ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Kyler Murray is making his return from a two-game injury absence as the Arizona Cardinals take on the Dallas Cowboys. The game will be held at AT&T Stadium, a venue that holds special significance for Murray, who once played there during his high school days and later won a Big 12 title with the Oklahoma Sooners. Now, as the 2019 No. 1 overall pick, he leads the Cardinals (2-5) in their quest to end a five-game losing streak.
Murray has an impressive record of 9-0 at AT&T Stadium, which was his high school championship venue before becoming the site of his college success. His performance there has been nothing short of remarkable, and fans are eager to see if he can maintain that dominance.
Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer acknowledged Murray's talent, noting that he was one of the greatest high school quarterbacks of all time. “Kyler, if you want to help,” Schottenheimer joked, “but no, obviously you can’t speak about Kyler Murray without talking about what an incredible player he was at Allen in high school.”
Dak Prescott, the Cowboys' quarterback, is aware of Murray’s impressive stats. “I’ve heard that stat,” he said, adding that it’s “mad impressive.” However, he also emphasized his determination to prevent Murray from continuing his winning streak. “I’m here to make sure that doesn’t happen this Monday.”
Despite Murray’s return, the Cardinals still face challenges. Jacoby Brissett, the backup quarterback, had a strong performance during Murray’s absence, throwing for 599 yards and helping the passing offense rise to 14th in the league. Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon said the team evaluated several factors to ensure Murray feels comfortable when he returns.
A chance to reset
The Cardinals have lost all five games on their current losing streak by a combined 13 points, which is surprisingly low. The first three losses came on last-second field goals, prompting Gannon to believe that the recent bye week was a good opportunity for the team to regroup.
“I do think it’s a good little time to reset here and really focus on some controllables moving forward as it relates to everybody playing a little bit better,” Gannon said.
Monday, Monday
The Cowboys are set to play their second consecutive game on a Monday night, a rare occurrence in the NFL. Their next game will be against the Las Vegas Raiders on November 17, following a bye week. This scheduling quirk is not new for the Cowboys, who often play on Thanksgiving Day and other prime-time slots.
“I think people love or hate the Cowboys, and that’s part of why we play, how we play, where we play and whatnot,” Schottenheimer said. “It really doesn’t matter. These guys are going to play anybody any time, anywhere.”
Campbell's milestone
Arizona defensive lineman Calais Campbell is set to make his 250th start, a significant achievement for the 39-year-old veteran. A six-time Pro Bowl selection, Campbell has been productive in his 18th NFL season, recording three sacks and 19 tackles. His milestone will be celebrated on Monday night, as he plays in front of a national audience.
Campbell spent his first nine seasons with the Cardinals, was a 2017 All-Pro with the Jacksonville Jaguars, and is now back with the team that drafted him. “I don’t know if you guys can tell, but I love football,” Campbell said. “It started from being a kid and watching the big prime-time games. Back then there was only a few games on TV, but the Monday night game was always the biggest.”
Take those stats and shove them
The Cowboys have had a mixed season, with a 44-22 victory over Washington followed by a 44-24 loss to Denver. Despite having one of the NFL’s best offenses, their defense has struggled, leading to frustration among players and fans alike.
Schottenheimer is tired of the narrative surrounding the team. “Our scorecard is what it is,” he said. “And that’s not just defensively. That’s offensively. We’re a football team that’s 3-4-1. You can take stats on offense and shove them as far as I’m concerned. It is what it is. We want to win.”