Cowboys vs. Cardinals Week 3 Preview: Dallas Defense Shot At History

If the Cowboys allow 16 points-or-fewer vs. Arizona, they will have allowed the fewest points through the first three games in Dallas history.

FRISCO - The Dallas Cowboys travel to play the winless Arizona Cardinals on Sunday afternoon from State Farm Stadium. 

Dallas is off to a hot start, outscoring their first two opponents, 70-10. The +60 margin of victory is the highest margin of victory through the first two games in franchise history since 1968.

The Cardinals are looking for their first win of the season after dropping a pair of close games - decided by a combined seven points. 

Sunday will be quarterback Dak Prescott's 100th game played and started.  Prescott is fresh off completing 31-of-38 passes for 255 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions vs. the Jets.  Dallas is one-of-five teams in 2023 without a turnover through two games. 

CeeDee Lamb has been Prescott's go-to. In Week 2, Lamb finished with 11 receptions for 143 yards. Impressively, through the first two games, Lamb has accumulated 137 of his 220 receiving yards when running after the catch. 

The Dallas defense looks to get after journeyman backup Josh Dobbs, who’s been thrust into the starting job in place of the rehabbing Kyler Murray. Dobbs will be making his fifth career start and is coming off a solid performance vs. New York. Dobbs finished with a passing and rushing touchdown and posted a career-high 99.9 passer rating.

Dallas sacked New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones seven times in their 40-0 Week 1 massacre and added three more against the New York Jets in Week 2. 

If the Cowboys allow 16 points-or-fewer vs. Arizona, they will have allowed the fewest points through the first three games in Dallas history.    

The hopefully healthy 2023 Dallas squad hopes to improve on a 12-5 campaign of a year ago and usurp the Philadelphia Eagles as NFC East Division champions. Entering week 3, Dallas is tied atop the division with undefeated Philadelphia and the Washington Commanders. 

FUN FACT: is the first time in 64 seasons of Cowboys football that Dallas committed no turnovers in the first two games of a season.

RECORDS: Dallas Cowboys (2-0) at Arizona Cardinals (0-2)

ODDS: Dallas is a 12.5-point favorite vs. the Cardinals

GAME TIME: Sunday, September 24, 2023 at 3:25 p.m. CT

LOCATION: State Farm Stadium - Phoenix, Arizona

TV/RADIO: FOX, 105.3 The Fan

THE FINAL WORD: Coach Mike McCarthy on Parsons:

“He was a wrecking crew," McCarthy said. "I was on the other side of it all through camp. I think (defensive coordinator) Dan’s (Quinn) doing an excellent job moving him around... He’s an elite player, just feed off his energy and his production.”

Follow Bri Amaranthus on Twitter and Instagram