Cowboys 2026 opponent preview: Arizona Cardinals
Working our way through previewing the Dallas Cowboys 2026 schedule, it is time to look at the Arizona Cardinals . Starting with the Baltimore Ravens , who the Cowboys will play internationally in Brazil, and moving on to the Cardinals is much more than just a bird to bird transition (leaving the Seahawks and Eagles still waiting). It is also another matchup where second-year Dallas head coach Brian Schottenheimer will be pitted against a 2026 first-year head coach, like Jesse Minter for Baltimore. That coach will be Mike LaFleur, looking to continue the Cardinals’ strong recent success against the Cowboys. The Cardinals have a franchise-long 36-56-1 record against the Cowboys, but they have won four straight in this series dating back to 2020 and eight of nine going farther back to 2008. The last Cowboys win against the Cardinals was week three of 2017 in Arizona, meaning they’ll be looking for their first win against them in Arlington since a 2005 game featuring Drew Bledsoe versus Josh McCown at quarterback. Getting a shot at the Cardinals for a second year in a row after the 2025 defense was embarrassed by Jacoby Brissett in a week nine Monday Night Football meeting will be an important measuring stick for Christian Parker’s defense. This new defense will have to have answers to old faces in the Cardinals lineup like Marvin Harrison Jr. and Trey McBride who both caught touchdowns from Brissett in this game last year, but also third overall pick Jeremiyah Love at running back. What the Cowboys can prove against the Cardinals in 2026, runs much deeper than just a tightened up defense though. As ridiculous as it feels to say about playing against a team that just picked in the top five for the second time in three years, ending the losing streak to the Cardinals will also be a test of the culture Schottenheimer has put in place. They will be a team desperate to show they have the competitive edge to match the raw talent on the roster against a team where talented rosters have gone to waste countless times in recent history. Let’s take a closer look at the Cardinals team that will be making the trip to Jerryworld for the second time in as many seasons, the first instance of this happening for the Cardinals playing at the Cowboys since 2000-01, when both teams were in the NFC East. * SIGNED IN FREE AGENCY RB Tyler Allgeier DT Andrew Billings WR Kendrick Bourne WR Devin Duvernay QB Gardner Minshew SAF Andrew Wingard OL Isaac Seumalo OL Matt Pryor OL Elijah Wilkinson * DEPARTED IN FREE AGENCY SAF Jalen Thompson (Cowboys) QB Kyler Murray DL Dalvin Tomlinson DL Calais Campbell WR Greg Dortch The Cardinals are in the midst of a serious offensive line rebuild, paired with yet another quarterback change with Kyler Murray now in Minnesota . Seumalo, Pryor, and Wilkinson all project as potential new starters brought in to join second-round pick Chase Bisontis and form the line the Cardinals can build around Jeremiyah Love at running back. The Cardinals drew a lot of skepticism for using this third overall pick on Love, but won’t have to look any further than Cowboys fans when it comes to underestimating the immediate impact a dynamic back behind a talented offensive line can make. The Cardinals also adding an experienced back like Allgeier to pair with Love, while also having James Conner , Trey Benson , and Bam Knight still rostered, gives them an impressive amount of options and versatility out of the backfield. In the secondary, the Cardinals maintained depth with Will Johnson , Budda Baker , and Sean Murphy-Bunting, but will play against their former safety Jalen Thompson now with the Cowboys when they come to AT&T Stadium. Having an answer at quarterback has to be part of this equation for Arizona though, and right now their depth chart at the most important position in the game is unclear. Brissett is still in place after starting 12 games last season, Minshew is another veteran option with starting experien [... truncated ...]
