Blogging The Boys
The Dallas Cowboys will host the Arizona Cardinals on Monday night in what many are touting as a must-win to keep their playoff hopes alive. Not only are they desperate to get back in the win column, but this team has never lost to a team with a losing record this season, so falling short would be a huge backbreaker for them.
Beating the Cardinals hasn’t been easy for the Cowboys over the last couple of decades, as they have lost seven of their last eight contests against them, including each of the last three. Dallas must buck this trend and come away with a nice primetime win if they are to keep their playoff hopes alive. Here are five things to watch when the Cowboys face the Cardinals under the lights.
Whenever we look at a new opponent, we immediately assess the strength of their running game. That’s because the Cowboys’ defense has given up some whoppers on the ground this season. Running backs have feasted on this defense, and the Cowboys have surrendered at least 120 scrimmage yards to a running back in four of their last five games:
J.K. Dobbins = 121 yards
Rico Dowdle = 239 yards
Breece Hall = 155 yards
Josh Jacobs = 157 yards
The Cardinals have dealt with injuries to their backs this year. James Conner suffered a season-ending foot injury in Week 3. Then, a week later, backup Trey Benson hurt his knee and went on injured reserve. They relied on Michael Carter for a couple of weeks, but he was just recently cut, leaving the running back duties solely in the hands of Zonovan “Bam” Knight. The undrafted running back is only averaging 3.5 yards per game this year and has yet to eclipse 60 yards rushing in a game. However, nothing provides a jolt like the Cowboys’ swiss cheese run defense. Unless we see a big improvement, the Cards’ young back could be in for a career night.
The Cardinals were hoping to get their starting quarterback, Kyler Murray, back after missing the last two games with a foot injury. The seven-year veteran has been okay. Nothing spectacular and nothing terrible. His numbers are down a bit as he’s averaging under 200 yards passing per game for the first time in his career. Murray has had success against the Cowboys in his career, with a perfect 2-0 record, throwing four touchdowns without a single pick.
Murray is not quite ready to go, meaning the team will lean on 10-year veteran Jacoby Brissett, who has given the Cardinals a chance to win in each of the last two games against tough opponents. Brissett is averaging 300 yards per game in his two starts this season, where he’s thrown four touchdowns and just one pick. It doesn’t feel like it should make much difference which quarterback suits up, Murray, Brissett, 6-7. Either is capable of punishing the...
