Cowboys Sputter in Primetime Loss to Cardinals as Frustrations Mount Ahead of Trade Deadline

The Dallas Cowboys capped off Week 9 with a primetime matchup against the Arizona Cardinals on Monday Night Football — but instead of a rebound performance, they delivered one of their most disappointing efforts of the season. Less than 24 hours before the NFL trade deadline, the Cowboys were thoroughly outplayed in a 27–17 loss that left the team searching for answers on both sides of the ball.

From defensive breakdowns against backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett to sloppy turnovers and red-zone miscues, the loss was a collective failure. Every unit — offense, defense, and coaching — contributed to the unraveling.

After the game, quarterback Dak Prescott didn’t sugarcoat the frustration that’s been building through nine weeks.

“They kicked our ass on both sides of the ball,” Prescott said bluntly. “Very frustrating.”

Prescott finished the night 24-of-39 passing for 250 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Though his stat line looked respectable, the performance was marred by constant pressure and lack of protection up front.

Offensive Line Collapses Under Pressure

The Cowboys’ offensive line — once a consistent strength — struggled mightily to contain Arizona’s pass rush. Prescott was sacked five times and hit nine times overall. Several drives stalled due to breakdowns in pass protection or missed assignments, leaving the quarterback scrambling to extend plays.

“It’s very frustrating,” Prescott added. “Knowing that you’re better than that, and going out there not putting on a performance that’s close to your standard, or even the expectations, or what you thought you could do and expected to do.”

While injuries and shifting personnel have contributed to the inconsistency, the performance underscored deeper issues within Dallas’ offense. The running game failed to provide balance, and play-calling near the goal line once again drew criticism from fans and analysts alike.

Defensive Struggles Continue

If the offense’s inefficiency wasn’t enough, Dallas’ defense compounded the problem. Coordinator Brian Schottenheimer’s unit allowed Brissett — filling in for injured starter Kyler Murray — to move the ball effectively and capitalize on short fields after turnovers.

The Cardinals out-gained Dallas in total yards and controlled the tempo for much of the night, exposing vulnerabilities in both coverage and tackling. Arizona repeatedly found success targeting the Cowboys’ linebackers and secondary with short, quick passes that turned into chunk gains.

The lack of defensive discipline also stood out. Missed assignments and penalties extended multiple drives, including a crucial third-quarter possession that helped Arizona widen its lead.

Prescott, Locker Room Searching for Answers

The loss dropped the Cowboys to 3-5-1, a record that leaves their playoff hopes on life support. After back-to-back losses and weeks of inconsistency, the tone inside the locker room was one of frustration and self-reflection.

“We’ve got to take a good look at ourselves,” Prescott said. “Every single one of us — coaches, players — we’ve got to be accountable. You can’t just expect to win games in this league because you wear the star. You have to earn it every single week.”

Prescott acknowledged that while the team still has time to turn the season around, the margin for error has disappeared.

Trade Deadline Looms, Jones Teases Moves

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones had teased before kickoff that a trade was “done” ahead of Tuesday’s trade deadline, hinting at potential roster changes. However, he later walked back those comments after the loss, leaving fans wondering if the front office will still attempt a late push to inject new life into the roster.

Despite Jones’ reputation for mid-season moves, Dallas’ biggest problem might not be personnel but cohesion. The team has struggled to play complementary football all year — one week it’s the defense faltering, the next it’s the offense failing to finish drives.

Jones has publicly maintained faith in Prescott and first-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer, but his patience could be tested if the Cowboys fail to rebound after the bye week.

What Comes Next

The timing of the bye could be both a blessing and a challenge. It offers Dallas a much-needed chance to regroup and reassess its approach, but it also forces the team to sit with the sting of consecutive losses longer than usual.

Players and coaches alike acknowledged that accountability will be the focus over the next two weeks.

“We’ve got to use this time to be honest with ourselves,” Schottenheimer said postgame. “Every phase of the game needs to improve — starting with me.”

The Cowboys return from the bye to face the Las Vegas Raiders on November 17, a matchup that could determine whether their season still holds meaning.

For now, Dallas sits in a precarious position — talented enough to compete but inconsistent enough to self-destruct. If the Cowboys want to salvage their playoff hopes, they’ll need more than a trade-deadline spark. They’ll need the discipline, execution, and accountability that have been missing for far too long.