FRISCO, Texas – In a postseason preview, the Dallas Cowboys (11-4) will host the Arizona Cardinals (10-5) in a high-profile NFC showdown. Both teams have solidified a spot in the NFC playoffs but have two games remaining in the regular season to battle for seeding. Dallas enters a measuring stick contest. The matchup was initially scheduled for a noon kickoff, but the league flexed the game to a 3:25 p.m. kick for more exposure. Following an undefeated record in December and a 56-14 dismantling of the Washington Football Team, the Cowboys will look to carry the momentum/offensive confidence into Sunday’s meeting. Conversely, the Cardinals are riding a three-game losing streak and are desperate for a victory. Here are several storylines heading into Sunday’s highly anticipated show at AT&T Stadium.
- Dallas clinched the NFC East crown prior to mauling the Washington Football Team in all three phases. The Cowboys put up the most complete performance of the 2021 season and the attributing factor was the improvement of the offense. The unit found their rhythm after a multi-week regression. An up-tempo offense shorthanded Washington, not allowing substitutions. Quarterback Dak Prescott was less hesitant in using his legs to extend plays and No. 4 was confident firing vertical shots downfield off free plays. Dallas found their success against a two-high shell. The Cowboys were 6-6 in the red zone and the ball was evenly distributed among the weapons in Kellen Moore’s arsenal. Cardinals’ defensive coordinator Vance Joseph likes to use multiple looks up front with heavy 3-4 packages. Arizona has struggled to stop the run in recent weeks, inviting opportunities for Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard to pound it on the ground to complement an aerial attack.
- Arizona has been in a downward tailspin offensively with costly penalties, receivers’ inability to create separation, missed field goals and botched snaps to name a few. The Cardinals are without future hall of fame receiver DeAndre Hopkins (knee) and remain in the top ten offensively, due to the club’s success through the first seven games of the season. They will be looking to get back on track against Dallas. Cardinals’ quarterback Kyler Murray poses an unusual threat with his elusiveness outside of the pocket. When he breaks containment, Murray can paralyze a defense using his legs with open rush lanes. He can make a throw from any arm angle and platform. Gap discipline and effectively setting the edge will be critical for the Cowboys on Sunday. If gaps are not filled, he will quickly step up and exploit the weakness. For a speedster like Murray, employing a spy is likely not the route the defense should take. Dan Quinn’s crew has enough speed up front with Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence, Randy Gregory, Osa Odighizuwa and Neville Gallimore to get up field and attack. Sitting back, waiting flat-footed and then trying to redirect once Murray starts to accelerate in a run, leaves room for poor angles leading to a big gain. Rush plans this week will have to be sound. Over pursuit will leave the perimeter exposed for Murray. On trying to simulate Murray’s speed and skills in practice, Mike McCarthy described “It’s a huge challenge, and Dan [Quinn] and our guys do a great job of scripting it out. I think you’ll see a ‘quarterback by concept’ mindset, where Ben DiNucci will do some things, Cooper [Rush] may do a couple things, but then if you need to bring in C.J. Goodwin or Cedrick [Wilson]. Cedrick has done some of those things for us. We’re fortunate to have four former quarterback types that can go back here and give us the look that we need. We just kind of handle it based on what the script of the period is.”
- On Thursday, the Cowboys added rookie defensive tackle Quinton Bohanna to the injury report with an undisclosed illness. The sixth-round pick from Kentucky has served as a rotational depth option for Dan Quinn and has registered 12 tackles this season. Nickel cornerback Jourdan Lewis was back on the practice field on Thursday after missing Week 16’s matchup against Washington due to COVID-19 protocols. Lewis has been activated to the 53-man roster and is expected to play on Sunday vs. Arizona. Defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence was limited in Wednesday’s practice as the staff continues to monitor his workload as he manages a foot injury that sidelined him for a 10-game stretch following Week 1. In facing elusive dual-threat Kyler Murray this week, the defensive line needs to be at full strength. On the other side of the trenches for Dallas, left tackle Tyron Smith is expected to play in Week 17 against Arizona. The pro bowler missed the previous two games with an ankle injury and participated in individual drills on Thursday.
