Jacoby Brissett delivered a composed performance Monday night to lift the Arizona Cardinals to a 27-17 victory over the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium, snapping a five-game losing streak. With Kyler Murray sidelined by a foot injury, Brissett threw two touchdown passes and scored once on the ground in his third straight start. The result moved Arizona to 3-5 while leaving Dallas at 3-5-1 and leaves the Cardinals temporarily free of the quarterback debate that will resurface when Murray’s health is reassessed. Coach Jonathan Gannon declined to declare a permanent change at the position after the game.
Key takeaways
- Final score: Arizona Cardinals 27, Dallas Cowboys 17; Arizona ends a five-game losing streak and improves to 3-5.
- Brissett stat line (this game): 21 of 31 for 261 yards, two passing TDs, no interceptions; he also ran for a touchdown.
- Three-start totals for Brissett without Murray: 860 passing yards, six TDs and one interception.
- Marvin Harrison Jr. had a career-high seven catches for 96 yards; Trey McBride caught a 12-yard touchdown.
- Special-teams swing: Cowboys’ Sam Williams blocked a punt recovered for a TD by Marshawn Kneeland, but Arizona answered with long scoring drives on its next possessions.
- Pressure and sacks: Josh Sweat accounted for two of Dallas’s five sacks on the night; Calais Campbell recorded two sacks in his 250th regular-season game.
- Dallas went 0-for-3 on fourth down and committed a late fumble by Javonte Williams that ended their comeback hopes.
Background
The Cardinals opened 2025 with two wins but then dropped five consecutive games by a combined 13 points, fueling scrutiny of roster construction and coaching. Kyler Murray, the No. 1 overall pick in 2019, has been dealing with a foot injury that left the team uncertain about his immediate availability following Arizona’s bye week. Head coach Jonathan Gannon entered the week suggesting Murray might be closer to a return, but ultimately said Murray was “not quite ready,” prompting Brissett to start for a third straight game.
Brissett, a 32-year-old veteran, had mixed results in his first two starts but performed well enough to keep the Cards competitive. Arizona’s 3-5 record leaves it behind in a crowded NFC picture, while Dallas, at 3-5-1, is searching for consistent offensive form under first-year offensive coordinator and de facto playcaller Brian Schottenheimer. The game carried extra attention because Gannon’s previous first head-coaching win came against Dallas two years ago during a difficult 1-8 stretch.
Main event
Arizona took control with two long touchdown drives flanking halftime after Dallas briefly grabbed momentum from a blocked punt returned for a score. Brissett engineered methodical drives, hitting key targets such as Marvin Harrison Jr. and tight end Trey McBride, and capped one series with a short rushing touchdown that extended Arizona’s lead. The Cardinals’ offense balanced intermediate passing and a timely big play — Michael Wilson’s 50-yard catch-and-run shortly after halftime flipped field position and set up scoring.
The Cowboys began the night with a chance, reaching Arizona’s 7 on their opening drive, but came away empty when Dak Prescott was sacked on fourth down by Josh Sweat. Dallas struggled to convert in short-yardage and fourth-down situations, finishing 0-for-3 on fourth-down attempts. Prescott completed 24 of 39 passes for 250 yards and was intercepted late on a desperation play; his lone touchdown pass was a 5-yarder to Ryan Flournoy for the rookie’s first career TD.
Defensively, Arizona pressured Prescott consistently. Josh Sweat had two sacks and Calais Campbell added two in his 250th regular-season appearance, helping stall Dallas drives inside the red zone. The Cowboys’ special teams provided a spark early but could not sustain momentum; on Arizona’s next 15 plays following the blocked-punt touchdown, Dallas allowed an average of 10.8 yards per play, enabling the Cardinals to take control of the scoreboard.
Analysis & implications
Brissett’s steady performance strengthens his case as a reliable short-term starter while Murray recovers, but the team faces a narrative choice: reward the veteran’s play with further starts or return to Murray as soon as he is medically cleared. Gannon repeatedly deflected questions about a permanent change, insisting the situation had not changed despite Brissett’s win. That ambiguity preserves Murray’s roster value and avoids a public quarterback controversy for now, but it leaves fans and analysts debating the best path to wins.
For Arizona’s season outlook, the victory halts negative momentum and gives the coaching staff breathing room to evaluate personnel and scheme adjustments. Brissett’s three-start totals (860 yards, six TDs, one INT) suggest the offense can move the ball with a game-managing veteran; sustaining that production will require the Cardinals’ run game and offensive line to maintain consistency. Special teams and situational defense also emerged as decisive factors: Arizona answered Dallas’s special-teams score with sustained offense, while pressure on Prescott forced stalled drives.
Dallas’s loss underscores continued offensive inconsistency. Prescott’s yardage was respectable, but turnovers, failed fourth-down conversions and a lack of red-zone efficiency left the Cowboys unable to capitalize on field-position swings. For Schottenheimer and the staff, the immediate task is practical: fix short-yardage play-calling and conversion rate, shore up protection against the blitz, and find reliable playmakers when top targets are covered.
Comparison & data
| Metric | Brissett (this game) | Brissett (3 starts) |
|---|---|---|
| Passing yards | 261 | 860 |
| Passing TDs | 2 | 6 |
| Interceptions | 0 | 1 |
| Team records after game | Arizona 3-5 | — |
The table highlights how Brissett’s production in three starts has been productive enough to keep Arizona competitive. The Cardinals’ ability to convert long-yardage plays — notably Michael Wilson’s 50-yard gain — contrasted with Dallas’s failure on crucial fourth downs. Those situational differences often decide close games and help explain how Arizona reversed a five-game slide.
Reactions & quotes
“We were going to be aggressive all game. If I like the call, I’m going to go. I trust our offense.”
Brian Schottenheimer, Cowboys offensive coach
Schottenheimer defended the team’s aggressive fourth-down calls despite the outcome, saying the approach reflected confidence in the offense even as conversions failed. He framed the strategy as intentional, while acknowledging the execution fell short.
“Nothing’s changed.”
Jonathan Gannon, Cardinals head coach
Gannon used the phrase when asked if Brissett’s play warranted a permanent promotion. He emphasized that decisions about the starting role would be made with Murray’s health and the team’s long-term plan in mind, not solely on one performance.
“I’m just trying to go out here and win games and be a good teammate.”
Jacoby Brissett, Cardinals quarterback
Brissett downplayed the starter-versus-backup narrative, stressing his focus on team results and seizing opportunities. His comments were measured and oriented toward process rather than possession of the job.
Unconfirmed
- Whether the Cardinals will formally name Jacoby Brissett the starter if Kyler Murray’s recovery timeline shortens remains undecided and unannounced.
- Precise timetable for Kyler Murray’s return from his foot injury has not been publicly confirmed beyond the coach’s comment that he was “not quite ready.”
Bottom line
Monday’s 27-17 win provided immediate relief for the Cardinals by ending a five-game losing streak and showcasing that Arizona can still win with a veteran game manager at quarterback. Brissett’s efficient production across three starts makes a persuasive short-term case, but the broader question of who will lead the offense when Murray is healthy remains open and will shape the team’s next roster moves.
For the Cowboys, the loss highlights execution gaps in critical moments: fourth-down inefficiency, turnover issues and missed opportunities after special-teams momentum. Both clubs face urgent questions as the season progresses — Arizona about quarterback continuity and Dallas about sustaining offensive reliability — and their answers will matter for playoff hopes.
Sources
- The Guardian (news/match report)