— In Arlington, the Arizona Cardinals ended a five-game losing streak with a 27-10 victory over the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on Monday night. Backup Jacoby Brissett started and delivered a cleaner, more efficient performance than the incumbent Kyler Murray, throwing for 261 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. The win improves Arizona to 3-5 and drops Dallas to 3-5-1, while creating an immediate quarterback dilemma for the Cardinals’ front office. Key late-game miscues, including a Javonte Williams fumble with 4:34 remaining, sealed a frustrating night for the Cowboys.
Key Takeaways
- Final score: Cardinals 27, Cowboys 10; game played Nov. 3, 2025, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
- Arizona snapped a five-game losing streak and improved to 3-5; Dallas fell to 3-5-1 and must wait until Nov. 17 to play again after the bye.
- Jacoby Brissett: 261 passing yards, 2 TDs, 0 INT; in three starts this season he has six touchdowns and one interception.
- Kyler Murray remains the high-paid incumbent (reported $230.5 million contract), but Brissett’s three starts include the Cardinals’ top three passing outputs of the year.
- Marvin Harrison Jr. set a career high with seven catches for 96 yards; he had eight first-half targets and 80 first-half yards, his best half since Week 2 last season.
- Trey McBride has four receiving TDs in the three games Brissett started, versus five receiving TDs across 39 career games with Murray as starter.
- Dallas’ defense continues to struggle on third down: entering Week 9 the Cowboys had allowed first downs on 52.4% of third-down attempts; Arizona converted 7-of-9 third downs in the first half alone.
Background
The Cardinals entered Monday night on a five-game losing streak that had pushed scrutiny onto roster construction and play-calling. Kyler Murray, the established starter with a large long-term contract, struggled to produce consistent offensive output earlier in the season; Arizona’s team offense had reached 300 yards just once in the five games Murray started. The organization has signaled a desire to stop the skid, and Brissett was inserted as the starter in three games to date this season.
The Cowboys began 2025 with higher expectations after previous strong home offensive showings at AT&T Stadium, where they had averaged better than 40 points per home game entering Monday. Defensive lapses throughout the season, however, left Dallas vulnerable; league metrics showed one of the poorest third-down defenses entering Week 9. The loss compounds pressure on Dallas’ coaching staff and personnel decision-making ahead of the NFL trade deadline and a late-season stretch that will determine playoff prospects.
Main Event
Arizona struck early and sustained enough offense to keep the Cowboys off balance. Brissett orchestrated efficient drives, including an 11-play, 74-yard march that culminated in his own 1-yard keeper with 49 seconds left in the first half to push the Cardinals’ halftime margin to 20-10. Brissett finished with 261 yards passing and two touchdown passes, and Arizona cleared the 300-yard offense mark for the third straight game.
Special teams produced a flash for Dallas when Sam Williams blocked a Cardinals punt and Marshawn Kneeland recovered it in the end zone for a Cowboys touchdown, narrowing the deficit to 10-7. That sequence briefly shifted momentum, but Arizona answered with sustained drives and third-down conversions that reopened separation. The Cardinals converted seven of nine third downs in the first half, exploiting Dallas’ ongoing struggles in that area.
Dallas’ offense struggled to finish drives in the red zone. On two goal-to-go opportunities the Cowboys failed to score a touchdown, settling for field goals or coming away empty. Late in the fourth quarter a promising drive ended when Javonte Williams fumbled with 4:34 left; Arizona recovered and ran out the clock. The inability to convert opportunities into touchdowns proved decisive in a one-score game scenario.
Analysis & Implications
Short term, the most consequential outcome is a genuine quarterback question in Arizona. Kyler Murray remains the long-term, well-compensated starter on paper, but Brissett has now produced the offense’s three best passing outputs this season while completing his three starts with a 6:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Coaches and front-office decision-makers must weigh contract status, roster fit, and recent performance when choosing a starter for the Seahawks matchup next week.
For Dallas, the loss deepens the playoff uphill climb. At 3-5-1 the Cowboys face a difficult path in the NFC, with the division-leading Philadelphia Eagles at 6-2 and multiple wild-card contenders posting stronger records. Defensive shortcomings — particularly on third down — will be focal points for any roster moves at the trade deadline. Even modest reinforcements could change situational outcomes, but structural scheme adjustments will be needed to sustain improvement.
Economically and organizationally, Arizona’s coaching staff gains leverage from the win: a cleared losing streak and improved offensive metrics give credence to play-calling and personnel choices that favored Brissett’s style. Conversely, Dallas faces mounting questions about scheme fit and personnel, and ownership and management will likely assess whether short-term trades or longer-term schematic changes are the priority.
Comparison & Data
| Team | Record (after Week 9) | Third-down allowed (entering Week 9) | Notable performer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona Cardinals | 3-5 | — | Jacoby Brissett: 261 yards, 2 TD (Monday) |
| Dallas Cowboys | 3-5-1 | 52.4% allowed | Marshawn Kneeland: blocked-punt TD |
The table highlights the immediate records and key game data. Arizona’s offense has reached 300 yards in three consecutive games after managing that total only once during the early Murray starts. Dallas’ third-down defense rate (52.4% allowed entering Week 9) helps quantify why opponents have sustained drives against them; Monday’s 7-of-9 first-half conversions by Arizona typified that vulnerability.
Reactions & Quotes
Coaches and analysts emphasized the performance gap between the quarterbacks and the broader implications for both clubs’ seasons.
Jacoby Brissett passed for 261 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions.
Official game box score
Marshawn Kneeland recovered a blocked punt in the end zone for a Dallas touchdown.
Play-by-play summary (league)
The Cardinals snapped a five-game losing streak with a 27-10 road win in Arlington.
ESPN game report (media)
Unconfirmed
- Whether the Cardinals will stick with Jacoby Brissett as the starter for the upcoming game in Seattle is undecided and has not been confirmed by the team.
- Any specific trades the Cowboys might execute before the NFL trade deadline remain speculative until official transactions are announced.
- Long-term roster or coaching changes tied directly to this single result are possible but unconfirmed; teams have not released definitive plans.
Bottom Line
Arizona’s 27-10 win in Dallas is more than a single victory; it stops a five-game slide and forces the franchise to confront a tangible quarterback decision. Brissett’s recent efficiency complicates a straightforward return to the status quo despite Kyler Murray’s standing and contract. The Cardinals will need to balance short-term momentum against long-term investment when deciding who starts in Seattle.
For the Cowboys, this loss underlines recurring defensive weaknesses and missed offensive opportunities in the red zone. At 3-5-1, Dallas faces an uphill fight for the postseason, and the coming bye week will be a crucial period for the coaching staff and front office to evaluate tactical fixes and potential roster moves.