Arizona Grounds the Cowboys in Stunning 27–17 Home Loss

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The Recap

Monday night at AT&T Stadium was meant to be another home win for Dallas, but instead the Cowboys stumbled to a 27-17 defeat at the hands of the Cardinals, snapping Arizona’s five-game losing streak.

Here are the key facts: Dallas fell to 3-5-1, now below .500 after the loss. Backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett filled in for the injured Kyler Murray and tossed two touchdowns, ran for another, and pushed Arizona to 261 yards through the air. Dallas’ offense, which had averaged over 30 points per game, managed just 10 offensive points until the fourth quarter. The Cowboys were sacked five times, including a key sack on fourth-and-goal from the 4-yard line at the start of the game.

What Went Wrong for the Cowboys

1. Inefficient red-zone offense:
Dallas reached the Arizona 7-yard line early but failed to convert on fourth down, setting a tone of missed opportunities.

2. Defense in disarray:
The Cardinals converted 54 % of third downs and averaged over 10 yards per play on long drives. Dallas’ defense looked overmatched and out of sync.

3. Offensive disruptions & sacks:
Dak Prescott (24-of-39, 250 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT) was under constant pressure, and the protection collapsed at critical junctures.

4. Momentum swings gone wrong:
After Dallas blocked a punt for a touchdown, Arizona immediately answered with long scoring drives and never looked back. The shift happened early.

What It Means

For Dallas:

The loss marks the first back-to-back defeat of the season for the Cowboys under first-year offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer. Playoff hopes now hang by a thread. A strong record at this point was expected; instead, the team enters its bye week with more questions than confidence. The defensive issues appear deep-rooted and not just fleeting.

For Arizona:

This win provides a much-needed morale boost and ends a streak of narrow defeats. Brissett’s performance under pressure suggests Arizona may be more resilient than thought.

Looking Ahead

Dallas now heads into the bye week with time to regroup — but must answer key questions: Can the offensive line stabilize and give Prescott proper protection? Will the defense improve in tackling, gap discipline, and limiting explosive plays? Can the red-zone strategy be fixed so that drives result in touchdowns, not turnovers or punts? The Cardinals, meanwhile, may build momentum but must still contend with the circuitous road back to relevancy.

Final Thought

This wasn’t simply a loss for the Cowboys — it was a collapse. Against a team many had dismissed, Dallas underperformed in nearly every phase. When opportunities were there, they faltered; when pressure mounted, they cracked. If their season is to be salvaged, the turnaround must start now.