Cowboys at Cardinals: ITS Writer Predictions for the Game

This week, the Dallas Cowboys are in Arizona to play the Cardinals, and it probably can’t come soon enough for Cowboys Nation. Typically, the week following a loss tends to be just a bit longer and more grueling, but it’s worse when it’s a blowout.

The Cowboys are fresh off of their lackluster performance against the Broncos. Dak Prescott threw two interceptions. Ezekiel Elliott has been accused of–and basically acknowledged–not giving 100% during the game. DeMarcus Lawrence got two sacks. Chidobe Awuzie and Nolan Carroll exited the game with injuries. And last, but certainly not least, Cowboys 17, Broncos 42.

It was probably the thumping these young Cowboys need and it came at the most opportune time of the season, too. Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott haven’t had to deal with anything close to as big of a loss as that was in their still-fledgling NFL careers, and a loss like that is a good teaching moment.

So don’t take it too hard, guys and girls. The season is still young.

The Arizona Cardinals are struggling behind the supremely veteran leadership of quarterback, Carson Palmer. They have plenty of tools to work with, but enter this week tied with the Cowboys at 1-1 on one of the most disappointing starts to a season by Palmer, ever.

The Cowboys need to get back on track on Monday Night Football, and I polled our writers for their thoughts on the game. As always, I encourage you to add your own predictions for the game in our comments section below.

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Cowboys Back on Track After Week 2 Scare

After the Cowboys second loss of 2016 to the New York Giants (one very similar to the way the game went for the team in Denver), the Cowboys came out and won a tough game against the Buccaneers on Sunday Night Football. The Cowboys will look to do the same thing on Monday Night Football against the Cardinals. Both teams are 1-1, but both teams are very different. The Cowboys will dominate this game on both sides of the ball. Orlando Scandrick and Chidobe Awuzie will come back and have big games for the Cowboys and Dak Prescott and the Cowboys offense will get of to a hot start on the road. Look for Dak and Zeke to both have much better games under the bright lights than they did in the high altitude of Denver in last week’s loss. Connor Livesay – @connorx147

Cowboys 24 – Cardinals 13

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Dallas Cowboys Reawaken in Arizona

After the drubbing the Dallas Cowboys took in Denver and the questions that come with that, the Cowboys awake in Arizona. Against a Cardinals team that has been good against the run (allowing only 2.8 YPC), the Cowboys get their rhythm through the air. Prescott has his most efficient game of the season, while leading them to the right side of the win-loss column. John Williams – @john9williams

Cowboys 28 – Cardinals 20

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Bouncing Back

I believe the 2017 Dallas Cowboys to be legit Super Bowl contenders. Were they terrible last week? Yes. “Terrible” doesn’t even cut it. But I think this is an elite team, and as such, I’m calling the Cowboys to win big in their bounce-back victory against the 1-1 Arizona Cardinals. Mauricio Rodriguez – @PepoR99

Cowboys 30 – Cardinals 13

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Suddenly “Beatable” Cowboys Not in the Cards

I have a ton of respect for Cardinals Head Coach Bruce Arians as a football mind in this league, and he said it best this week when noting that there certainly is no blueprint to beating the Cowboys coming off of their first loss. That is, unless the Cardinals can borrow the Broncos’ defense. As I have the Cowboys getting back on track with a Monday night win, Arizona may need to borrow Trevor Siemian as well–with both their offense and defense falling short of the challenge of knocking Dallas off their game. All will be right in the world once again, the Cowboys win in prime time. Sean Martin – @ShoreSportsNJ

Cowboys 28 – Cardinals 21

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Pent-up Anger Propels Cowboys Past Cardinals

I believe the entire Dallas Cowboys team will be playing angry this week after last week’s letdown. The defense will bounce back against the David Johnson-less Cardinals offense because there simply isn’t another playmaker that should worry them. Offensively, the Cowboys should be able to control the clock and move the ball up and down the field pretty much at will. I expect a heavy dose of Ezekiel Elliott and a much improved passing game this week. Brian Martin – @bmart0204

Cowboys 27 – Cardinals 13

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PANIC! At Glendale

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Although the Cowboys defense plays great in getting to Palmer early, the Cardinals win on a walk-off field goal set up by an Arizona takeaway. Press the panic button in Dallas. Christopher Waetjen – @SingForTheDay

Cowboys 23 – Cardinals 24

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Return to Normalcy

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Many are expecting Dallas to come back with a vengeance this week, but the Cardinals defense is too good for this to get too lopsided. Carson Palmer’s hearing the “washed up” comments and will fight hard against the Cowboys’ suspect secondary. Still, I expect Dallas’ superior firepower to prevail. Jess Haynie – @CowboysAddicts

Cowboys 27 – Cardinals 23

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R-E-L-A-X

The Dallas Cowboys are coming off their most humiliating loss in years and sort of need to win this one on the road. Arizona has been bad through two weeks, but I do expect them to challenge the Cowboys offense during their home opener. Dallas is able to squeak out a close win on the road Monday night and silence the haters, for the time being. Kevin Brady – @KevinBrady88

Cowboys 21 – Cardinals 17

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Road to Redemption Goes Through Arizona

The Cowboys are in a tough spot. They’re 1-1, they have vengeance against the Giants for 2016 and a black and blue ego from a long day in Denver. Losing to the Cardinals is only going to make the pressure increase. The team knows what went wrong in Denver. Maybe Zeke did give up, but maybe that just means he didn’t hit the orange wall quite as hard; it was a wall in either case. Learning from week two and facing a beatable Cardinals team, the Cowboys begin their climb out of the hole. Bryson Treece – @BrysonTreece

Cowboys 27 – Cardinals 20

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As Sean mentioned, Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians knows that Denver proved nothing about the Cowboys, only that Denver is better than some thought. A wiser Cowboys team emerges from that week two ass whooping against a Cardinals team with just the right weaknesses for the Cowboys’ own weaknesses.

Here’s to the Cowboys capitalizing on the matchup. Go Cowboys!