The Dallas Cowboys have allowed over 1,000 rushing yards this season, a stat that should scare any fan heading into Sunday. Now comes the most dangerous running back in the league, Jeremiyah Love, right when the defense looks most vulnerable. Seth Cox at Revenge of the Birds reported that Love will play against the Cowboys after missing time with an ankle injury. This timing creates a perfect storm for a game that could define the season for both teams.
Love was the third overall pick in the 2026 draft and brings elite speed and receiving skills to the field. Despite missing their last few games, he has already led the Arizona Cardinals backfield in fantasy scoring. The Cowboys defense has struggled to stop the run all year, giving up an average of 4.7 yards per carry. That number looks even worse when you see Love lining up against a fourth-string right guard who might be pushed to the center spot.
A History of Pain for Dallas
Forget the current record for a second and look at the history. The Cowboys have not beaten the Cardinals since 2017, a dry spell that feels like an eternity in Arlington. Sean Martin at Blogging The Boys noted that without that one win in 2017, Arizona would hold an active nine-game winning streak against Dallas. The last time these teams met, the Cowboys won 28-17., and they are desperate to avoid a sixth loss to the same opponent.
Because the Cowboys have already dropped games they were supposed to win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New York Giants, the stakes are high. If they lose this one, the season could get messy fast. The Cardinals are 2-5 but just beat the Los Angeles Rams 18-16 in a legitimate upset.
The Edge Must Be Set
Defense coach Christian Parker showed new looks against the Eagles, but the run defense still had a hard time setting the edge. That specific failure against the run is what the Cardinals will try to exploit on Sunday. John Laghezza at FantasyLife pointed out that the Cowboys rank bottom-5 in several key pass defense stats, but the real story is the ground game. Arizona ranks 25th in 3rd and short conversion rate, which is the ultimate drive killer, but Love changes that math.
Love averages right at 3.7 yards per carry, which matches the team average, but he is the spark the offense needs. The Cowboys need to stop the run first or they will face a long day against a quarterback who keeps his job by alternating great and bad games. For a six-week span, Jacoby Brissett has pattern-matched alternating QB1 and QB2 performances now, making him a tough matchup for any defense.
With Matt Eberflus leading in 2025, the Sunday afternoon matchup is a crucial redemption opportunity for a defense that failed to establish an edge versus Jacoby Brissett and these Cardinals. If the Cowboys cannot fix their run defense against a team with a top-tier rookie back, they will face another loss that feels a lot like the one from last year. The clock starts ticking on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET at AT&T Stadium.
