NFL Week 6: Dallas Cowboys vs. Arizona Cardinals

The Cowboys/Cardinals rivalry has turned into an offensive weapons arms race sure to light up the turf and the scoreboard

Cowboys vs. Cardinals Overview:

The NFC is back on top of the NFL thanks to the meltdown of the AFC, and several teams are vying for the top spot. The Dallas Cowboys (4-1) have been preseason Super Bowl favorites while the Arizona Cardinals (3-2) have exceeded all expectations and could be the class of the NFC West. This NFC East/West battle is just another part of the great rivalry between the Arizona Cardinals and Dallas Cowboys.

Dallas Cowboys Offense:

The Dallas Cowboys offensive line is the size of a few small trucks and can bench a house and squat the world. Human Sasquatch G Leonard Davis is the top dog of this elite unit and is why the Dallas Cowboys offense is so successful. RB Marion Barber throws caution to the wind with every carry and hurls himself at tacklers while backfield mate Felix Jones rips off big runs with tremendous vertical speed. The running backs and offensive line are often forgotten thanks to Tony Romo and Terrell Owens, but the big ugglies are why the Dallas Cowboys are 4-1.

Dallas Cowboys Defense:

The Dallas Cowboys defense has been a letdown this year, but the unit has played adequately enough to win games. The 3-4 defense is headlined by OLB DeMarcus Ware who is one of the best pass rushers in the NFL and has a sack in every game this year. NT Jay Ratliff could be the second best player on the Dallas Cowboys defense and puts up impressive numbers for a 3-4 nose tackle. CB Adam “Pacman” Jones has quickly shot up the depth chart and is the best pure cover man for the Dallas Cowboys star-studded secondary.

Arizona Cardinals Offense:

The Arizona Cardinals offensive line has a future star in RT Levi Brown, but they aren’t at the same huge size as the Dallas Cowboys. QB Kurt Warner is long in the tooth but has produced at an incredibly high level while keeping Matt Leinart on the bench. RB Edgerrin James is no spring chicken either but hammers defenders and is an asset in the passing game. Rookie RB Tim Hightower gives Edgerrin James a spell and is a great change of pace. WRs Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin are the best receiving duo in the game, but Boldin may miss the game with an injury.

Arizona Cardinals Defense:

Pass-rushing specialist DE Travis LaBoy anchors the aggressive Arizona Cardinals front seven. DT Darnell Dockett is a force against the run and the pass which often springs his teammates to make plays. OLB Karlos Dansby is a true headhunter in the front seven of the Arizona Cardinals and is the best player of the unit. The Arizona Cardinals also have a deep secondary with players like Eric Green, Antrel Rolle, and Roderick Hood. S Adrian Wilson is the leader of the Arizona Cardinals secondary and is coming off a game where he literally knocked out Trent Edwards.

Dallas Cowboys Keys to Victory:

The Dallas Cowboys will continue to dance with who brought them as they let the gargantuan offensive line maul their opponents front seven in the running game. The combination of the offensive line’s girth and the kamikaze running style of Marion Barber should be enough to wear down the Arizona Cardinals athletic but small front seven. When the Arizona Cardinals are beat down, then Tony Romo will have time in the pocket to find targets like Terrell Owens and Jason Witten. The Dallas Cowboys will also look for Felix Jones to have a big day in the passing game.

The Dallas Cowboys cannot allow veteran Kurt Warner to sit back in the pocket. Kurt Warner will not be fooled by any trickery so the Dallas Cowboys will have to go all out to get their sacks. DeMarcus Ware prefers coming from the blindside but will be moved around to find favorable match ups. OLB Greg Ellis will also be asked to blitz constantly with help from young OLB Anthony Spencer. If Anquan Boldin doesn’t suit up, then the Dallas Cowboys defense can focus on Larry Fitzgerald with double coverage.

Arizona Cardinals Keys to Victory:

The best bet for an Arizona Cardinals victory is for head coach Ken Whisenhunt to return to his Pittsburgh Steelers roots with a power run game. The 3-4 of the Dallas Cowboys is made to attack the pass but has played poorly against the run. Edgerrin James and Tim Hightower splitting carries could quickly wear down the attacking defense of the Dallas Cowboys. The running game will also allow Kurt Warner to study the field and get comfortable. With Larry Fitzgerald in double coverage and Anquan Boldin injured, other receivers have to step up.

Tony Romo getting the ball to Terrell Owens and Jason Witten may be a bad sign for the Arizona Cardinals, but a constant dose of Felix Jones and Marion Barber is far worse. The Dallas Cowboys go where their run game goes, and if the Arizona Cardinals can shut it down then they shut the Dallas Cowboys offense down. OLB Karlos Dansby will be the focal point of the defensive attack as he rushes the passer and hunts down Marion Barber. S Adrian Wilson can do the entire defense a favor by laying out Jason Witten and Terrell Owens in passing situations.

Cowboys vs. Cardinals Outlook:

The 1990s saw the “Big Three” of the Dallas Cowboys wage war on the stout Arizona Cardinals in what was always one of the premier games of the year. The Arizona Cardinals have fallen on hard times in the past few years but the arrival of head coach Ken Whisenhunt has turned the franchise around and brought in a new attitude that is light-years ahead of the Dennis Green era. The Ken Whisenhunt Arizona Cardinals will not crown anyone and won’t let anyone off the hook once they get their opponent down.

The Dallas Cowboys have the most talent of any team in the NFL, and they have focused all of it on winning the Super Bowl. The Arizona Cardinals are a tough task to take on and will be one of the toughest challenges the Dallas Cowboys have faced so far. The injury to Anquan Boldin is a difference maker and takes away a significant piece of the Arizona Cardinals offensive gameplan. The Dallas Cowboys and Arizona Cardinals rivalry is entering a new age and the points are sure to fly on the board. The Dallas Cowboys just have too many weapons in their arsenal at this time.