Arizona Cardinals look lost in preseason loss to Cowboys

NFL Arizona Cardinals look lost in preseason loss to Cowboys

By Ben Gale

August 23, 2026 • 3:01 AM EDT

Updated 11 hours ago

Arizona Cardinals look lost in preseason loss to Cowboysarizona cardinals preseason loss dallas cowboys

There’s not much point in making excuses. The Arizona Cardinals fell flat in their preseason clash with the Cowboys, losing 34-13 at State Farm Stadium. It might only be August, but you’d expect a bit of progress on some familiar problems. Instead, fans saw a frustrating repeat: more penalties, more mental lapses, and little sign the Cardinals’ ongoing issues are close to being fixed.

Sure, preseason results aren’t life or death, and nobody’s handing out a trophy in August. But what you saw against Dallas wasn’t just a bad night. These penalty problems, especially on offense before the snap, have haunted this team through training camp and carried right onto the field again. That’s the kind of stuff that gets you beat—not just in practice, but in games that actually count.

According to Yahoo Sports, the Cardinals keep getting tripped up by penalties that kill their own drives. Pre snap miscues aren’t about working out the kinks or shaking off rust. It’s about focus and discipline, and right now, Arizona is failing that test week after week.

Mike LaFleur’s job was supposed to be getting the offense into rhythm. Instead, you saw an attack that never really got started at all. Some will point to the ongoing struggles with the defense, but that doesn’t excuse a first team offense that looks stuck in the mud. And, let’s be honest, the repeated flags stifle any chance they have to make real progress.

It’s not as if these problems are new, either. Arizona’s been hampered by these mental errors for seasons now. If you hoped the new campaign would be different, this was a sobering reality check. When Gardner Minshew took the field, the mistakes kept coming. This wasn’t a showcase for offensive genius. It was the same old story — an offense going nowhere fast because it couldn’t get out of its own way.

For fans, this wasn’t just a loss. It was watching outside expectations, or maybe just their worst fears, play out right in front of them. With the regular season coming up fast, you can see why there’s plenty to worry about in Arizona.

The game’s turning points

Arizona racked up costly pre snap penalties, repeating issues from training camp.
Offensive misfires ruined any early momentum, with the first team offense never settling in.
Dallas took advantage, scoring consistently while Arizona struggled to respond.

Why all this matters for Arizona

Key developments from the loss

The Cardinals’ offense failed to show improvement, leaving big question marks for the coaching staff.
Defensive lapses made it too easy for Dallas as the game went on.
Gardner Minshew’s performance did little to inspire confidence, with offensive penalties undermining every drive.
Repeated issues suggest deeper discipline problems not fixed through camp.

Key takeaways for bettors

Arizona’s penalty and discipline problems are real, not preseason flukes.
The first team offense isn’t gelling—fade them early if these issues persist.
Coaching changes have yet to translate to fixes on the field.
Expect growing pains if betting the Cardinals spread or moneyline when the regular season kicks off.
Dallas looked disciplined and ready, a potential edge if you’re considering their futures odds.
Keep an eye on Arizona’s penalty count in the first few regular games. If it doesn’t drop fast, expect more rough results.
Wait for on-field improvement before backing the Cardinals in anything but the largest lines.

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Frequently Asked Questions

The Dallas Cowboys defeated the Arizona Cardinals 34-13 in their preseason matchup at State Farm Stadium.

The Cardinals’ struggles were mostly due to recurring penalty problems, especially on offense with pre snap mistakes, as well as lackluster play.

No, the Cardinals have been hampered by penalty issues for years, and these problems continued to show in both training camp and this game.

Yes, Gardner Minshew played but the offense looked out of sync and struggled with execution throughout the night.

While preseason games don’t count toward the regular season, ongoing issues like penalties and poor offense are concerning signs for the team’s prospects.

Mike LaFleur was expected to get the first team offense firing, but the continued struggles and penalties have made that a tough task so far.

The preseason game took place at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.