Cardinals vs. Cowboys – Preview
Monday, 8:15pm ET • AT&T Stadium
Our Pick: Cowboys -2.5

It’s Week 9 under the lights at AT&T Stadium, where Dallas hosts Arizona at 8:15 p.m. ET on ABC/ESPN. The betting market lists the Cowboys as 2.5‑point favorites for this matchup, with multiple outlets showing Dallas ‑2.5 as of Monday afternoon. 

The clearest on‑field edge is Dallas’ offense against an Arizona defense that has been solid but not elite. Through eight games, the Cowboys are averaging 30.8 points per game and 389.1 yards per game—top‑tier production that travels well and historically plays even better at home. Dak Prescott’s form has fueled that surge: he enters MNF with 2,069 passing yards and 16 TDs on 70.3% completions.   

Protection is a decisive separator. Dallas has surrendered just 10 sacks all season, while Arizona’s defense has produced 12—a modest rush rate that may struggle to speed up Prescott. Conversely, Cardinals quarterbacks have been dropped 24 times, giving Dallas’ front (15 sacks) a path to negative plays that flip field position.   

Personnel tilts toward Dallas as well. The Cardinals will start Jacoby Brissett again with Kyler Murray sidelined by a foot injury (Murray was ruled inactive pregame). Under Brissett, Arizona’s passing output has been steadier than explosive; Arizona enters with 199.9 net passing yards per game and 21.9 points per game, figures that typically force long, multi‑play drives to keep pace with high‑scoring opponents.   

Situationally, Dallas owns a 43.2% third‑down conversion rate (41‑for‑95), a level that sustains drives and supports covering a short number. Arizona’s defense has been stingy on third down (35.3% allowed), but Dallas’ balance (7.2 net yards per pass, 4.7 yards per rush) provides multiple answers in money downs. If the Cowboys maintain their pass‑protection advantage and finish drives with Prescott’s red‑zone efficiency (17 passing TDs for the offense), they’re built to land the extra possession that swings a 2.5‑point spread.   

Yes, Arizona has battled: the Cardinals arrived on a five‑game losing streak decided by a combined 13 points, but closing the gap against a top‑five scoring attack on the road is a taller climb—especially without Murray. 

The pick: Cowboys ‑2.5. Dallas’ pass protection and scoring ceiling, paired with Arizona’s reduced explosiveness and high sack rate allowed, make a field‑goal‑plus win the most likely script.