Cardinals vs. Cowboys preview: 3 things to watch in this week’s biggest NFC showdown
Two of the top teams in the NFC meet on Sunday afternoon in a game that could have major implications for playoff seeding.
Arizona is 6-1 -- the only loss coming against the Denver Broncos -- and off to its best start since 1974 when it won its first seven games. After starting the 2013 season with four losses in their first seven games, the Cardinals are 13-3 in their last 16 games, tied with the Broncos for the best record since Week 8 of last year.
NFL Week 9
The Cardinals this week face a difficult trip to Dallas, where they have dropped their last 14 regular-season games dating back to 1989. That is the second-longest active road losing streak against a single opponent, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
The Cowboys had their six-game win streak snapped with a loss on Monday night to Washington, and need to bounce back quickly on a short week. Dallas has struggled in this situation recently -- the last five times that they have played on Monday Night Football they lost their next game each time.
The team got a huge scare against Washington when Tony Romo took a big hit in the third quarter and was forced out of the game. Romo is likely to be a game-time decision and the team remains hopeful he can play on Sunday.
Both of these teams have something to prove and it should be a great matchup at AT&T Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Here’s three things to watch heading into the game:
1. DeMarco Murray vs Cardinals rush defense
Murray is having a historic season with 1,054 rushing yards in eight games, putting him on pace to set the all-time single-season rushing record of 2,105 yards set by Eric Dickerson in 1984. Murray is the first player in NFL history with at least 100 rush yards in each of his first eight games to start a season but faces a big test on Sunday against a very good Cardinals rush defense.
Arizona ranks third in the league in rush yards allowed per game (77.9) and yards per carry (3.3), and has allowed only four rushing touchdowns in seven games this season. The only player in the last two seasons to reach the century mark on the ground against the Cardinals was Frank Gore in Week 6 of 2013, when he had 101 yards in a 49ers win.
2. Cowboys offensive line vs Cardinals pass rush
Regardless of who is under center for Dallas, the offensive line needs to do a better job of protecting the quarterback. Romo was sacked a season-high five times against Washington and was pressured on nearly 40 percent of his dropbacks. Washington blitzed an astounding 60 percent of the time and Romo had a lot of difficulty picking up the extra safety and linebacker pressures up the middle.
The Cardinals are well-equipped to use a similar strategy on Sunday, with the highest blitz rate of any team over the last two seasons (47 percent). Romo clearly struggled when facing the added pass rushers last week, and it likely won't be an easier task for the inexperienced Brandon Weeden, who is in line to start if Romo can't go.
3. Cowboys defense without Justin Durant
The Cowboys’ biggest concern is obviously the health of Romo, but a more significant loss might be the season-ending biceps injury to linebacker Justin Durant. The eight-year veteran is one of the more underrated defensive players in the league, with a team-best 49 tackles and two forced fumbles.
He had emerged as one of the leaders of defense that has exceed expectations so far this year after allowing the third-most total yards in NFL history last season. The loss of their defensive captain and play-caller is a potentially devastating blow to this Cowboys team, regardless of who is pegged to replace him in the lineup.
How to watch
Where: AT&T Stadium, Arlington
When: 1 p.m. ET
TV: FOX
Announcers: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Erin Andrews
Online streaming: Verizon NFL Mobile
