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Dallas Cowboys will get plenty of national exposure in 2017

By Stephen Francis

Nov 26, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; A view of the stadium and fans before the game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Carolina Panthers on Thanksgiving at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 26, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; A view of the stadium and fans before the game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Carolina Panthers on Thanksgiving at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dallas Cowboys will face
Dallas Cowboys will face /

Week three — Monday, September 25 @ Arizona Cardinals, 7:30 PM CDT, ESPN

The Cowboys will play their second primetime game in the span of two weeks when they travel to Glendale, Arizona.For the only time this season, they’ll play in front of a Monday Night Football audience.

While the Cardinals barely missed the playoffs last season with a 7-8-1 record, they were still one of the NFC’s most explosive teams. Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald showed us last season that he refuses to age by catching 107 passes for 1,023 yards and six touchdowns. The ever-explosive John Brown lines up on the opposite side of him and can break a 90+ reception at any time.

The Cardinals also feature David Johnson out of the backfield, who ran for 1,239 yards last season and 16 touchdowns. Their balanced attack will be able to come at the Cowboys from all directions and create mismatches.

Statistically, Arizona had the NFL’s second-best defense. They allowed just 305.2 yards per game, trailing only the Houston Texans. Their secondary and pass rush did the most damage for them, holding opposing offenses to just 210.3 aerial yards per game.

For the Cowboys, they’ll need a strong game from Sean Lee and the rest of the linebackers. Determining pass or run will play a crucial role in defensive success for the team against such a balanced offense like the Cardinals.

Offensively, Dallas can expect a better game for Ezekiel Elliott than Dak Prescott. While the Cardinals played the pass well, they weren’t quite as strong against the run. Elliott should expect a truckload of carries and 120+ yards for the evening.

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