The Cowboys should have the edge when they line up with the Cardinals in Week 8, and the game has the feel of one where Dallas can lean on its ground game before letting Dak Prescott clean things up through the air. Arizona, meanwhile, is rolling into the matchup at 2-5 and stuck at the bottom of the NFC West, while Dallas sits at 3-4 but remains in position to win the NFC East.
Prescott didn’t need to carry the whole load against the Eagles, because Dallas ran the ball freely. Even so, he still found the end zone three times through the air, and this one sets up for more of the same: plenty of rushing attempts, then Prescott finishing drives with touchdown passes.
That’s why the idea that Prescott needs a confidence check is getting brushed aside. Stephen A.
Smith raised the issue on First Take via Sports Illustrated, saying, “This is my interpretation,” Smith said. “I believe there's a lack of confidence, supreme confidence in Dak Prescott.
You believe in him, you're paying him, but in the same breath, you're understanding the importance of having that balanced running attack. Because when you just have him dropping back the pass that football, you're not satisfied with the level of production that you're getting.”
But the expectation here is that Prescott again looks like “that dude.” The Cardinals’ defense has been described as vulnerable, and if Dallas wants to get really creative with its scoring, Prescott should have the chance to spread the touchdowns around.
One name to watch is George Pickens. CeeDee Lamb already has six touchdown receptions in 2026, and Pickens has two, so the setup points to Prescott trying to get his other top receiver involved and close that gap. Pickens also has 16 fewer catches than Lamb on the season, which makes a double-digit reception day at least plausible in this matchup.
Pickens is dealing with a shoulder issue and a hamstring designation, but the expectation is that it won’t be a major problem. Aditya Fuldeore of NBC Sports wrote, “Pickens played through a minor shoulder injury last week, but the hamstring designation is new,” and added, “He was still a limited practice participant, indicating neither injury should be an issue for his Week 8 status.”
Lamb and Pickens both sound as confident as ever. Lamb put it bluntly, saying, “I think that’s pretty self-explanatory, to be honest,” Lamb said. “Once we get going, I don’t think there's … nah, I know for a fact, there’s not a person in this league that can stop us.”
Pickens, for his part, talked about waiting his turn and letting the offense build around whoever has the hot hand. “It’s just super important just because that can boost the morale of the team when you just wait your turn,” Pickens said. “Whether you’re a running back, tight end, you make your play that boosts the offense.”
On the Arizona side, Jacboy Brissett remains the starter for now, even though the questions around his job security are starting to bubble up. The Cardinals’ offensive struggles aren’t being pinned on him alone, though. Head coach Mike LaFleur said the problems are shared, and he pointed to the team moving the ball without finishing drives.
“Like I told you guys, he’s still the starter,” LaFleur said, via transcript from the team. “It’s collective.
Again, if the ball was just stagnant for 60 minutes and you couldn’t even cross the 50-yard line, it’d be one thing. We’ve been down inside the 10-yard line 10 times over the last two games, so the ball is moving, but we have to finish jobs.
Again, that starts with me, but that’s a collective effort.
“The players have to go execute. And I have to put them in better positions and give them the clarity to go do so.
When they do have that clarity, they have to make the plays. We know that.
We’re not going to shy away from that. We know we have to finish the job when we’re down there, and I don’t even think we’re having these conversations right now [if we had].”
Brissett’s season has been uneven, but this is the kind of game where volume can still add up to production, even if the final result is not close. And with the Cowboys’ offense likely to keep applying pressure, this one points to Prescott getting his numbers while Dallas controls the tempo.
In Other News...
Cowboys May Have Finally Found A Better Tight End Formula
Dak Prescotts three-touchdown afternoon against Philadelphia came with an offense that looked a little different than it had in recent weeks, and the tight end usage stood out as much as anything. Jake Ferguson, who has been one of the more familiar pieces in Dallas passing game, saw his playing time and target share dip noticeably, while Brevyn Spann-Ford picked up more work and more chances to stay on the field.
For a Cowboys offense that has been searching for the right balance around Prescott, the shift suggests the staff may be leaning into a different tight end setup. Ferguson is still part of the equation, but the growing role for Spann-Ford points to a real change in how Dallas wants to deploy the position, and it will be worth watching whether this was a one-game wrinkle or the start of a larger adjustment. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Are Sending George Pickens A Message He Can't Ignore
George Pickens still made a real impact in the Cowboys win over the Philadelphia Eagles, finishing with four catches for 57 yards and a touchdown. But the bigger message from Dallas may have been in how he was used, with the team trimming his playing time, especially in run-blocking situations, after coach Shane Schottenheimer publicly called him out for his effort in the previous game.
It was notable enough that Pickens played fewer snaps than Ryan Flournoy, a clear sign the Cowboys are willing to let the depth chart reflect more than just receiving production. Pickens has already been disciplined once this season for a curfew violation, so the clubs latest move adds another layer to a stretch where his talent has remained obvious even as the margin for error around him has narrowed. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Defense Just Gave Fans A New Reason For Hope
The Cowboys defense had a rough opening against Philadelphia, with the Eagles punching in touchdowns on their first two drives, but the group settled in and gave Dallas a chance to win. After that early burst, the Eagles managed only one more touchdown, and the Cowboys pass defense did enough to keep the game from getting away while the offense took advantage of the other side of the ball.
A lot of the optimism comes from the way the front and back end looked working together. DeMarvion Overshown was active all over the field in his return, and the pass rush kept building pressure with Quinnen Williams collapsing plays behind the line and Donovan Ezeiruaku finally getting to the quarterback for his first full sack of the season. The run defense still has work to do, but this was the kind of performance that can make the Cowboys believe the unit is starting to turn a corner. [Read more 🡒]