Revenge of the Birds
The Arizona Cardinals are facing one of the best offensive units in the league on Monday Night Football against the Dallas Cowboys. That is the bad news.
The Arizona Cardinals are facing one of the worst defensive units in the league on Monday Night Football against the Dallas Cowboys. That is the good news.
RELATED: CRITICAL GAME ON MONDAY NIGHT
The Cowboys can score, and score often, ranking #2 in points scored with 246. That is a 30.75 points per game average. In three games so far this season, they topped scoring 40+ (40, 40, and 44). That is a lot of points for a single game at the NFL level.
However, their offense is one-sided. They are a great passing team and are set up to throw the ball.
Dallas ranks #3 in total passing yards (2,168), which is just 14 yards out of the first-place slot. They are also #3 in attempts (299), #4 in completion percentage (70.2%), #10 in passes for first down conversions, #21 in interceptions (6), and ranked #1 in two categories: completions (210), and touchdown passes (17).
But they are below average at running the ball, ranked in the bottom third of the league in all categories.
That’s their offense in a nutshell.
Lordy. This side of the ball is a mess. A huge mess. Where do you start?
Maybe begin with Dallas’ run defense. They are #30 against the run, allowing 1,168 yards so far. That averages out to being 146 yards allowed per match. #29 in rushing attempts. Sixth worst in average yards per carry (4.9) and have allowed the second most rushing touchdowns (10). This group is also dead last in allowing runs for first downs (77).
On to the Cowboys’ pass defense. This group is #11 in attempts allowed (267), #8 in completions (183), #31 in yards per attempt (8.4), #9 in fewest interceptions (4), #6 in completion percentage (68.5%), #9 in sacks (15), and dead last in several categories: most yards gained (2,185), and most passing touchdowns allowed (20). This group as a whole is ranked #32.
Basically, there is minimal to no pass rush now that Micah Parsons was shipped off to Green Bay, and they can’t cover the pass.
What this game comes down to is Dallas’ #3 passing offense against Arizona’s #5 passing defense.
And, the Cardinals’ #28 passing offense against the Cowboys’ #32 pass defense.
Neither team can run the ball, so that’s not a factor. Arizona will need to air it out for most of the game against a very weak pass defense. How to stop the Cowboys’ offensive attack? Who has to this point? The Cowboys’ offense just might be too strong for the Cardinals to handle.
This means the Cardinals’ offense will have to keep pace with the league’s #2 overall offense.
One ace in the hole for Arizona is QB Jacoby Brissett. He has the patience to wait for the pocket to form and then isn’t inclined...
