Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7) runs past Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Kenny Clark (95) during the second half of an NFL football game at AT&T Stadium on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025, in Arlington.
Smiley N. Pool/Staff Photographer
The Dallas Cowboys will host the Arizona Cardinals at AT&T Stadium on Sunday, a team in the midst of a rebuilding effort following the departure of a quarterback once viewed as the franchise’s cornerstone and the arrival of a new head coach.
Arizona moved on from QB Kyler Murray and hired coach Mike LaFleur to help reshape a team that has missed the postseason in each of the past four seasons.
Here are five things to know about the Cowboys’ next opponent, the Arizona Cardinals.
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Brissett will start at QB
After a 30-16 loss to the Denver Broncos, LaFleur made his stance on the quarterback situation clear, confirming that Jacoby Brissett will remain Arizona’s starting quarterback for its Week 8 matchup against the Cowboys. The decision delays the anticipated debut of rookie Carson Beck. Last season, Brissett shredded Dallas’ defense, completing 21 of 31 passes and throwing two touchdowns. The Cardinals won 27-17 at AT&T Stadium. In seven games this season, Brissett has 1,600 passing yards, 14th in the NFL, and 19 touchdowns, 13th. He has thrown six interceptions, tied for the sixth-most among quarterbacks. In seven games this season, Brissett has 1,600 passing yards, 14th in the NFL, and 19 touchdowns (13th). He has thrown six interceptions, tied for the sixth-most among quarterbacks. Brissett is 1-0 against the Cowboys in his career.
In 2016, Brissett was part of the New England Patriots team that won Super Bowl LI, though he was on the inactive list.
Mike LaFleur confirms Jacoby Brissett is still the Cardinals starting QB.
“We’ve been down inside the 10-yard line 10x in the last two games…the ball is moving.” https://t.co/psQhTAPbba
— PHNX Cardinals (@PHNX_Cardinals) October 26, 2026
Rushing offense
The Cardinals have struggled to move the chains on the ground. They rank 22nd in the league with 622 rushing yards. Jeremiyah Love has carried much of the load, with 67 carries for 272 yards, an average of 3.7 yards per carry. Love has not played in Arizona’s past two games because of an ankle injury. Tyler Allgeier and Bam Knight have handled the lead-back duties in his absence.
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The depleted rushing attack might not seem like a significant threat, but the Cowboys’ run defense has taken a beating this season. Dallas has the second-worst run defense in the NFL, allowing 145.7 yards per game. The Cowboys have been even worse at home, allowing an average of 211.5 rushing yards per game at AT&T Stadium.
Tyler Allgeier gets loose for a 22-yard TD 🔥
AZvsNYG on CBS/Paramount+
Stream on @NFLPlus https://t.co/L5ErkYSgh6
— NFL (@NFL) October 4, 2026
Passing offense
Brissett has struggled to give the Cardinals’ offense a vertical dimension with explosive plays. As a result, tight end Trey McBride has become his most productive receiver. McBride has 472 yards on 59 receptions, an average of 8 yards per catch. Brissett has targeted him 77 times. The wide receiver with the most targets is Michael Wilson, with 66. McBride leads the Cardinals with four touchdowns. Ten of Arizona’s 13 touchdowns this season have come through the air. The Cardinals’ offense will face the worst defense in the league. The Cowboys have allowed 2,616 total yards (tied with the Raiders). Against the pass, Dallas has the NFL’s 11th-best defense, allowing 1,596 yards. The Cowboys have intercepted just two passes this season, the second-fewest in the league. Only the New York Jets have fewer, with one interception.
“Don’t let 85 get going!”
Trey McBride was doing his thing on National Tight Ends Day 🫡
@insidethenfl Week 7 Mic’d Up on X https://t.co/Dlhimh6YZg
— NFL (@NFL) October 27, 2026
Defensive and penalty struggles
In addition to their problems moving the ball, the Cardinals have often hurt themselves with penalties. Arizona is the eighth-most penalized team in the NFL, with 50 penalties for 455 yards. The Cowboys have been even worse in that category, ranking sixth in the league with 53 penalties for 469 yards. The Cardinals’ defense has offered little to celebrate this season. Opponents are averaging 6 yards per play against Arizona, the second-worst mark in the NFL. The Cowboys’ offense averages 5.5 yards per play, ranking 13th in the league.
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Arizona’s defensive standout is safety Budda Baker, who leads the team with 3.5 sacks and has one interception. Baker briefly became the NFL’s highest-paid safety when he signed a four-year, $59 million contract extension with the Cardinals in 2020.
Arizona’s run defense has been shaky at best, allowing 126.4 rushing yards per game, which ranks 24th in the league. The Cowboys’ offense averages 94.3 rushing yards per game, the eighth-lowest mark in the NFL. Dallas has been even less productive on the ground at home, averaging just 58 rushing yards per game. On Sunday, the Cardinals’ defense will face the challenge of stopping Cowboys running back Javonte Williams, who set a career high Monday night against the Eagles with 155 rushing yards and a touchdown on 25 carries.
The Cardinals allow 228 passing yards per game, ranking 20th in the NFL. The Cowboys average 259.3 passing yards per game, the seventh-best mark in the league.
New face at the helm
The Arizona Cardinals are trying to find their identity under LaFleur. At 39, he is the third-youngest head coach in the league, behind only Joe Brady of the Bills, 37, and Kellen Moore of the Saints, 38. He began his NFL career in 2014 as an offensive intern with the Browns. Before becoming the Cardinals’ head coach, he was the Rams’ offensive coordinator from 2023 to 2025. During LaFleur’s three seasons with the Rams, Los Angeles won 32 games, made three playoff appearances and captured one NFC West title. His older brother, Matt, is the head coach of the Green Bay Packers. The pair are just the fourth set of brothers to serve as NFL head coaches.
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The Cardinals enter their game against the Cowboys with a 2-5 record.