Football is weird. Seriously. If you looked at the paper before the Arizona Cardinals at Dallas Cowboys game on November 3, 2025, you probably would’ve bet the house on Dak Prescott. The Cowboys were at home. They were scoring over 30 points a game. Meanwhile, Arizona was limping in on a five-game losing streak with their franchise guy, Kyler Murray, stuck on the sidelines with a foot injury.
But then the game started.
And honestly? The Cardinals just did what they always seem to do to Dallas. They walked into AT&T Stadium and bullied them. Arizona walked away with a 27-17 win that left Jerry Jones looking like he’d just seen a ghost and Cowboys fans wondering why their "high-powered" offense suddenly forgot how to find the end zone.
The Jacoby Brissett Masterclass Nobody Saw Coming
Look, we have to talk about Jacoby Brissett. When it was announced Murray wasn't quite ready to go, there was a collective groan from the desert. But Brissett didn't just "manage" the game. He sliced through the Dallas secondary like he was in his prime.
He finished with a 115.1 passer rating. That's not just good; that's elite. He was 21-of-31 for 261 yards and two scores. The guy looked comfortable. He wasn't panicked by the Dallas pass rush, even though he took five sacks. He just kept delivering.
The connection with Marvin Harrison Jr. was basically a highlight reel. Harrison had a career-high seven catches for 96 yards. His 4-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter wasn't just a score; it was a statement. He made DaRon Bland look human, which doesn't happen often.
👉 See also: Eastern Conference Finals 2024: What Most People Get Wrong
Why the Cardinals at Dallas Cowboys Matchup Defies Logic
If you’re a Cowboys fan, this rivalry is a nightmare. Dallas leads the all-time series 29-21, but that’s deceptive. If you look at the recent "modern" era, Arizona has been their kryptonite.
The Cardinals have now won 8 of their last 9 meetings against Dallas. Think about that for a second. Through different coaches, different quarterbacks, and different stadiums, Arizona just has the recipe for beating the Cowboys.
- 2020: Arizona wins 38-10.
- 2022: Arizona wins 25-22.
- 2023: Arizona wins 28-16.
- 2025: Arizona wins 27-17.
It doesn’t matter if it’s Kyler Murray, Joshua Dobbs, or Jacoby Brissett under center. The Cardinals show up. Maybe it's the old NFC East bad blood that refuses to die. Whatever it is, the "America's Team" label doesn't carry much weight when these two teams lock up.
The Defensive Disruption
The real story of the most recent Arizona Cardinals at Dallas Cowboys clash was the defense. Jonathan Gannon’s unit was relentless. They sacked Dak Prescott five times.
Old man Calais Campbell—playing in his 250th career game—looked like he found a fountain of youth. He had two sacks. Josh Sweat had two more. They didn't just hit Dak; they made him uncomfortable. You could see it in his eyes by the third quarter. He was rushing throws, missing CeeDee Lamb on routes he usually hits in his sleep.
✨ Don't miss: Texas vs Oklahoma Football Game: Why the Red River Rivalry is Getting Even Weirder
Dallas was 0-for-3 on fourth downs. That’s where the game was won. Brian Schottenheimer opted to go for it on the opening drive at the Arizona 7-yard line, and Sweat just blew past the line to swallow Dak whole. It set a tone that the Cowboys never really shook off.
Breaking Down the Turning Point
The score was 24-10 in the third quarter. Dallas had just kicked a field goal and felt like they had a little momentum. Then the Cardinals did something they’ve struggled with all season: they stayed aggressive.
Chad Ryland nailed a 34-yard field goal to make it 27-10 after a 12-play drive that chewed up over five minutes of clock. But the dagger? That came in the fourth.
Javonte Williams, the Cowboys' back, had the ball ripped away by rookie linebacker Cody Simon. Akeem Davis-Gaither pounced on it. At that moment, the air just left the building. You could hear a pin drop in Arlington. Even when Ryan Flournoy caught a late touchdown pass—his first career TD, by the way—it felt like a hollow gesture.
What This Means for the Future
The fallout from this game was huge. For Arizona, it saved their season from a total tailspin. Even though they ended the 2025 season looking for a new head coach after Gannon moved on, this win proved the roster has talent.
🔗 Read more: How to watch vikings game online free without the usual headache
Michael Wilson, who finished the season with over 1,000 receiving yards, really started his breakout during this stretch. He had a 50-yard catch-and-run right after halftime that basically broke the Cowboys' spirit.
For Dallas, it was the start of a massive identity crisis. They headed into their bye week at 3-5-1, and the "Super Bowl or bust" talk officially died that night. When you're averaging 30 points a game and get held to 17 by a team that had lost five straight, something is fundamentally broken.
Practical Takeaways for Fans
If you’re looking at future matchups between the Arizona Cardinals at Dallas Cowboys, here’s the reality check:
- Ignore the Records: Arizona plays Dallas harder than they play almost anyone else. Don't look at the standings; look at the matchup.
- Pressure is Key: The Cardinals have figured out that if you can move Dak off his spot without blitzing heavily (using guys like Sweat and Campbell), the Dallas offense stutters.
- Marvin Harrison Jr. is the Real Deal: If he's healthy, he's a matchup nightmare for the Dallas secondary, which tends to struggle with physical, technical route runners.
- The "Home Field" Myth: AT&T Stadium hasn't been a fortress against Arizona. If anything, the Cardinals seem to enjoy the big stage.
The 27-17 scoreline might look close-ish, but if you watched the game, you know it wasn't. Arizona dominated the time of possession (33:20 to 26:40) and simply wanted it more.
Moving forward into the 2026 offseason, both teams are at a crossroads. Arizona is hunting for a new leader to pair with a returning Kyler Murray, while Dallas has to decide if the current core can ever get over the hump. One thing is certain, though: the next time these two meet, nobody should be surprised if the "underdog" Cardinals walk away with another win.
To keep an eye on how these rosters change before their next meeting, you should track the 2026 NFL Draft order, as Arizona's win actually pushed them down to the No. 12 spot, potentially changing their strategy for finding a defensive anchor.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check the official 2026 NFL schedule release in May to see if these two are slated for a rematch.
- Monitor the Cardinals' coaching search to see if they hire an offensive-minded coach who can further unlock Marvin Harrison Jr.
- Watch the Dallas salary cap moves; they have massive decisions to make regarding Dak Prescott's contract that will dictate their window of contention.