The first home loss of 2025 feels like the harshest of the season, simply because it eliminates any idea of AT&T Stadium being a safe space for this offense and this team. With eight games to go, there are no “automatic wins” to circle on the Cowboys‘ schedule.
The fallout from Cardinals 27, Cowboys 17:
Offense
There’s no way anyone could watch that first drive — the Cowboys zipped from their 34 to a first-and-goal at the Arizona in six plays — and think this unit would score 10 points. But that’s all Dak and Co. managed. Prescott had one of his least efficient nights (just under 62 percent passing is no longer special at all), and with five sacks, the Cowboys gained just 210 yards on 44 pass plays. An efficient run game became useless with Dallas trailing by double digits all night.
Cowboys
Grade: D-minus
Defense
The five sacks and the zero points allowed in the fourth quarter raise this from a failing grade. What in the world happened to DaRon Bland ($92 million doesn’t buy what it used to)? He turned Marvin Harrison Jr. into Marvin Harrison Sr. And can’t get too excited about a run defense that let former TCU back Emari Demercado go for 5.6 yards per carry on 14 runs.
Grade: C-minus
Special teams
The blocked punt by Sam Williams (blocked it with his face he was so on top of the punter) that scored a touchdown almost gave Dallas some momentum before the half. Almost. Brandon Aubrey missed a chance to tie the NFL record with a 68-yard field goal. Kick return coverage needs some work during the bye week.
Grade: B
Coaching
Brian Schottenheimer should have put points on the board on the first drive, but almost every NFL coach is so consumed with being the next Dan Campbell and going for it even if it’s unnecessary (also when you don’t have Jahmyr Gibbs or Amon-Ra St. Brown to get the first downs for you). If the Cowboys’ defense made any halftime adjustments, they were obliterated in a 74-yard touchdown drive that took Arizona all of 3 plays to start the third quarter. That basically ended the game.
Grade: D
Overall
The Cards weren’t as bad as their 2-5 record, they just couldn’t win any close games. Against Dallas, that’s not a prerequisite. Cowboys have now lost three times by 10 or more points and have an exhausting-looking run of games after the Raiders on Nov. 17. At 3-5-1, it’s getting late awfully early in Arlington.
Grade: D
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