Beaks & Geeks: Cardinals lose big to Cowboys

Eku Leota #54 of the Arizona Cardinals reacts after sacking QB Sam Howell #16 (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Arizona Cardinals have plenty of optimism for the 2026 NFL season. New head coach, new starting QB, new rookie RB, three new offensive linemen, new OC and play caller, new long snapper, and several new pieces on the defense.

Going into the exhibition game against the Dallas Cowboys, it was only a question of how many starters would play. For both rosters.

RELATED:CARDINALS STRUGGLE IN LOSS TO DALLAS

The Cardinals have already lost several players and have them listed on IR. The last thing they want is for more players to get injured and lose their services for the season before it even gets started.

Every team at every level in every sport needs practice games. That is what the NFL preseason is for. The coaching staff has questions for the bottom third of the roster, and the exhibition games provide live action that will give them an indication of who to keep and which athletes to release on August 30.

Join our crew LIVE for #DALvsAZ Countdown to Kickoff presented by @ATT

: #DALvsAZ on CBS11 & NFL+https://t.co/GQfw4UmGvn

- Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) August 23, 2026

In the end, Arizona was never in the game and lost 34-13. Few starters had snaps as the second and third string guys were mainly featured. The third-string defense has proven to be a complete mess.

So, who played well for the Cardinals? Who didn't?

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BEAKS

TFL for 54
: AZ Family pic.twitter.com/WYAyJVtkx8

- Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) August 23, 2026

LB Owen Pappoe - Was everywhere the ball was. This is Cody Simon's backup, and he played really well. Nice hit on the kickoff return in the third quarter where KR Malik Davis fumbled. Had back-to-back tackles midway in the third quarter on up the middle runs. With 2:44 left in the third quarter, Dallas had a third-and-14 as Pappoe stopped RB Jaydon Blue for just six yards. Led all Arizona defenders with 10 tackles.

EKUUUUUUU pic.twitter.com/88bidRTi7L

- Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) August 23, 2026

Defensive stops - The fourth-and-1 stop on the Cowboys first drive was a great sign on Arizona's 12-yard line with a turnover of downs. As the first quarter was about to expire, LB Eku Leota destroyed Blue for minus three yards up the middle. NB Kalen King sniffed out the receiver screen to WR Tyler Johnson for a three-yard loss. Leota had the sack in the third quarter as Dallas' was driving for points in Quarter 3 and had to settle for the field goal instead. With 2:55 left in the game, LB Cameron Robertson nailed WR Denzel Mims with a short pass for minus one.

GEEKS

Penalties - This roster must get bonuses for each penalty called on them. Fairweather's holding call eliminated a touchdown. Oh, make that nullified two touchdown calls. Matt Pryor a false start. TE Teagan Quitoriano's holding call. Pass interference called on S Dadrion Taylor-Dmerson as the first quarter was winding down. Corey Kinder false start. Demontrey Jacobs ineligible downfield pass for the big tackle. Damonic Williams defensive holding. Taylor-Demerson with an unnecessary roughness call. Had two penalties declined. Eight penalties for 63 yards, and 14 points taken off the board. Geez.

first career sack for @LebbeusO

:#DALvsAZon CBS11
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- Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) August 23, 2026

C Ka'ena Decambra - The Cardinals had driven down to Dallas' six-yard line as the second quarter was winding down. Two short runs did nothing, then a 5-yard penalty and suddenly it was third-and-goal from the six yard line. Minshew dropped back, and Decambra's man, LT Overton, simply bull rushed him all the back until he introduced himself to Minshew for the sack. Out trotted the field goal unit instead of adding six. The rest of the line held.

.@Qbjayy7 to @CamdenBrown7 for a HUGE gain

:#DALvsAZon CBS11
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- Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) August 23, 2026

Long pass completions - First quarter, the 19-yard completion to TE Luke Schoonmaker on a third-and-one. As the period was winding down, WR Jonathan Mingo reeled off a 53-yarder that scored to make it 14-0 Dallas. CB Starling Thomas simply bit on the inside shoulder fake at the 42-yard line, then took off and had two steps with a perfectly thrown ball. On the Cowboys next possession, what was this? 70-yards to WR Camden Brown down to Arizona's one with a saving tackle by CB Kei'Trel Clark. How did safety Isaiah Oliver not see Brown over the middle on a simple crossing route? With QB Sam Howell now in, he tossed a 25-yard zinger to TE Zack Kuntz early in the fourth stanza that allowed Dallas to sit on the Cardinals' 20.

the offense turns the INT into a TD #DALvsAZ | @Campaign_Lik

:#DALvsAZon CBS11
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- Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) August 23, 2026

LB Karson Sharar - Has the ability to see the run, then knows which gap to shoot, but the kid has coverage issues. The Cowboys first touchdown was Sharar's confusion of who to cover, which allowed RB Malik Davis to sneak out and was wide open for the short toss and six points. The problem is that when the QB snuck out of the pocket and appeared he was headed upfield, Sharar abandoned his man, then did a whoops! as Davis was uncovered. Finished with four tackles.

Third and fourth down efficiency - Arizona was just 4-10 on converting third downs. Good teams exceed 50% in this category. The Cardinals did not convert their only fourth down attempt on a fourth-and-three with 5:41 left in the game on their own 38-yard line.

DE Darius Robinson - One tackle, no pass rush, and limited snaps. Yawn.

Missed opportunities - Did not convert the fourth down, K Chad Ryland missed a 62-yard field goal which had the leg just sliced really wide right, drove to the Cowboys' one as the second quarter was winding down, then had a penalty plus a sack that turned six points into three. As the first quarter was winding down, the offensive holding penalty on TE Rivaldo Fairweather nullified the TD run of RB Evan Hull that pushed the ball from Dallas' seven to the 17. Then Fairweather's touchdown catch was called back on his own pass interference call.

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Bird seed: Football is a method to get rid of your aggressions without a prison sentence

TE Rivaldo Fairweather - Had some great catches and then some untimely penalties. Converted a first down on the Cardinals second possession converting a second-and-one. Then RB Evan Hull scored the touchdown that was nullified by Fairweather's holding call. Early in the second quarter, another TD was taken off the board when he was nabbed with an offensive pass interference call on his own grab.

our ball

: AZ Family pic.twitter.com/YmYZQH2wxb

- Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) August 23, 2026

S Isaiah Oliver - Nice hands on the interception and stole it from WR Anthony Smith as Dallas was on the Cardinals' 12. Allowed the receiver to get open and romp for 70-yards early in the second quarter. Finished with two tackles and one batted pass.

DL Cam Horsley - The game was already in hand for Dallaswith the two-minute warning in sight. Cowboys RB Phil Mafah took the handoff towards the rightside, found a wall, and then reversed field for the touchdown. In high school, as a defensive end you are taught containment. Instead, Horsley, ranked #4 on the depth chart, had crashed down towards the left. With no contain to the right and with several key blocks, the Cowboys had gone from 27 points to 34. Horsley finished with one tackle.

Shavon gets us back the ball #DALvsAZ | @ShavonRevel

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- Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) August 23, 2026

QB Gardner Minshew - Not a bad game, and not a great game either. Had several good throws for good gains, but the interception stopped a drive that placed Dallas instantly in scoring position at Arizona's 12-yard line. WR Simi Fehoko was falling down as CB Shavon Revel had an easy grab and then ran it down to the 12. As the first quarter was winding down, threw a dart to Fehoko for 37-yards. Went 19 for 23, 177 yards, 7.7 average yards per completion, 0 touchdowns, 1 pick, sacked once, and an 80.6 QB rating. Rushed twice for four yards.