Cowboys Face Cardinals Streak as Turnovers Plague Recent Matchups

The Dallas Cowboys prepare to face the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, seeking to end a four-game losing streak against their division rivals. The Cowboys hold a 3-4 record heading into Week 8, while the Cardinals stand at 2-5. Arizona has won the last four meetings between the two teams, extending a run that includes victories in eight of the last ten matchups dating back to 2008.

CeeDee Lamb, the Cowboys' five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver, has not defeated the Cardinals since entering the league in 2020. All four of his matchups against Arizona have resulted in losses for Dallas. Lamb attributed the repeated defeats to the Cardinals' consistent intensity. He told reporters after practice on Thursday that the Cowboys often approach the game with a relaxed demeanor, while the visitors arrive with high energy.

"I've never beaten the Cardinals since I've been in the league. So that's fair to say," Lamb stated. "We've been very relaxed, and they've punched us in the mouth every single time. They've always had more energy. Just coming into the game, they're more excited regardless of if it was at 12 o'clock, Monday night, Sunday night."

Lamb noted that the Cardinals treat the contest as if they are a contender, a level of preparation he believes Dallas must match or exceed. He emphasized that the opponents have beaten the Cowboys in prime time slots, proving their focus is not limited to specific scheduling conditions.

Head coach Brian Schottenheimer offered a different perspective on the team's struggles. He pointed to ball security rather than energy levels as the primary factor in the Cowboys' recent losses. Since 2008, Dallas has a turnover margin of negative 11 in games against Arizona, recording 15 turnovers against four. In the Week 9 loss last season, the Cowboys committed three turnovers and failed to generate a takeaway, falling into a 17-point hole early in the second half.

Schottenheimer highlighted that the Cowboys have committed zero turnovers in their three wins this season, while all four losses involve at least one turnover. He stated on Friday that he disagrees with Lamb's assessment, citing the turnover differential as the deciding factor. "Last year, we were minus-three. So the ball is what this game is going to come down to. I don't think it has to do with energy," Schottenheimer said.

The Cardinals enter the game as the NFL's worst scoring defense, allowing 29.7 points per game. They also possess the league's worst red zone offense, scoring touchdowns on only 42.9% of their drives. The Cowboys, ranked as the No. 5 scoring offense in the league, average 27.0 points per game.

DraftKings Sportsbook lists the Cowboys as seven-point home favorites for the Sunday matchup. Quarterback Dak Prescott acknowledged the Cardinals' recent dominance but expressed confidence in the current roster. "We got to win," Prescott said after Thursday practice. "They've had our number these last couple of years. Credit to their defense.. It's a new year. We just have to make sure we go out and take care of business."

The game will determine whether Dallas can halt the losing streak against Arizona. The Cardinals have maintained their winning edge in recent years, a trend the Cowboys aim to reverse in their home stadium this weekend.