In the Week 3 of 2017 NFL season, Dallas Cowboys travel to Arizona to face Cardinals. This will be their first chance to make amends after a blowout against Broncos last Sunday. The game will, just like any other, be decided by a number of factors. Here are the top three things you need to take notice before Monday night game.
Dez Bryant vs. Patrick Peterson
In first two weeks, Bryant went against two outstanding cornerbacks in Janoris Jenkins and Aqib Talib. In the third week, he will face an even more competitive adversary in Peterson. The Cardinals corner is a six-time Pro Bowl player, being one in every season he played in the NFL.
Jason Garrett, the head coach of Dallas Cowboys, described him as an “incredible athlete” with “stickiness as a cover guy.” Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott also had words of praise for him stating: “He’s a Pro Bowler every year he’s been in the league and there’s a reason for that. He’s around his guy and he covers his guy in tight windows, puts them in a phone booth no matter who he’s on. He’s one of the best corners in the league, so I’m excited for this matchup.”
Dallas outfit played with Cardinals two times when both of these players were on their teams. In those duels, Dez has caught ten passes for 101 yards and two TDs.
Larry Fitzgerald vs. Jason Witten
These two legends won’t be playing one against other directly, but it is definitely a duel worthy of your attention. In the history of NFL, only two players have more receptions than these two. Fitzgerald stands at 1,134 and Witten has 1,106. Above them are the likes of Jerry Rice (1,549) and Tony Gonzalez (1,325). These two players have 29 NFL seasons between them, Witten has 15 and Larry 14. Both of them have secured spots on NFL Hall Of Fame as soon as they finish their careers and become eligible.
Regardless of their age, they still have lots of talent, and now, a ton of experience to contribute the game on a high level. Currently, Witten leads the league with 17 receptions, while Fitzgerald has two back to back 1,000 yards seasons behind him.
Here’s what Arizona Cardinals coach Bruce Arians had to say: “Two guys that are Walter Payton Men of the Year. They’re those types of guys for a reason. I believe in karma. When you treat people like those two do, good things happen to you. And health has been blessed on both of them. Long careers and they just maintain it.”
Dallas Cowboys vs. Hard Knocks
It’s been four years since the Cowboys suffered a defeat similar to the one in Denver last Sunday. The last team to put them through such misery was New Orleans Saints in Week 10 of 2013 season when the score was 49-17. Back then current Cowboys stars Prescott and Elliott were sophomore and freshman at their respective colleges. Since their reign started last year, they only lost four games, and not even one from those came by more than three points margin. So, the question remains, how will they bounce back from the 42-17 defeat?
Prescott said the following: “I’m definitely confident. We’ve had bad practices and the way we’ve come back after bad practices. It was one day and it was a bad day for us. We know that and we all addressed that, accepted that and take responsibility. But I’m excited for these guys to come back because I know how confident we all will be and how we were at practice today and how we will be for the rest of the week going into that game Monday.”
On Thursday, Larry Fitzgerald was asked about what kind of advice would he give to the youngsters after their heaviest league defeat. He said: “I would say they are damn lucky. It took them 18 regular season games to be humbled. That’s a long stretch. I got my humble pie Week 2 of my rookie year. It happened a few more times during my rookie season. So I would say that those guys are blessed to say they got all the way to their second year [before having been] served humble pie.”
The Dallas Cowboys vs. Arizona Cardinals will be played on Monday, September 25, at 8:30 PM at University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona.
