Dallas Cowboys’ Season Hits Low with Loss to Cardinals, Sparks Debate on Coaching

The Dallas Cowboys experienced a significant setback in the 2026 season on Sunday. They lost to the Arizona Cardinals at AT&T Stadium, despite being favored to win. The team squandered a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter. Cardinals backup quarterback Gardner Minshew replaced the underperforming Jacoby Brissett and excelled, completing 17 of 23 passes for 188 yards and scoring three touchdowns.

An error by Cardinals kicker Chad Ryland, who missed an extra point, pushed the game into overtime. Even then, Arizona managed to secure a surprising victory during the extra period.

The Cowboys’ defeat triggered discussions about the future of head coach Brian Schottenheimer. With a 3-5 start this season, the team’s performance is drawing scrutiny.

Dallas veteran linebacker Von Miller stood by Schottenheimer and the coaching staff. On Monday, Miller compared coaching to parenting, saying, “I’m a parent. I got three kids. Sometimes you raise your kids a certain way and you teach them lessons. You expect them to act a certain way when they go out. And sometimes the kids just go out there and do things that are not a reflection of who you are as a parent.”

He continued, “We have amazing coaches that keep us prepared, ready to go mentally, physically, emotionally. They breathe life into us, and just for whatever reason, that’s the product.” Miller emphasized that the game’s outcome does not mirror the quality of coaching, adding, “The product that went out there is not a reflection of our coaching staff. This is pro sports. This is not parenting. So at the end of the day, the buck has to stop somewhere. Somebody’s going to get the blame.”

Miller concluded by expressing confidence in the coaching staff, “But my opinion, this is just me, I don’t know nothing about football. I only played 16 years. We’ve got great coaches. We’ve got a great coaching staff. And that’s not a reflection of how they coach us and get us ready every week.”

As the Cowboys aim to recover, they will face the Indianapolis Colts in a Week 9 matchup on Sunday.