Arizona Cardinals vs Dallas Cowboys Matchup Preview (1/2/22): Betting Odds, Depth Charts, Live Stream (Watch Online)

Arizona Cardinals vs Dallas Cowboys Matchup Preview (1/2/22)

The Arizona Cardinals fly out to Dallas this weekend to face off with the Cowboys in a potential preview of the NFC Playoffs. The Cowboys come into the weekend riding a four game winning streak that dates back to Thanksgiving, while the Cardinals enter the weekend on a three game losing streak. Dallas has already locked up their division, though they remain in the hunt for a top 2 seed in the NFC if they can close out their season with consecutive wins. The Cardinals, meanwhile, are still fighting for the NFC West division title after the Rams took a one game lead with a win over the Vikings in week 16. If the Cardinals want any chance at hosting a home playoff game this January, they must win this weekend. The Cardinals and Cowboys have met 110 times before with the Cowboys leading the all time series 56-33-1.

Arizona Cardinals vs Dallas Cowboys Betting Odds

Betting Trends

Cardinals are 17-6-3 ATS in their last 26 games as a road underdog
Cardinals are 11-5-1 ATS in their last 17 games on fieldturf
Cardinals are 2-8 ATS vs. a team with a winning record
Cowboys are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games as a favorite
Cowboys are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games as a home favorite
Cowboys are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 games on fieldturf

The Pick

Though I usually like to fade teams like the Cowboys that are on a multi-game winning streak going up against a team like the Cardinals that’s on a multi-game losing streak, I can’t bet on this Cardinals team with as many injuries as they have. I wouldn’t be too deterred if they were missing a few solid players here and there, but they are missing 5 of their biggest difference makers, and no doubt the Cowboys are going for the win in this game to stay in contention for the number 1 seed in the NFC. Dallas has too much talent to overcome with glaring deficiencies at running back and D-Line. The fact that this game is going to be played in a dome setting on field turf also plays to Dallas’ strengths given the speed advantage they have on offense.

My Prediction: Cowboys win and cover 37-24, the over hits (o51.5)

TV Schedule

Date: Sunday, January, 2
Time: 4:25 PM ET
Location: AT&T Stadium — Arlington, TX
TV Coverage: Fox

Arizona Cardinals vs Dallas Cowboys Live Stream

Where can you watch Cardinals vs Cowboys online? You can stream this game, and many other NFL games live online with Hulu. Hulu has a 7 Day free trial and is cheaper than cable options at $5.99/month. Watch Cardinals vs Cowboys Free Online Now.

Injuries

Arizona Cardinals: WR DeAndre Hopkins (Knee) O, C Rodney Hudson (Illness) Q, DE JJ Watt (Shoulder) O, FS Budda Baker (Ribs) Q, RB James Conner (Heel) Q, RB Chase Edmonds (Back) Q, TE Zach Ertz (Hamstring) Q, OLB Markus Golden (COVID-19) O, DE Jordan Phillips (Knee) Q, OT DJ Humphries (COVID-10) O, WR Rondale Moore (Ankle) Q, DE Zach Allen (Ankle) Q, OLB Devon Kennard (COVID-19) O, CB Bashaud Breeland (COVID-19) O, CB Robert Alford (Pectoral) O, TE Maxx Williams (Knee) O
Dallas Cowboys: OT Tyron Smith (Ankle) Q, DE DeMarcus Lawrence (Foot) Q, P Hunter Niswander (COVID-19) O, TE Blake Jarwin (Hip) O, DE Brent Urban (Triceps) O

Arizona Cardinals Analysis

No team has more elite level players on the IR healing into week 17 than the Arizona Cardinals. Whether it be JJ Watt, DeAndre Hopkins, Buddha Baker, Rodney Hudson, James Conner, or Rondale Moore, a lot of playmakers on this Cardinal have been on the sideline over the last couple weeks and it’s shown. The Cardinals haven’t been able to beat the Lions in Detroit or the Colts and Rams at home, falling from the first seed in the NFC to the fifth seed in a matter of just three weeks. While the Cardinals will likely still make the playoffs barring disaster, losing home field advantage is a miss for a dome team that loves playing on turf.

The Cardinals rank 8th in the NFL in total yards per game at 376.5. They rush for 122 yards a game, tenth in the NFL, and throw for 254 — also tenth. They are led in the run game by James Conner and Chase Edmonds, both of whom are questionable to play in this weekend’s game. In the passing game, the Cardinals are led by QB Kyler Murray who ranks 4th in the NFL in yards per attempt and 12th in passing touchdowns per game. They average 21.6 first downs a game with over 59 percent of those first downs coming from pass plays.

On defense, the Cardinals rank eighth in total yards allowed per game at 323.4. They have been most effective against the pass, where they rank sixth in yards allowed, and ninth in yards per completion. They are tied for the fourth best turnover differential (+10) with the third most fumble recoveries of any team. Against the run, the Cardinals rank 15th in the league allowing 113.7 yards a game. Markus Golden leads the team in sacks with 11.

Arizona Cardinals Depth Chart

QB: Kyler Murray
RB1: Chase Edmonds
RB2: James Conner
WR1: Rondale Moore
WR2: AJ Green
WR3: Christian Kirk
TE1: Zach Ertz

Dallas Cowboys Analysis

While the Cowboys have won four straight games, they haven’t played a team with a winning record since the Raiders on Thanksgiving. Since then, they’ve blown out a collection of teams quarterbacked by Taysom Hill, Mike Glennon, and Taylor Heinicke (twice). Micah Parsons continues to be the odds on favorite to win DPOY as he’s accumulated 4 sacks over the last 4 games.

Even if Dak hasn’t looked 100 percent over the last few weeks, this offense has been humming. No team in the NFL averages more yards than the Dallas Cowboys at 409.5 yds/game. Their passing attack ranks 3rd in the NFL at 282.7 yds/game and their rushing attack ranks sixth at 126.9 yds/game. Ezekiel Elliot and Tony Pollard have both rushed for over 700s yards this year, with Zeke averaging 4.3 yards a carry and Tony Pollard averaging 5.6 yards a carry. CeeDee Lamb leads the team in receiving with 1,006 yards on the season. Amari Cooper and Dalton Schultz are not too far behind with 768 and 733 receiving yards, respectively.

On defense, the Cowboys rank 19th on the season in yards allowed per game, but second in turnover differential (+14) and seventh in scoring defense (20.5 pts/gm). The Cowboys have 37 sacks on the season, 19 of which have come from the tandem of Micah Parsons and Randy Gregory. The Cowboys do struggle in the red zone sometimes, allowing touchdowns on 61 percent of opponent red zone drives.

Dallas Cowboys Depth Chart

QB: Dak Prescott
RB1: Ezekiel Elliott
RB2: Tony Pollard
RB3: Corey Clement
WR1: Amari Cooper
WR2: CeeDee Lamb
WR3: Michael Gallup
TE1: Dalton Schultz

Arizona Cardinals vs Dallas Cowboys Daily Fantasy Pick

With James Conner and Chase Edmonds both questionable to play this week, expect Cardinals running back Eno Benjamin to have his most productive game of the season. Though Benjamin only has 84 yards and 1 touchdown so far this year, the Cardinals have never been more depleted at running back. I like Benjamin to get over 6 carries and 25 yards in this one as he goes up against a Cowboy defense that is fairly average against the run. Benjamin is currently listed at $4,000 on DraftKings.