# Cardinals vs Cowboys predictions, graded

Week 8, 2026: Arizona Cardinals at Dallas Cowboys

Nov 1, 2026 · final: Cardinals 33, Cowboys 30 · 17 calls on record · updated Nov 2, 11:02 AM ET

Who do pundits pick in Cardinals vs Cowboys? Of 14 pundits with a call on record, 13 take the Cowboys and 1 takes the Cardinals. 3 named a score; the median has the Cowboys by 12. The Cardinals won 33-30, so 1 of 14 had the winner. Their graded calls averaged 13 out of 100.

Picks by outlet. Each pundit counted once, at the outlet or show their latest call ran on. An outlet is listed when two or more of its pundits have picked.

- [DLLS Dallas Cowboys (podcast)](https://missedtakes.co/outlets/dlls-dallas-cowboys-podcast): Cowboys 2, Cardinals 1
- [CBS Sports](https://missedtakes.co/outlets/cbs-sports): all 2 Cowboys
- [Check the Mic (podcast)](https://missedtakes.co/outlets/check-the-mic-podcast): all 2 Cowboys
- [Sports Illustrated](https://missedtakes.co/outlets/sports-illustrated): all 2 Cowboys
- [The Richard Sherman Podcast (podcast)](https://missedtakes.co/outlets/the-richard-sherman-podcast-podcast): all 2 Cowboys

The other 3 pundits write or talk elsewhere: all 3 Cowboys.

Page: https://missedtakes.co/nfl/games/2026-week-8-cardinals-at-cowboys

Picks:

- [Chris Simms](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/chris-simms) took the Cowboys, Cowboys 35–Cardinals 23; said Oct 30, 2026; on Chris Simms Unbuttoned (podcast); scored 28.57 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 43.99) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/257149d0-81ab-4feb-a725-ef5bebba04b0
- [Nick Wright](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/nick-wright) took the Cowboys; said Oct 30, 2026; on What's Wright? with Nick Wright (podcast); scored 0 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/b82a9265-c0dd-4f60-9d63-374531ec46ae
- [Pete Prisco](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/pete-prisco) took the Cowboys, Cowboys 37–Cardinals 21; said Oct 30, 2026; on CBS Sports; scored 19.05 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 43.99) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/be186514-433b-4521-a4c8-fb8ecc967073
- [Pardon My Take](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/pardon-my-take) took the Cowboys; said Oct 30, 2026; on Pardon My Take (podcast); scored 0 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d414788e-66f3-48d9-9b22-d255c2108a2f
- [Sam Monson](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/sam-monson) took the Cowboys; said Oct 29, 2026; on Check the Mic (podcast); scored 0 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/4c87bf73-1012-4e59-90a0-0d580f1ab3c6
- [Steve Palazzolo](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/steve-palazzolo) took the Cowboys; said Oct 29, 2026; on Check the Mic (podcast); scored 0 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/9387ce29-5be5-4dfa-b991-a10b2bd48118
- [Mitchell Eisenstein](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/mitchell-eisenstein) took the Cowboys; said Oct 28, 2026; on The Richard Sherman Podcast (podcast); scored 0 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/01588b84-4ffa-49e4-87f6-a4537ede33bd
- [Richard Sherman](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/richard-sherman) took the Cowboys; said Oct 28, 2026; on The Richard Sherman Podcast (podcast); scored 0 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/ab6b4f5f-1083-43b1-a29c-b30795ddf69f
- [Pete Prisco](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/pete-prisco) took the Cowboys, Cowboys 37–Cardinals 21; said Oct 28, 2026; on CBS Sports; scored 19.05 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 43.99) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/0e9d8078-8a3c-4465-92a9-e73302d4a67c
- [Randy Gurzi](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/randy-gurzi) took the Cowboys; said Oct 27, 2026; on Sports Illustrated; scored 0 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/85e55650-6ce7-4610-b2ed-1677067720a5
- [John Breech](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/john-breech) took the Cowboys, Cowboys 27–Cardinals 23; said Oct 27, 2026; on CBS Sports; scored 47.62 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 43.99) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/2c56260f-14b4-4708-b8e0-c7a2b156d964
- [Michael Irvin](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/michael-irvin) took the Cowboys; said Sep 5, 2026; on Sports Illustrated; scored 0 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/321d5125-d077-43d6-b09a-5ea5886eec68
- [Clarence Hill](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/clarence-hill) took the Cowboys; said Sep 3, 2026; on DLLS Dallas Cowboys (podcast); scored 0 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/012c1829-1611-4a5a-b27b-f592577a3e65
- [Jesse Holley](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/jesse-holley) took the Cardinals; said Sep 3, 2026; on DLLS Dallas Cowboys (podcast); scored 100 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/c8bf64dc-c1b3-42db-86f8-51b862676332
- [Jeff Cavanaugh](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/jeff-cavanaugh) took the Cowboys; said Sep 3, 2026; on DLLS Dallas Cowboys (podcast); scored 0 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d04cb132-e9f4-4e11-bb0b-cf0982762ad9
- [Michael Irvin](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/michael-irvin) took the Cowboys; said Sep 2, 2026; on The Rich Eisen Show (podcast); scored 0 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/8c7e90c6-e16b-4ee6-8da6-e4dd4b9adb5d

## How they came in

The Cardinals are 2-5; the Cowboys are 3-4. On win totals, 8 pundits put the Cardinals at 4.8 wins on average, and 23 pundits put the Cowboys at 9.5 wins on average.

Venue: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas

- Arizona Cardinals: 2-5 (142 scored, 208 allowed)
  - Last games: L 16-30 vs Broncos; W 18-16 at Rams; L 21-45 vs Lions
  - Unit ranks this season: offense 26th, defense 30th of 32
  - Last season: 3-14
  - Win-total calls: 8 pundits, average 4.8, 1 to 9 wins
  - The side most pundits took won 4 of 7 Cardinals games
- Dallas Cowboys: 3-4 (189 scored, 180 allowed)
  - Last games: W 38-21 at Eagles; L 13-23 at Packers; L 16-24 vs Buccaneers
  - Unit ranks this season: offense 9th, defense 29th of 32
  - Last season: 7-9-1
  - Win-total calls: 23 pundits, average 9.5, 2 to 14 wins
  - The side most pundits took won 4 of 7 Cowboys games

## Players to watch

Each club's starting quarterback, leading rusher, receiver and tight end, and its sack and tackle leaders, with their 2026 regular season so far, with the latest call on each from a pundit ranked on the leaderboard whose record beats the naive pick, made since the 2026 schedule came out ("No." is that rank). Leaderboard: https://missedtakes.co/nfl/leaderboard

- [Gardner Minshew](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/gardner-minshew) (Starting QB, QB): 354 passing yards · 3 TD, 0 INT · 71.7% completions · 2 games; 41st in the NFL in passing yards
  - No. 7 Donnie Druin, Nov 1, 2026: Gardner Minshew to be 1st on the depth chart (not settled yet)
  - No. 18 Carter Bahns, Oct 13, 2026: Gardner Minshew to stay put (not settled yet)
- [Tyler Allgeier](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/tyler-allgeier) (RB1, RB): 369 rushing yards on 89 carries · 3 TD · 23 catches for 128 · 9 games; 25th in the NFL in rushing yards
  - No. 7 Donnie Druin, Sep 6, 2026: Tyler Allgeier to be 1st on the depth chart (not settled yet)
  - No. 12 Derek Brown, Sep 7, 2026: Tyler Allgeier to finish top 49 at his position, by fantasy points (not settled yet)
- [Michael Wilson](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/michael-wilson) (WR1, WR): 51 catches for 546 yards · 2 TD · 9 games; 18th in the NFL in receiving yards
  - No. 4 Bryan DeArdo, Sep 3, 2026: Michael Wilson to be 1st on the depth chart (not settled yet)
  - No. 12 Derek Brown, Oct 3, 2026: Michael Wilson to be 2nd on the depth chart (not settled yet)
- [Trey McBride](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/trey-mcbride) (TE1, TE): 73 catches for 598 yards · 5 TD · 9 games; 16th in the NFL in receiving yards
  - No. 8 Pat Fitzmaurice, Sep 4, 2026: Trey McBride to fall short of his draft cost (a top-20 ADP) (not settled yet)
  - No. 24 Rich Hribar, Jul 30, 2026: Trey McBride to fall short of his draft cost (the second round of non-TE Premium drafts) (not settled yet)
- [Budda Baker](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/budda-baker) (Sack leader, Tackle leader, S): 3.5 sacks · 29 solo tackles · 1 interception · 9 games; 42nd in the NFL in sacks; 56th in the NFL in solo tackles
  - No. 7 Donnie Druin, Nov 4, 2026: Budda Baker to move — “next on the trade block” (not settled yet)
  - No. 18 Carter Bahns, Oct 20, 2026: Budda Baker to move to Buffalo Bills (not settled yet)
- [Dak Prescott](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/dak-prescott) (Starting QB, QB): 2,381 passing yards · 16 TD, 5 INT · 64.9% completions · 102 rushing yards · 9 games; 3rd in the NFL in passing yards
  - No. 4 Bryan DeArdo, Nov 3, 2026: Dak Prescott to stay with Dallas Cowboys (not settled yet)
  - No. 8 Pat Fitzmaurice, Aug 11, 2026: Dak Prescott to outplay his draft cost (the middle rounds) (not settled yet)
- [Javonte Williams](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/javonte-williams) (RB1, RB): 629 rushing yards on 154 carries · 10 TD · 24 catches for 127 · 9 games; 9th in the NFL in rushing yards
  - No. 12 Derek Brown, Sep 5, 2026: Javonte Williams to finish top 15 at his position, by fantasy points (not settled yet)
  - No. 20 Jake Ciely, Aug 8, 2026: Javonte Williams to finish top 13 at his position, by fantasy points (not settled yet)
- [CeeDee Lamb](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/ceedee-lamb) (WR1, WR): 70 catches for 904 yards · 7 TD · 9 games; 2nd in the NFL in receiving yards
  - No. 8 Pat Fitzmaurice, Oct 12, 2026: With extra time to recover after a Thursday-night game in Week 5, Lamb could be ready to go when the Cowboys face the Packers this week. (not settled yet)
  - No. 26 Bucky Brooks, Oct 7, 2026: CeeDee Lamb to finish top 1 at his position, by an unstated measure (not settled yet)
- [Jake Ferguson](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jake-ferguson) (TE1, TE): 19 catches for 136 yards · 4 TD · 8 games; 154th in the NFL in receiving yards
  - No. 8 Pat Fitzmaurice, Aug 11, 2026: Jake Ferguson to fall short of his draft cost (TE12, Overall RK117 | ECR vs. ADP: -8) (not settled yet)
  - No. 30 Andrew Erickson, Sep 16, 2026: Jake Ferguson to be 1st on the depth chart (not settled yet)
- [Quinnen Williams](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/quinnen-williams) (Sack leader, DT): 5 sacks · 20 solo tackles · 9 games; 14th in the NFL in sacks
  - No. 35 Albert Breer, Aug 12, 2026: Quinnen Williams to make team captain (not settled yet)
  - No. 60 Jared Dubin, Aug 10, 2026: Quinnen Williams to win Team MVP (non-QB) (not settled yet)
- [Caleb Downs](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/caleb-downs) (Tackle leader, S): 2 sacks · 33 solo tackles · 1 interception · 9 games; 30th in the NFL in solo tackles
  - No. 23 Jordan Dajani, Sep 10, 2026: Caleb Downs to win Defensive Rookie of the Year (not settled yet)
  - No. 48 John Middlekauff, Sep 8, 2026: Caleb Downs to win Defensive Rookie of the Year (not settled yet)

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The room is counted in pundits, each one's latest call standing. Accuracy is out of 100; the naive pick is the home team.
The week: https://missedtakes.co/nfl/games/2026-week-8
Method: https://missedtakes.co/methodology