The Dallas Cowboys just hit another low in what’s turning into a truly disappointing 2026 season. Their squandered opportunity against the Arizona Cardinals isn’t just a loss; it’s the latest chapter in an ongoing saga of underperformance, especially when you consider all the talent they’re supposed to have. We’ve heard it for a decade, that “talent” phrase, and it’s still true. The front office poured resources into fielding a better defense, adding expensive pieces, yet the results remain squarely underwhelming. This team had every chance to win and completely blew it. So, where did it all go sideways?
Allgeier Made Dallas Look Like JV
Let’s start with the defense, because wow, that was a train wreck. Tyler Allgeier, a solid running back for the Cardinals, looked like an absolute All-Pro against Dallas. Seriously, 191 yards from scrimmage? He stepped into a bigger role because of Arizona’s injuries, and the Cowboys made him look unstoppable. After Dallas built a lead, you’d think the Cardinals would struggle to get anything going, right? Nope. Allgeier just took over the entire second half. His 63-yard touchdown run perfectly captured everything that’s been broken about this Dallas defense all season. Missed tackles everywhere. Pursuit angles that made no sense. Guys just failing to shed blocks. It was like they weren’t even playing with any urgency to stop him. Then he rips off another explosive 52-yard run, with Arizona’s center Hjalte Froholdt flattening Caleb Downs twice on the same play! This isn’t just about one guy; it’s a huge problem. Dallas cannot tackle, period. They haven’t all season, and it’s why they keep giving up explosive plays. Even his touchdown reception was wild; multiple defenders converged on him, but instead of wrapping him up, they let him extend the ball over the plane. It’s not that Allgeier is some mythical force; it’s that Arizona brought the effort, and Dallas absolutely did not.
Javonte Williams’ Momentum Disappeared
While the defensive collapse was the biggest issue, their own run game was nowhere to be found, completely squashing any momentum from last week. Javonte Williams had a career high in rushing against Philadelphia, and we all thought Dallas might ride that wave this week. That never happened. Williams had practically zero room to operate behind that offensive line. Any time Dallas needed a tough yard, Arizona had the answer. Remember that critical fourth-down attempt in the first quarter on Dallas’s side of the field? Stopped short. Later, he gets stuffed near the goal line in another crucial spot. Just brutal. Williams finished with 24 carries for a measly 56 yards, averaging 2.3 yards per carry. That’s just not gonna cut it. The offensive line shoulders a huge part of the blame here, too. The run game was a factor in the loss, for sure, but nowhere near as damaging as the defensive blunders that haunted them all afternoon.
This latest defeat is just another frustrating chapter in what’s shaping up to be a truly disappointing 2026 season for Dallas. The underwhelming results keep piling up, and right now, it feels like there are more questions than answers.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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