The Dallas Cowboys will host the Arizona Cardinals on Monday Night Football in Week 9, with both teams aiming to improve their playoff chances. Dallas enters at 3-4-1 after a 44-24 loss to the Denver Broncos, while Arizona is 2-5 following five straight defeats. Jacoby Brissett will start his third consecutive game for the Cardinals in place of the injured Kyler Murray.
The Cowboys (3-4-1) remain undefeated at home with a 2-0-1 record but are coming off a blowout loss to the Broncos that exposed defensive vulnerabilities. Dallas ranks second in the NFL in scoring offense at 30.8 points per game and leads the league in passing yards at 263.8 per game, powered by quarterback Dak Prescott's league-leading QBR. Running back Javonte Williams ranks among the top four in rushing yards and touchdowns, while wide receivers CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens provide explosive threats—Lamb has 184 yards and a score in his two games since returning from injury, and Pickens has 43 catches for 685 yards and six touchdowns.
The Cardinals (2-5) have lost five straight games, all by four points or fewer, but enter off a Week 8 bye. Arizona has dominated the series recently, winning seven of the last eight meetings and covering the spread in seven of those. Brissett has gone 52 of 80 for 599 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception in his two starts, forging a strong connection with tight end Trey McBride (18 of 24 targets for 146 yards and three scores). However, the run game has struggled without James Conner and Trey Benson, averaging just 3.1 yards per carry.
Dallas struggles defensively, ranking second-worst in points allowed (31.3 per game) and passing defense, which could benefit Arizona's fifth-ranked third-down offense. The Cowboys' leaky secondary has allowed 15 touchdown catches to wide receivers, the most in the NFL. Arizona's defense ranks 21st in EPA per play but fifth against the run.
Kickoff is at 8:15 p.m. ET from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, airing on ESPN with streaming on Fubo. Dallas is a 3.5-point favorite, with an over/under of 53.5 points. Projection models lean toward the Over, simulating 56 combined points, and favor the Cowboys to cover in over 50% of scenarios. Inactives include Kyler Murray and cornerback Elijah Jones for Arizona, and safety Donovan Wilson for Dallas.