Week 3 of the 2023 NFL season is upon us, and the Dallas Cowboys have drawn a date with the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium in Glendale.
The first two weeks of the season felt like an extra couple of preseason games after Dallas outscored the Giants and Jets by a combined score of 70-10.
The biggest story has been an absolutely dominant defense that is on a trajectory to be one of the best in NFL history.
Dan Quinn’s defense ranks first in several statistical categories, and looks to continue their stellar play against an 0-2 Cardinals team.
The offense has not been flashy, but they arguably have been just as dominant as the defense.
This leads social media experts to concoct a wide array of outcomes for this game.
Let’s take a look at some far fetched, yet totally possible bold scenarios for this matchup in Arizona.
Dak Prescott Will Complete Over 5 Passes of 20+ Air Yards
The Cowboys defense has overshadowed the offense in the first two weeks of the season.
It’s not necessarily a bad thing in regards to the team, but it does bring criticism to the leader of the offense, Dak Prescott.
We all know how the big media networks are.
If Prescott doesn’t throw for 500 yards and five touchdowns every week, they act like the sky is falling in Dallas.
Even if he does throw for those 500 yards and five touchdowns, they nitpick about him ALMOST throwing an interception.
Yes, that really happened.
After a 20 point win over the Jets, the topic was an interception he almost threw. It’s comical.
Pictured above is Prescott’s passing chart versus the New York Jets in Week 2.
It also depicts the only two completions of the season that traveled 20 yards in the air.
I believe the Cardinals defense allows for big plays, and with the possible return of Brandin Cooks, look for Dak to let it fly downfield.
Dallas Will Amass Over 200 Yards Rushing
This is bold because the Cardinals have only allowed 219 yards rushing total over their first two games.
Their losses were against the Washington Commanders and New York Giants, two teams who like to establish the rushing attack.
Although the Cardinals defense was effective in limiting those teams, they won’t have the same luxury versus the Cowboys.
Dallas has an element to their offense that their NFC East counterparts don’t possess: A quarterback with the weapons to push the ball downfield.
The threat of Prescott’s receiving weapons will open up running lanes for Tony Pollard and Rico Dowdle, with a little bit of Deuce Vaughn sprinkled in.
Together, they will combine for over 200 rushing yards on Sunday.
Cowboys Defense Will Double The Sacks Allowed By Arizona
Over the first two games, the Cardinals have allowed Josh Dobbs to be sacked three times, and all three of those sacks were in Week 1 versus Washington.
No sacks being allowed versus the Giants was more about game flow, and not necessarily elite offensive line play.
The Cowboys’ defensive line is a different animal.
I fully expect for the Dallas offense to jump out to a lead, and allow the defensive line to pin their ears back and attack.
The Cardinals like to utilize the short passing game, with several screens to their speedy wide receivers Marquise Brown and Rondale Moore.
However, the Cowboys will play tight coverage to take away those quick throws, and Dobbs will be forced to hold on to the football and throw downfield.
That’s the perfect recipe for the Cowboys to rack up six sacks on Sunday afternoon.