2 winners & 4 losers in Cowboys’ inexcusable Week 9 loss vs Cardinals

The Dallas Cowboys had a chance to go into the bye week with plenty of momentum and a chance to add to their confidence at the NFL trade deadline. Instead, they find themselves at 3-5-1 following a terrible loss to a team they should have been able to beat.

Dallas hosted the Arizona Cardinals, who were without starting quarterback Kyler Murray. That didn’t matter as backup Jacoby Brissett had one of the best games of his career, leading the Cardinals to a big win over the Cowboys.

MORE: Cowboys defense gets ripped by Cardinals player with NSFW insult on national TV

There’s a lot of blame to go around, which is why there are twice as many losers as there are winners for the Cowboys this week.

2 winners & 4 losers in Cowboys' inexcusable Week 9 loss vs Cardinals

Arizona Cardinals linebacker Josh Sweat celebrates after a sack against Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. / Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Dallas had a promising opening drive end with zero points when Dak Prescott was sacked on fourth-and-goal. After getting the ball to the Arizona four, the Cowboys went for it and left tackle Tyler Guyton was beaten by Josh Sweat, who took Prescott down for a seven-yard loss.

The rest of the game went about the same with the offensive line struggling to keep Sweat and the rest of the Arizona defense from pressuring Prescott.

Winner: Jadeveon Clowney, DE

2 winners & 4 losers in Cowboys' inexcusable Week 9 loss vs Cardinals

Dallas Cowboys defensive end Jadeveon Clowney sacks Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett. / Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

The Cowboys were in trouble after Jake Ferguson fumbled the ball in Arizona territory. Already down 10-0, their defense hadn’t been able to stop the Cardinals, but Jadeveon Clowney changed that.

On second-and-10, Clowney sacked Brissett to force a third-and-16. On the ensuing third-down play, Clowney again beat his guy and drew a hold on Paris Johnson Jr. The Cards were short on third down, but it wouldn’t have mattered if they did convert thanks to Clowney.

Overall, the defense was a mess, but Clowney had his moments.

2 winners & 4 losers in Cowboys' inexcusable Week 9 loss vs Cardinals

Dallas Cowboys offensive tackle Terence Steele and center Brock Hoffman against the Philadelphia Eagles. / Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

Tyler Guyton wasn’t the only offensive lineman to struggle with Josh Sweat, as the defensive end also had his way with Terence Steele. He helped end a promising drive by getting past Steele on second and goal to sack Prescott, leading to a field goal rather than a touchdown.

Steele wasn’t 100 percent in this game and it showed. He had a tough time holding the edge, allowing far too many defenders to get right past him.

Winner: Sam Williams, EDGE

2 winners & 4 losers in Cowboys' inexcusable Week 9 loss vs Cardinals

Dallas Cowboys defensive end Sam Williams blocks a punt by Arizona Cardinals punter Pat O’Donnell. / Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

Right after Jadeveon Clowney destroyed Arizona’s drive late in the second quarter, Sam Williams made a huge play to give his team some momentum. Williams broke through the offensive line on fourth down and blocked a punt.

— NFL (@NFL) November 4, 2025

The ball went into the end zone, where fellow defensive end Marshawn Kneeland fell on it for the touchdown. That made it a 10-7 game, giving the Cowboys some life after being pushed around for much of the first half.

2 winners & 4 losers in Cowboys' inexcusable Week 9 loss vs Cardinals

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson runs against Dallas Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland. / Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

Dallas had a chance to make a statement early when they forced Arizona into a third-and-eight on the opening drive. They were unable to get an early three-and-out, though with Marvin Harrison Jr. beating DaRon Bland for an 18-yard gain and a fresh set of downs.

Bland was again bested by Harrison early in the second quarter when he slipped in coverage, allowing Harrison to score an easy touchdown from four yards out.

— NFL (@NFL) November 4, 2025

Bland had one of his worst showings as a pro, making this a game he will want to forget.

Loser: Dak Prescott, QB

2 winners & 4 losers in Cowboys' inexcusable Week 9 loss vs Cardinals

Arizona Cardinals linebacker Josh Sweat sacks Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. / Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

One reason the Cowboys were expected to be active players at the trade deadline was the outstanding play of Dak Prescott this season. The thought was that his elite-level play would give them a chance against anyone if their defense could simply be average.

Over the past two games, however, Prescott has been far from elite. He had arguably his worst outing of the season in their Week 8 loss to the Denver Broncos. In Week 9, he was outplayed by Jacoby Brissett, which is inexcusable for the highest-paid player in the NFL.

Sign up for the Cowboys Daily Digest newsletter for more free coverage from Dallas Cowboys on SI

Cowboys’ defense gets ripped by Cardinals player with NSFW insult on national TV

Cowboys reportedly eyeing two-time Pro Bowler ahead of NFL trade deadline

Jake Ferguson’s fiancée Haley Cavinder rocks custom Cowboys jeans ahead of MNF

NFL insider names Cowboys’ potential trade deadline targets to bolster defense

Has Mazi Smith played his last down as a Dallas Cowboy?

Meet Camille Sturdivant: Star of Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader Netflix docuseries

Related Posts

🔥 A NIGHT TO REMEMBER: TAYLOR SWIFT AND TRAVIS KELCE ELEVATE THE RED CARPET WITH A CLASSIC EVENING GOWN OF PURE ELEGANCE 🔥

🔥 а Red Cаrрet аrrіvаl Thаt іnѕtаntly ѕhіfted the Nіght 🔥 The moment Tаylor ѕwіft аnd Trаvіѕ Kelce ѕteррed onto the red cаrрet, the аtmoѕрhere recаlіbrаted. Converѕаtіonѕ…

BREAKING NEWS: 49ers Owner Jed York Stuns Fans by Awarding Christian McCaffrey a Jaw-Dropping Financial Bonus After His Epic Comeback Player of the Year Win—But What Secret Message Did York Whisper About CMC’s “Hidden Injury Battle” That Could Change Everything for the Team?

BREAKING NEWS: The San Francisco 49ers have made a bold and generous move to reward one of their star players, Christian McCaffrey, with a substantial financial bonus…

🚨 AARON RODGERS: MORE THAN JUST A PLAYER, HE’S A MENTOR — Helping Teammates Grow and Teach Them to Improve Every Day 👇

Aaron Rodgers is no longer just measured by touchdowns or trophies, because his evolving legacy centers on mentorship, leadership, and influence, shaping younger teammates into confident professionals…

🚨 “HE’S ALREADY SURPASSED ME” — Kаnѕаѕ Cіty Chіefѕ Legend’ѕ Stunnіng Confeѕѕіon About Pаtrіck Mаhomeѕ Leаveѕ Chіefѕ Nаtіon Sрeechleѕѕ 👇

🔥 “He’ѕ аlreаdy ѕurраѕѕed Me” — Chіefѕ Legend’ѕ ѕtunnіng Confeѕѕіon аbout раtrіck Mаhomeѕ іgnіteѕ а Fіerce Debаte аcroѕѕ the NFL When Kаnѕаѕ Cіty Chіefѕ legend Trent Green…

🚨🔥 BREAKING NEWS: CHIEFS SHAKE THE LEAGUE BY ADDING A NEW LEGEND TO THE OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR’S CHAIR — Fаnѕ Are Buzzіng wіth Excіtement 👇

🟥 Kаnѕаѕ Cіty іѕ buzzіng tonіght. Followіng аndy Reіd’ѕ unрrecedented іnfluence, the Chіefѕ hаve reрortedly entruѕted the offenѕe to аnother legendаry mіnd, іgnіtіng emotіonаl reаctіonѕ, heаted debаte,…

🚨 DERRICK HENRY AND ADRIANNA RIVAS WELCOME TWINS — A PRIVATE CELEBRATION THAT HAS FANS WORLDWIDE IN TEARS OF JOY 👇

Bаltіmore woke uр to quіetly ѕtunnіng newѕ аѕ Derrіck Henry, the ѕuрerѕtаr runnіng bаck, аnd hіѕ wіfe аdrіаnnа Rіvаѕ ѕhаred а deeрly рerѕonаl аnd movіng fаmіly moment…