3 Key Matchups: Cowboys must ground Cardinals on MNF

The Dallas Cowboys return home to AT&T Stadium on Monday night hoping to erase the stench of last week’s 44–17 embarrassment at Mile High Stadium.

Denver’s offense carved up a lifeless Cowboys defense, while Dak Prescott and company failed to find rhythm once the game got out of hand early.

Now sitting at 3–4–1, Dallas is desperate for a bounce back to keep playoff hopes alive. Their opponent, the Arizona Cardinals, arrive reeling as well.

After starting the season 2–0, the Cardinals have dropped five straight and now must rely on veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett with Kyler Murray sidelined due to injury.

Despite their skid, the Cardinals have shown flashes of toughness, and Monday night presents an opportunity to right the ship against a wounded Cowboys team.

Here are three key matchups that could decide the outcome.

Cowboys Safeties vs Trey McBride

If there’s been a silver lining to Arizona’s losing streak, it’s been the continued rise of TE Trey McBride.

The 2024 Pro Bowler has emerged as one of the league’s most reliable pass catchers, leading the Cardinals in receptions, targets, and yards.

His ability to find soft spots in coverage and turn short passes into chunk plays has kept the Arizona offense functional amid chaos.

For Dallas, this is a dangerous matchup.

The Cowboys’ secondary has been burned repeatedly this season, allowing more explosive plays than any other defense in the NFL.

Making matters worse, safeties Donovan Wilson and Alijah Clark have already been ruled out, leaving Juanyeh Thomas and Markquese Bell as the likely starters.

McBride is exactly the type of weapon who can exploit that inexperience.

If DC Matt Eberflus doesn’t scheme proper help or disguises, Brissett could pepper McBride with easy completions all night.

The Cowboys’ ability to contain him will be one of the biggest keys to avoiding another defensive collapse.

Terence Steele vs Josh Sweat

On the other side of the ball, one of the most intriguing battles will take place in the trenches.

Cowboys RT Terence Steele remains one of the league’s premier run blockers, but his struggles against speed rushers have been well-documented.

This week, he faces a familiar foe in Josh Sweat, the former Eagles pass rusher now wreaking havoc in a Cardinals uniform.

Sweat leads Arizona with five sacks and has rediscovered his burst off the edge. If Steele overextends or fails to anchor in pass protection, Sweat could live in the Cowboys’ backfield and make Prescott’s night miserable.

Dallas’ offensive rhythm often hinges on early-down success, and if Sweat forces constant third-and-longs, the Cowboys could find themselves stuck in the same offensive rut that doomed them in Denver.

Cowboys Cornerbacks vs Marvin Harrison Jr.

While McBride garners the volume, second-year WR Marvin Harrison Jr. brings the fireworks.

Averaging 16.2 yards per reception, Harrison is Arizona’s most explosive playmaker and sits just 25 yards shy of McBride for the team lead in receiving yards.

His ability to stretch the field makes him a nightmare for defenses that fail to communicate in coverage; a glaring issue for Dallas this year.

Whether Harrison draws All-Pro DaRon Bland or a rotation including Kaiir Elam, Trikweze Bridges, or Caelen Carson, the Cowboys must prevent him from taking the top off the defense.

One or two big plays could flip momentum in an instant.

If Bland can lock down Harrison and the safeties can limit McBride, Dallas has a path to recovery.

However, if both Arizona playmakers find daylight, Monday night could turn into another long evening for an inconsistent Cowboys team still searching for its identity.