Arizona Cardinals vs. Dallas Cowboys Pick & Prediction JAN 2TH 2022
Jimmy Liu
We could be getting a glimpse of the future NFC Championship game on Sunday. The Arizona Cardinals, on a three-game losing streak, face off against the Cowboys. This trend for Arizona late in the season has become concerning.
However, head coach Kliff Kingsbury is focused on getting them on the right track. They can start by landing a win over the 11-4 Dallas Cowboys.
For the Dallas Cowboys, this game could get them closer to the No.1 seed in the NFC. There are plenty of teams fighting for that first-round bye, none more than the Cowboys.
To take down the Cardinals, they'll need to be on their A-game. Dak Prescott & Co. get to host one of the most effective offenses in the NFL. Our question is, how will the Cowboys' defense hold up?
Cardinals vs. Cowboys Betting Odds
TV: FOX
MONEY LINE: Cardinals (+195) vs. Cowboys (-225)
SPREAD: Cardinals +5.5 (-110) vs. Cowboys -5.5 (-110)
GAME TOTAL: Over 51.5 (-110) vs. Under 51.5 (-110)
Cardinals at Cowboys Preview for Week 17
The Arizona Cardinals have already given up the No.1 spot in the NFC West. For them to retake it, they'll not only need a win over the Cowboys but a loss by the Rams.
Beating Dallas means beating one of the best offensive and defensive combinations in the NFL. The Cowboys have the No.1 scoring offense (30.5ppg) and a defense that creates turnovers.
The Cardinals have looked sluggish on offense, barely scoring sixteen points against Indianapolis. Even worse than that, one of their losses during this streak was to the Detroit Lions.
It isn't clear what's happening to the Cardinals, but it needs to be corrected. Beating Dallas will take a spectacular performance on both sides of the ball.
The Cowboys have had some favorable matchups lately. This week, they'll face the Arizona Cardinals, who have much more to lose than the Washington Football Team.
For the Cowboys to win this one, they'll have to play it smart. Taking shots downfield all the time could result in turnovers, so they'll likely play closer to the chest.
That isn't to say the Cowboys won't be a downfield threat. They still have two of the greatest receivers in the NFC in Amari Cooper and CeeDee Lamb.
The passing game will likely show itself later in the game once the Cowboys establish the run. From there, they can target Lamb and Cooper on crossing routes, spreading the Cardinals' defense.
Cardinals at Cowboys Prediction
Cardinals 23 - Cowboys 30
The Cardinals are heading into Dallas as 5.5-point underdogs. Dallas is 5-2 at home, but they're also a remarkable 12-3 against the spread.
Covering five points shouldn't be much trouble for the Cowboys to do on Sunday. There's also a chance the Cowboys could get Tyron Smith back at OT on Sunday.
With the way the Cowboys have been rolling, we don't see them slowing down here. Plus, they don't have to cover a lot of points to win at the sportsbook. We'll take the Cowboys -5.5 and the over in this one.
EXTRA POINTS
1. The Arizona Cardinals are 2-4 ATS in their last six games.
2. Arizona is 3-14 SU in their last 17 games when playing on the road against Dallas.
3. The total has gone OVER in 8 of Dallas' last ten games at home.
Best Bet: Dallas Cowboys -5.5
Arizona Cardinals vs. Dallas Cowboys
Kyler Murray passed for two touchdowns and ran for another to help the Arizona Cardinals record a 38-10 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Monday night at Arlington, Texas.
Christian Kirk caught two touchdown passes -- including an 80-yarder -- and Kenyan Drake rushed for 164 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries for the Cardinals (4-2). Murray completed 9 of 24 passes for 188 yards and also rushed for 74 yards on 10 carries while Budda Baker and Dre Kirkpatrick intercepted passes.
The Cowboys played their first game without star quarterback Dak Prescott, who is out for the season after a severe ankle injury. Andy Dalton completed 34 of 54 passes for 266 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions for Dallas (2-4), which committed four turnovers.
Ezekiel Elliott rushed for 49 yards on 12 carries and lost two fumbles -- one as a runner, one as a receiver -- for the Cowboys. He has fumbled five times this season, losing a career-worst four.
Murray played at AT&T Stadium for the first time as a pro and improved to 7-0 in the facility, counting his high school and college careers. Allen won three state titles in the building while playing for Allen High, located about 25 miles north of Dallas.
The game was played in front of 25,174, a count limited by COVID-19 protocols.
Arizona held a 438-344 edge in total offense while beating Dallas for the fifth time in the past six meetings.
After a scoreless first quarter, the Cardinals scored 21 points in the second to take control.
The first touchdown occurred shortly after Elliott's first lost fumble. Kirk came across in motion and received a forward flip from Murray and raced toward the right side of the end zone for a 6-yard score with 12:58 left in the half.
Elliott lost another fumble to give the Cardinals a short field, and Drake scored from the 1 to cap a five-play, 27-yard drive to make it 14-0 with 10:31 left.
Arizona forced a punt later in the stanza and Murray and Kirk teamed up on the 80-yard touchdown on the first play. Kirk stretched out his arms to make a fingertip grab at the Dallas 35-yard line and raced for the score with 4:43 left in the half.
Greg Zuerlein kicked a 34-yard field goal with 10 seconds left to leave Dallas trailing 21-3.
Kirkpatrick intercepted Dalton -- the two were teammates in Cincinnati for the past eight seasons -- early in the third quarter. The Cardinals cashed in with Murray's 1-yard run with 7:53 left in the period.
Zane Gonzalez booted a 26-yard field goal to give the Cardinals a 31-3 lead with 8:54 left before Dalton threw a 1-yard scoring pass to Amari Cooper with 2:48 remaining. Drake tacked on a 69-yard touchdown run with 1:49 left.
--Field Level Media
- NFL
