Arizona Cardinals vs. Dallas Cowboys: Complete Week 9 Preview for Dallas
In a matchup between two of the best teams in the NFC, the Dallas Cowboys (6-2) will take on the Arizona Cardinals (6-1) at AT&T Stadium. A win would put the Cowboys back on track and further cement their place as one of the best teams in the NFL.
Last week, the Cowboys fell to their division foe, the Washington Redskins, 20-17 in a game where everything went wrong for the Cowboys.
The Arizona Cardinals squeaked by the Philadelphia Eagles in a 24-20 win. The Cardinals did a great job stifling the potent Eagles offense.
The biggest question mark heading into this game will be about the availability of Tony Romo. He hasn't practiced yet this week, and he appears to be a game-time decision.
This game would be drastically different with Brandon Weeden as the Cowboys quarterback instead of Romo.
The Cowboys need to control the Cardinals' dynamic weapons and stay committed to the run on offense to win this game.
Read on for some news and notes, injury information and players to watch on Sunday.
Cowboys' Week 8 Recap
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The Dallas Cowboys played their worst game of the year against the Redskins in their 20-17 loss. The Redskins coaches outschemed the Cowboys for much of the game, which was a huge reason the Cowboys lost.
Tony Romo left the game after he injured his back in the third quarter. While he was out, Brandon Weeden looked very good in his absence. He marched the Cowboys down the field for the only touchdown of the second half.
A recurring theme this season has been the lack of pass rush from the defensive line, and it manifested itself once again against the Redskins. The Cowboys failed to put much pressure on Washington quarterback Colt McCoy, as he made easy throws routinely throughout the game.
The secondary, particularly Barry Church, had its worst outing of the season. Church was not good in run support or coverage throughout the game.
Another Cowboy who didn't perform to his usual standards was Rolando McClain, as he took bad angles and missed a number of tackles. He didn't look like the same player that he had in prior games.
Now, the Cowboys look forward to a huge matchup against the NFC-leading Arizona Cardinals Sunday.
News and Notes
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Will Tony Romo Play?
Tony Romo's status for the game against the Cardinals is still up in the air. However, if he does indeed play, he will wear extra protection, per ESPNDallas.com's Todd Archer:
"Romo has not practiced this week and it is not clear he will be able to do so on Friday, but the Cowboys’ equipment staff is sewing added Nike Combat gear protection into the undershirt Romo wears on game day. They have done similar things for other players for extra protection.
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Romo has worn a rib protector since he became the starter, and when he suffered a punctured lung and broken rib, it was fortified with Kevlar. He also wore a specially designed vest as added protection for several games that year as his rib healed. He already has an longer-than-normal back plate for more protection after undergoing two back surgeries.
Obviously, the Cowboys will take extra precautions for Romo so that he does not injure his back further. It is not worth it for Romo to play if he just going to aggravate his back even more. The Cowboys will need Romo for the stretch run, and a single game versus the Cardinals shouldn't take precedent.
DeMarcus Lawrence's First Game
DeMarcus Lawrence will appear in his first game as a pro when the Cowboys face the Cardinals. He has a simple plan for his return, per ESPNDallas.com's Todd Archer:
"DeMarcus Lawrence's plan is pretty simple when he returns: See the quarterback, get the quarterback. 'Yeah, that's all it is,' the Dallas Cowboys' second-round pick said."
Lawrence was brought in to get pressure on the quarterback, and that is exactly what the Cowboys need most. Lawrence isn't a speed or power rusher, but uses his hands and pass-rush techniques to effectively get to the quarterback.
The Cowboys are in desperate need of an effective pass-rusher, and Lawrence may be their savior.
Justin Durant Out For Year
Justin Durant has been one of the best players for the much-improved Cowboys defense this year. However, he will have surgery on his torn bicep tendon, which will put him out for the season, per ESPNDallas.com's Calvin Watkins.
Durant has fit in perfectly at the "Will" linebacker position for the Cowboys. His speed, instincts and vision made it a perfect match. It will be interesting to see how this injury affects Durant's future with the Cowboys. His contract will be up at the end of the season, and you have to wonder if the Cowboys will bring him back.
Injury Report
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| Anthony Spencer (knee/foot) | DE | Probable |
| Tony Romo (back) | QB | Questionable |
| Bruce Carter (thigh/finger) | LB | Probable |
| Doug Free (foot) | OT | Out |
| Jack Crawford (calf) | DE | Questionable |
| Brandon Carr (hamstring) | CB | Probable |
| Jermey Parnell (chest) | OT | Probable |
| Ronald Leary (groin) | OG | Questionable |
| Rolando McClain (shoulder) | LB | Questionable |
After a week when the Cowboys were relatively healthy, they get banged up. Obviously, the biggest injury on the report is Tony Romo, who would likely be replaced by Brandon Weeden. Ronald Leary is another player who will be missed if he is out for the game. He has a capable backup with Mackenzy Bernadeau, but the Cowboys are very thin in the interior of the line. With the injury to Justin Durant, the Cowboys can't afford for Rolando McClain to be out in this game. McClain sets the tone for the defense and helps everyone around him raise their game.
All injury information comes from the Cowboys' official team website.
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X-Factor and Matchups to Watch
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Dez Bryant vs. Patrick Peterson
The biggest individual matchup this week will be when Dez Bryant lines up across from Patrick Peterson. While Peterson hasn't had a great season so far, he is still one of the most athletically gifted cornerbacks in the NFL.
In the past, Bryant had trouble getting open against cornerbacks who can match his physicality, which Peterson can do. However, Bryant has become a much better route-runner and now has many more ways to get open.
Bryant will have to run precise routes and make sure to get Peterson to open up his hips early so that Bryant can manipulate his route to get open. He cannot afford to get lazy in any of his routes because Peterson has the ability to totally change the game.
Look for Bryant to use his ever-improving route-running skills to get open a few times against Peterson Sunday.
Brandon Carr vs. Larry Fitzgerald
Larry Fitzgerald isn't the athlete he once was, but he has become savvier with his routes and can be almost impossible to cover in the red zone with his hands and leaping ability. The player who will cover Fitzgerald for most of the game will be Brandon Carr.
Fitzgerald is one of the few big-time receivers whom Carr matches up well with. Carr is great when he can use his physicality and size to jam a receiver at the line. Also, Fitzgerald doesn't have the type of speed that normally gives Carr trouble.
Carr should be able to limit the opportunities that Fitzgerald has to catch the ball.
X-Factor of the Week: Scott Linehan
For the first time last week, Cowboys play-caller Scott Linehan got outschemed. He didn't stick to the run, and he didn't make the necessary adjustments to the Redskins' blitzing schemes.
This week, Linehan needs to stay committed to the run, like he did before the Redskins game, and make the necessary adjustment to the wide variety of blitzes that the Cardinals will throw at the Cowboys offense.
If Weeden starts, Linehan will have to call plays that complement Weeden's strengths, while making sure he doesn't get too predictable.
The Dallas offense will be the biggest reason the Cowboys win or lose, and it will come down to how Linehan calls the game.
Prediction
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How this game goes will have a great deal to do with Tony Romo's health. If he plays, the Cowboys have all of the weapons and schematic advantages to beat the Cardinals defense. If he doesn't, the defense and running game will have to play out of their collective minds to have a chance.
The Cardinals offense and defense are chock-full of playmakers. If the Cowboys don't play technically sound and disciplined football, then the Cardinals have the ability to come in to AT&T Stadium and embarrass the Cowboys.
The Cowboys need to stick to the running game and take the pressure off of whoever the Cowboys quarterback is. Everything for the Cowboys starts up front, so they need to control the line of scrimmage on offense and defense.
On defense, the Cowboys need to pressure Carson Palmer and force him into making mistakes. This is where DeMarcus Lawrence can have a huge impact on the game.
The Cowboys secondary needs to play disciplined, and they can't allow the Cardinals' dangerous rookie wide receiver, John Brown, to beat them deep like he did against the Philadelphia Eagles last week.
Overall, I think the Cowboys will bounce back from their porous performance against the Redskins. Whether Romo or Weeden is starting, I think the Cowboys will dominate on the ground, control the clock and play stifling and opportunistic defense.
Prediction: Cowboys 24, Cardinals 17
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