What's Up?
While traveling to Arizona to face the Cardinals has usually meant an automatic victory for the Cowboys, winning 23 of their last 33 meetings against them since they moved out to the desert, a win this Sunday may be harder to achieve than in recent years. The Cardinals are coming off an impressive 41-17 victory over the previously undefeated Buffalo Bills (4-1) and sit alone atop the NFC West with a 3-2 record. Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner, who caught national attention lately for his thoughts of retirement, has returned to Pro Bowl form, throwing for 1,472 yards and 10 touchdowns so far this season.
- While the Cowboys defense is being praised for its fierce pass rush, it is the Cardinals who hold the longest streak in the NFL by registering a sack in 28 consecutive games. The Cowboys have the second-longest streak, bringing down the quarterback in 22 straight. * Think Tony Romo throws too many interceptions? While he has thrown at least one in eight consecutive regular-season games, there are seven quarterbacks who have thrown as many or more interceptions than Romo's five this season. Included in that list are Pro Bowlers Peyton Manning and Drew Brees who have thrown five and six, respectively. * The Cardinals are currently riding a five-game home winning streak, but have not beaten the Cowboys in Arizona since 2002. The Quincy Carter-led Cowboys were intercepted four times that year in a Cardinals' 9-6 victory. * The 2008 draft class has been kind to the Cardinals through the first five games of the season. Six of their eight picks have made a significant impact already this season, including running back Tim Hightower, who has rushed for five touchdowns. Chalk Talk
Cowboys outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware, who has a sack in eight consecutive games dating back to last season, has a good chance of extending his streak to nine on Sunday. Arizona's offensive line ranks 22nd in the league in sacks allowed, giving up 12 through five games. In two career games against the Cardinals, Ware has totaled one sack, four tackles and a forced fumble.
Connections
Cardinals wide receiver Jerheme Urban caught passes from Cowboys quarterbacks in the 2006 preseason . . . A former second-round pick of the Cowboys in 2003 and two-year starter, center Al Johnson has started 14 career games for the Cardinals . . . Cowboys Pro Bowl left guard Leonard Davis was a first-round pick of the Cardinals in 2001 and became a six-year starter there until signing with the Cowboys in '07 as a free agent . . . Cardinals offensive coordinator Todd Haley was the Cowboys' receivers coach for three seasons (2004-06) . . . Cardinals defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast spent seven years on the Cowboys staff, first as a quality control/defensive assistant coach, then as a linebackers and secondary coach (1996-02) . . . Cardinals running backs coach Maurice Carthon was the Cowboys' running backs coach for two seasons under Bill Parcells (2003-04) . . . Cardinals tight ends coach Freddie Kitchens spent the 2006 season with the Cowboys coaching tight ends . . . Offensive quality control coach Dedric Ward played the 2004 season with the Cowboys.
Miscellaneous
The Cowboys hold a commanding advantage in the series against the Cardinals, 55-28-1 . . . Cardinals running back Edgerrin James needs just 303 rushing yards to become the 10th leading rusher in NFL history . . . The eight rushing touchdowns this year by Arizona running backs Tim Hightower and Edgerrin James lead the NFL. The Cowboys, with Marion Barber (four) and Felix Jones (three) are tied for second with seven . . . The Cardinals hold sole possession of first place in a division this late into the season for the first time since 1988, which was their first season playing in Arizona, and their last full season under head coach Gene Stallings, the former Cowboys assistant.
