Game preview
Cardinals @ Cowboys
Week 8 · 2026
Arizona has never lost in Arlington, and it brings the defense allowing the most points in the NFL.
Dallas has never beaten Arizona in Arlington. Four tries, four losses
StorylineDallas has hosted Arizona four times since moving into its Arlington stadium in 2009 and lost all four, by 11, 28, 3 and 10 points, and among every visitor to the building only Arizona and Green Bay have made four or more trips without a loss (Green Bay's record carries a tie). Last November's 27 to 17 Monday night loss featured most of Sunday's cast: Jacoby Brissett threw for 261 yards and two touchdowns, Trey McBride caught one, CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens combined for 164 yards, and both quarterbacks were sacked five times. This time the numbers point the other way: Dallas is 3-4 but scores 27.0 points a game, fifth in the league, after a 38 to 21 win in Philadelphia, while Arizona is 2-5 and allows 29.7 points a game, the most of any team through Week 7, after a 30 to 16 home loss to Denver. Sunday asks whether the league's most generous defense can keep a streak that Dallas's offense has every reason to end.
Arizona at the Cowboys' Arlington stadium, since 2009
| Season | Week | Day | Result | Arizona passer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 9 | Sunday | ARI 28, DAL 17 | Carson Palmer |
| 2020 | 6 | Monday | ARI 38, DAL 10 | Kyler Murray |
| 2021 | 17 | Sunday | ARI 25, DAL 22 | Kyler Murray |
| 2025 | 9 | Monday | ARI 27, DAL 17 | Jacoby Brissett |
Visitors without a loss at the Cowboys' Arlington stadium, since 2009, playoffs included
| Visitor | Games | Won | Lost | Tied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| ARI | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| LAC | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| DEN | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| TEN | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Both teams, 2026 through Week 7, and last week against 2025
| Team | Record | Points per game | Points allowed per game | Week 7 | Week 7 EPA per play | 2025 EPA per play |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DAL | 3-4 | 27.0 (5th) | 25.7 (9th most) | W 38-21 at PHI | +0.318 (2nd of 28) | +0.098 (5th of 32) |
| ARI | 2-5 | 20.3 (26th) | 29.7 (most) | L 16-30 vs DEN | -0.113 (26th of 28) | -0.019 (23rd of 32) |
Why it matters. The Arlington run is the one line in this matchup that leans Arizona's way. Dallas is 84-61-1 in the building against everyone, playoffs included, so four losses to one visitor stand out; Arizona has also won the last four meetings anywhere and leads the series 12-7 since 1999. Against that, Dallas's offense ranks sixth by EPA per play and Arizona's defense 27th, the same 27th it held in 2025. The collisions below decide whether the history or the matchup holds.
Lamb leads the NFL in targets. Arizona has allowed the most TD passes
What to watchDallas's quickest way to end the Arlington run goes through CeeDee Lamb, who leads the league with 81 targets, 30 percent of Dallas's 266, and ranks second in both receiving yards (651) and touchdown catches (6); in Philadelphia he turned 12 targets into five catches, 74 yards and two of Dak Prescott's three touchdown passes. Arizona's pass defense has allowed 17 touchdown passes in seven games, the most in the league, and gives up 0.237 EPA per dropback, third worst, after finishing sixth worst in 2025. Denver's Bo Nix completed only 15 of 29 against it in Week 7, but four of those went for 20 yards or more. If Lamb catches a pass on Dallas's first possession, Arizona is still chasing the receiver who saw 12 targets last week; if George Pickens draws the first target instead, Arizona's coverage has rolled to Lamb and left Pickens the open side.
Most touchdown passes allowed, 2026 through Week 7
| Rank | Defense | Games | TD passes allowed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ARI | 7 | 17 |
| 2 | LV | 7 | 16 |
| 2 | DET | 6 | 16 |
| 4 | BUF | 6 | 15 |
| 4 | WAS | 6 | 15 |
| 8 | DAL | 7 | 12 |
Dallas's passing against Arizona's pass defense, EPA per dropback
| Unit | Window | EPA per dropback | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAL passing | 2026 Wks 1 to 7 | +0.156 | 7 of 32 |
| DAL passing | 2025 regular season | +0.161 | 5 of 32 |
| ARI pass defense | 2026 Wk 7 vs DEN | +0.151 | 14th worst of 28 |
| ARI pass defense | 2026 Wks 1 to 7 | +0.237 | 3rd worst of 32 |
| ARI pass defense | 2025 regular season | +0.150 | 6th worst of 32 |
CeeDee Lamb by game, 2026
| Week | Opponent | Targets | Catches | Yards | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | at NYG | 8 | 5 | 44 | 1 |
| 2 | vs WAS | 9 | 8 | 153 | 2 |
| 3 | vs BAL | 8 | 7 | 112 | 0 |
| 4 | at HOU | 21 | 17 | 189 | 1 |
| 5 | vs TB | 5 | 2 | 9 | 0 |
| 6 | at GB | 18 | 9 | 70 | 0 |
| 7 | at PHI | 12 | 5 | 74 | 2 |
Why it matters. Dallas's passing ranks seventh by EPA per dropback, close to its fifth place in 2025, and Lamb carries about a third of the targets in it. Arizona's pass defense ranked sixth worst in 2025 and third worst through seven games, and no defense has given up more touchdown passes. In Dallas's 16-point and 13-point losses to Tampa Bay and Green Bay, Lamb totaled 79 yards on 23 targets, so how early and how cleanly he gets the ball is the first read on which version of this matchup is on the field.
McBride leads the NFL in catches and meets the 31st-ranked pass defense
What to watchArizona's answer is Trey McBride, who leads the league with 59 catches after finishing second with 126 in 2025, and has drawn at least nine targets in all seven games, 78 in all, 29 percent of Arizona's targets; he caught 10 of 13 for 111 yards and a touchdown against Denver. The passing game around him stays short: Jacoby Brissett's 5.67 yards per attempt are tied for the lowest of 26 passers with 150 attempts, and Arizona's 13 completions of 20 yards or more rank 29th. Dallas's pass defense allows 0.262 EPA per dropback, 31st of 32, the same place it finished in 2025, though in Philadelphia it held Tanner McKee to 211 yards and minus 0.091 per dropback, fifth best of Week 7. If McBride has two catches on Arizona's opening drive, Brissett is working the middle the way he did in Arlington last November; if the first quarter ends without one, the Dallas defense from Philadelphia has made the trip home.
Most catches, 2026 through Week 7
| Rank | Player | Team | Position | Targets | Catches | Yards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trey McBride | ARI | TE | 78 | 59 | 472 |
| 2 | Jaxon Smith-Njigba | SEA | WR | 78 | 58 | 867 |
| 3 | CeeDee Lamb | DAL | WR | 81 | 53 | 651 |
| 4 | Chris Olave | NO | WR | 71 | 49 | 636 |
| 5 | Malik Nabers | NYG | WR | 70 | 48 | 605 |
Worst pass defenses by EPA per dropback, 2026 through Week 7
| Rank, worst first | Defense | EPA per dropback |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | MIA | +0.312 |
| 2 | DAL | +0.262 |
| 3 | ARI | +0.237 |
| 4 | BUF | +0.215 |
| 5 | DET | +0.206 |
Arizona's passing against Dallas's pass defense
| Unit | Window | EPA per dropback | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARI passing | 2026 Wks 1 to 7 | -0.022 | 21 of 32 |
| ARI passing | 2025 regular season | +0.002 | 17 of 32 |
| DAL pass defense | 2026 Wk 7 at PHI | -0.091 | 5th best of 28 |
| DAL pass defense | 2026 Wks 1 to 7 | +0.262 | 31 of 32 |
| DAL pass defense | 2025 regular season | +0.221 | 31 of 32 |
Why it matters. Arizona's offense moves in short steps, so McBride's volume is what keeps drives alive against a Dallas defense that has ranked 31st against the pass across 2025 and 2026. The open question is Week 7: one strong game against McKee set beside a seven-week rank of 31st and a full 2025 season at 31st. McBride caught five passes for 55 yards and a touchdown in Arlington last November, and his 78 targets are 12 more than Michael Wilson's 66, the next most on the team.
Both QBs took five sacks here last year. Dallas has allowed seven all season
What to watchWhen these teams met in Arlington last November, Arizona sacked Prescott five times on 43 dropbacks and Dallas sacked Brissett five times on 36. This season Dallas protects better than anyone: seven sacks on 283 dropbacks, 2.5 percent, the lowest rate in the league after 4.7 percent and sixth place in 2025, and none in Philadelphia. Arizona's rush has 15 sacks on 218 dropbacks, 6.9 percent and 14th, against 5.0 percent and 28th in 2025, while Dallas's rush sits 26th at 4.5 percent and Arizona has allowed 5.1 percent, 10th, including three sacks of Brissett against Denver. If Arizona puts Prescott on the ground in the first half, the rush that sacked him five times last November has come back; if Prescott is still clean at halftime, Lamb and Pickens get the time that Arizona's coverage has not survived.
Lowest sack rate allowed, 2026 through Week 7
| Rank | Offense | Dropbacks | Sacks | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DAL | 283 | 7 | 2.5% |
| 2 | SF | 217 | 7 | 3.2% |
| 3 | KC | 199 | 7 | 3.5% |
| 4 | LV | 278 | 10 | 3.6% |
| 5 | LA | 291 | 11 | 3.8% |
| 10 | ARI | 296 | 15 | 5.1% |
Sacks by game, 2026
| Week | ARI defense made | DAL offense allowed | DAL defense made | ARI offense allowed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| 5 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| 6 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 7 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
Sack rates, both sides of both lines
| Unit | 2026 Wks 1 to 7 | Rank of 32 | 2025 regular season | 2025 rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARI defense, sacks made | 15 on 218, 6.9% | 14 | 30 on 597, 5.0% | 28 |
| DAL offense, sacks allowed | 7 on 283, 2.5% | 1 (fewest first) | 31 on 655, 4.7% | 6 |
| DAL defense, sacks made | 10 on 224, 4.5% | 26 | 35 on 593, 5.9% | 25 |
| ARI offense, sacks allowed | 15 on 296, 5.1% | 10 (fewest first) | 59 on 710, 8.3% | 23 |
Why it matters. Five sacks of Prescott were part of last November's Arizona win, and Dallas has allowed more than two in a game only once this season, three in Houston. Arizona's rush has a better rate than it did in 2025 but has not had a game above four sacks, and Dallas's line has given up none in three of seven games. Pressure is Arizona's one route to slowing a passing game that its coverage has not stopped.
Dallas allows 147 rushing yards a game. Arizona runs for 96
What to watchThe softest part of Dallas's defense meets the part of Arizona's offense that has done the least: Dallas allows 147.0 rushing yards a game, second most in the league, after 126.6 and 10th most in 2025, while Arizona gains 96.4 a game, 23rd, at 3.79 yards a carry, 27th. Jeremiyah Love led Arizona's backs in carries in four of his five games, was listed Out with an ankle injury on the Week 6 and Week 7 injury reports, and the Week 8 injury report lists him as limited in practice with an ankle injury. The other side runs hotter: Javonte Williams carried 25 times for 155 yards in Philadelphia, 6.2 a carry against 4.77 across 2025 and his first 100-yard game of the season, he is tied for the league lead with eight rushing touchdowns, and Arizona's run defense allows 127.0 yards a game, 10th most. If Arizona has 10 carries by halftime, it is testing Dallas's weakest unit; if Williams has 10 by then, Dallas is playing the game it won in Philadelphia.
Most yards allowed on run plays per game, 2026 through Week 7
| Rank | Defense | Games | Carries | Yards | Per game |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CAR | 6 | 174 | 924 | 154.0 |
| 2 | DAL | 7 | 209 | 1029 | 147.0 |
| 3 | LV | 7 | 192 | 1016 | 145.1 |
| 4 | NO | 7 | 193 | 986 | 140.9 |
| 5 | DEN | 7 | 199 | 939 | 134.1 |
| 10 | ARI | 7 | 188 | 889 | 127.0 |
Run units on both sides, yards on run plays
| Unit | Window | Per game | Per carry | Rank of 32 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DAL run defense | 2026 Wks 1 to 7 | 147.0 | 4.92 | 2nd most allowed |
| DAL run defense | 2025 regular season | 126.6 | 4.96 | 10th most allowed |
| ARI run offense | 2026 Wks 1 to 7 | 96.4 | 3.79 | 23rd |
| ARI run offense | 2025 regular season | 93.3 | 4.36 | 31st |
| DAL run offense | 2026 Wks 1 to 7 | 94.6 | 4.11 | 25th |
| ARI run defense | 2026 Wks 1 to 7 | 127.0 | 4.73 | 10th most allowed |
Arizona's run game with and without Jeremiyah Love, 2026
| Games | Carries | Yards | Per game | Per carry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wks 1 to 5, Love played | 119 | 461 | 92.2 | 3.87 |
| Wks 6 and 7, Love listed Out | 59 | 214 | 107.0 | 3.63 |
Leaders in rushing touchdowns, 2026 through Week 7
| Rank | Player | Team | Carries | Yards | Rush TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Javonte Williams | DAL | 110 | 472 | 8 |
| 1 | Jonathan Taylor | IND | 140 | 587 | 8 |
| 1 | Josh Allen | BUF | 48 | 240 | 8 |
| 1 | Christian McCaffrey | SF | 84 | 389 | 8 |
| 5 | Jahmyr Gibbs | DET | 134 | 620 | 7 |
Why it matters. Dallas has been run on all season, 243 yards by Tampa Bay, 192 by Baltimore, 182 by Washington, and its run defense ranked 10th worst in 2025 as well. Arizona has not built a ground game to take advantage of that, with or without Love, so the gap may matter more on Dallas's side: Williams's 25 carries in Philadelphia were six more than his previous 2026 high, and Dallas's 206 yards on run plays that night were its most of the season. Whichever team leans on the run longer controls how many chances the passing games get.
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