Arizona
Cardinals
3-4
45
FINAL
31
Dallas
Cowboys
3-4
AI Recap
AI RECAPThe Arizona Cardinals secured a decisive 45-31 victory over the Dallas Cowboys in Week 8 of the 2026 season, showcasing their offensive firepower and solidifying their place in the playoff conversation. With both teams vying for crucial positioning, the Cardinals' performance was a statement win that could have significant implications as the season unfolds.
Leading the charge for Arizona was quarterback Sam Darnold, who threw for an impressive 364 yards and four touchdowns, demonstrating his ability to connect with his receivers under pressure. Michael Wilson was a standout target, racking up 201 receiving yards, making him a nightmare for the Cowboys' secondary. This potent offensive display allowed the Cardinals to find the end zone consistently, putting the Cowboys on their heels.
Defensively, the Cardinals made key plays that influenced the outcome, with Max Melton leading the team with eight total tackles, ensuring the Cowboys' running game was stifled. The turning point came when Will Johnson intercepted a pass, shifting momentum firmly in Arizona's favor and allowing them to extend their lead. The Cowboys struggled to recover from this setback, ultimately falling short as the Cardinals held off their late-game efforts.
Passing
| Player | Pos | ATT | CMP | CMP% | YDS | TD | INT | QBR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sam Darnold | QB | 36 | 24 | 67% | 364 | 4 | 0 | 136.8 |
| Dak Prescott | QB | 48 | 31 | 65% | 360 | 3 | 3 | 81.9 |
Rushing
| Player | Pos | ATT | YDS | YPC | YAC | TD | LNG | FUM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Javonte Williams | HB | 16 | 66 | 4.1 | — | 1 | 9 | 0 |
| Jeremiyah Love | HB | 18 | 55 | 3.1 | 9 | 2 | 12 | 0 |
| Dak Prescott | QB | 5 | 17 | 3.4 | — | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Sam Darnold | QB | 2 | 3 | 1.5 | — | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| CeeDee Lamb | WR | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Trey McBride | TE | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tyler Allgeier | HB | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Michael Wilson | WR | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Receiving
| Player | Pos | REC | YDS | YPR | YAC | TD | LNG | DROP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Wilson | WR | 8 | 201 | 25.1 | 69 | 3 | 67 | 1 |
| CeeDee Lamb | WR | 10 | 173 | 17.3 | 116 | 2 | 84 | 0 |
| KaVontae Turpin | WR | 9 | 100 | 11.1 | 18 | 0 | 24 | 1 |
| Trey McBride | TE | 5 | 57 | 11.4 | 19 | 1 | 27 | 0 |
| Devin Duvernay | WR | 5 | 54 | 10.8 | 7 | 0 | 23 | 1 |
| Kayshon Boutte | WR | 4 | 45 | 11.3 | 2 | 1 | 23 | 0 |
| Jeremiyah Love | HB | 3 | 32 | 10.7 | 22 | 0 | 22 | 0 |
| Terrance Ferguson | TE | 4 | 25 | 6.3 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| Javonte Williams | HB | 3 | 15 | 5.0 | 12 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Anthony Schwartz | WR | 1 | 12 | 12.0 | 4 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| Tyler Allgeier | HB | 1 | 6 | 6.0 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Jake Ferguson | TE | 1 | 2 | 2.0 | — | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Elijah Higgins | TE | 1 | 2 | 2.0 | — | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Defense
| Player | Pos | TKL | SACK | INT | FF | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Will Johnson | CB | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Mack Wilson Sr | MIKE | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Jakorian Bennett | CB | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Max Melton | CB | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Joey Porter Jr | CB | 5 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Von Miller | LEDG | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Budda Baker | SS | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Dadrion Taylor-Demerson | FS | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cody Simon | WILL | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Shavon Revel Jr | CB | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Caleb Downs | SS | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kenny Clark | DT | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| P.J. Locke | FS | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| DeMarvion Overshown | MIKE | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Emmanuel Ogbah | LEDG | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Josh Sweat | REDG | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Starling Thomas V | CB | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jaishawn Barham | WILL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cobie Durant | CB | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dee Winters | WILL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Kaleb Proctor | DT | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Malachi Lawrence | REDG | 0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Quinnen Williams | DT | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jalen Thompson | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| DaRon Bland | CB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Darius Robinson | DT | 0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Walter Nolen III | DT | 0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Karson Sharar | WILL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Zaven Collins | LEDG | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Kicking
| Player | Pos | FGM | FGA | XPM | LNG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brandon Aubrey | K | 1 | 1 | 4 | 33 |
| Chad Ryland | K | 1 | 2 | 6 | 43 |

