Cardinals would earn their third consecutive win over the Cowboys. Arizona would also improve to 7-1 in its last eight games vs. Dallas. Arizona would improve to 4-1 in its last five home games vs. the Cowboys.
