Cowboys at Cardinals: Staff predictions and keys to the game

The Dallas Cowboys look to right the ship as they take on the Arizona Cardinals tonight on Monday Night Football. Here’s what the staff at Sport DFW is predicting…

Last week the Dallas Cowboys played their worst football game since 2015, and how they respond tonight will go a long way in establishing their identity going forward. Are they the team that gives up and abandons their gameplan the moment they’re met with resistance? Or are they angry and resilient, eager to prove critics wrong?

We shall see tonight…

Reid Hanson: Keys to the Game

The long week has given Dallas plenty to think about. It’s also given the Arizona Cardinals plenty of time to mimic the Denver model that so easily neutralized our “unstoppable” offense. Expect plenty of the same: Arizona will pack the box to stop the run leaving the Cowboys receivers in single coverage.

The Cowboys won’t bite this week. Expect the offense to pound the ball in a run-heavy attack. Dak will utilize play-action to make some plays downfield leading to a balanced attack. But the important thing is – it will all be built on the run game.

Here are the keys to the game for the Cowboys:

Run Zeke. A lot.
Play-action passing
Use rub routes and motion to free receivers at the line. Beat the press coverage – beat the Cards.
Use stunts on the D-line and blitz defensive backs to keep Carson Palmer uneasy in the pocket.

Prediction: Dallas 34 Arizona 17

Dink Kearney: Prediction

The Dallas Cowboys look to bounce back from that 42-17 butt whipping from the Denver Broncos as they do their best to beat the Arizona Cardinals in their Monday Night showdown. The Cowboys will get back to their strengths and run the ball against the Cardinals defense, who are not good at stopping the run.

Ezekiel Elliott will run like a mad man and atone for his lackluster performance against the Broncos. Expect Dak Prescott to regain his form and make better throws. Dez Bryant will be tested against Patrick Peterson, but will do his best to show the critics he’s still an elite receiver. Zeke will go over 100 yards with two scores, Dez and Jason Witten will score a few touchdowns and Dak will have a good game with no interceptions. The Cowboys go on the road and win in convincing fashion.

Prediction: Dallas 28 Arizona 13

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Ben Davila: Prediction

I don’t quite know which direction the game will go. On paper, the Cowboys should win, but it looked that way last week, and we all know how that went down. That said, I don’t think Arizona’s offense or defense is as dynamic as Denver’s. I think this bodes well for Dallas.

Furthermore, Carson Palmer is a statue behind the Arizona offensive line. If the Cowboys’ pass rush can get to Palmer on a semi-regular basis, I think it will provide the impetus for a turnover, or two, that will tilt the momentum in Dallas’s favor. For that reason, I’m calling this one for the Cowboys.

Prediction: Dallas 24 Arizona 19

Nate Lillard: Prediction

The Dallas Cowboys take on the Arizona Cardinals in what should be a one sided matchup this week. The Cardinals enter the game missing their star running back David Johnson, with Andre Ellington, Kerwynn Williams, and Chris Johnson III taking his place.

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The Cowboys are coming off one of the worst losses in recent memory against the Broncos, but there were several factors attributing towards that. The Cowboys will come out with a fury this game, with the offense being insulted all week and wanting to prove everybody wrong.

Zeke will score 2 touchdowns and rush for 145 yards. He will also have 2 receptions for 30 yards. Prescott will throw for 275 yards and 3 touchdowns, but only one will go to Dez Bryant. The other two will go to Cole Beasley and Brice Butler.

Dallas will have a much more efficient offense, completing 75% of third down conversions. On special teams, Ryan Switzer will return a punt for a touchdown, from 40+ yards away from the endzone.

On defense, the Cowboys will have 4 sacks on Carson Palmer, with Tank Lawrence once again notching 2 sacks to his season total. The other two will come from Taco Charlton and the newly returned Damontre Moore. The secondary will get two picks, one by Byron Jones and the other from Jourdan Lewis, with Lewis having a pick six.

Next: Cowboys: Matchups to watch in week three

The Cowboys will still give up 3 touchdowns, with Fitzgerald catching two and Kerwynn Williams rushing for the other.

Prediction: Dallas 42 Arizona 21

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