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The Week 9 slate concludes on Monday night featuring two clubs trying to find their footing at the midway point of the season, as the Arizona Cardinals travel to Dallas to take on the Cowboys.

After starting the season 2-0, the Cardinals have lost five straight games. Starting quarterback Kyler Murray missed Week 6 and 7 due to a foot injury. Backup veteran Jacoby Brissett filled in during Murray's absence and is expected to start again in Dallas.

Meanwhile, Dallas is coming off a Week 8 blowout loss to the Denver Broncos. The Cowboys offense with Dak Prescott has been one of the best in the league. However, Dallas' defense is allowing too many big plays in its defeats this season.

Can Arizona get a victory fresh off its bye, or will the Cowboys head into their off week riding high?
Three must-know storylines

1) The Cardinals need to keep up with Dallas

Although veteran Jacoby Brissett will serve as the starter, Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon mentioned Kyler Murray (foot; questionable) could have a role in Monday's game. If Murray does play in some capacity, the Texas native has had success at AT&T Stadium, with a 9-0 record at the venue from his high school days through college and in the NFL. Nonetheless, the Cardinals must get rolling quickly with whomever is under center. In Brissett's previous two starts, he completed 65% of his passes, averaging 299.5 passing yards with four touchdowns and one interception. Arizona is averaging more points per game (25.0) and total yards per game (365.0) with Brissett as the starter. Tight end Trey McBride will play a key role in keeping that success going. He has taken his play to another level, building on his 2024 Pro Bowl season to currently lead the team with 47 receptions, 421 yards and four TDs. The 25-year-old McBride has collected five-plus receptions in all seven games this season for Arizona, joining Hall of Famer Mike Ditka and Zach Ertz as the only tight ends with five or more catches in each of their team's first seven games of a season, per NFL Research. Brissett could lean on McBride a little more with the veteran TE having his best season as a pro.
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2) Can the Cowboys offense get back on track?

Dak Prescott and the Cowboys struggled to find any rhythm in last week's loss to Denver. Prescott tied a season-low 188 passing yards, with zero passing touchdowns and a 51.5 passer rating against a stingy Broncos defense. Luckily for the Cowboys, Prescott has a track record of bouncing back following a loss. Since Prescott entered the NFL in 2016, he has the fifth-best QB record (31-14-1) in games after a defeat, trailing only Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen and Tom Brady. He entered Week 9 leading the NFL with 204 completions and ranks third in passing yards (2,069) with 16 pass TDs. The Cowboys' passing attack led by CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens and Jake Ferguson has helped produce one of the best offenses in the NFL. Part of Dallas' heightened threat level comes from Pickens showcasing he can be a WR1 role while Lamb missed three games with an ankle injury. The two being back together again spells trouble -- they're on pace to be the only teammate duo in the last five seasons to each average 80-plus receiving yards per game.

3) Cards RBs vs. Javonte Williams

The Cardinals have utilized a running back committee since James Conner suffered a season-ending foot injury in Week 3 and Trey Benson went on injured reserve, choosing to divide work between Michael Carter, Emari Demercado and Bam Knight. The RB trio have struggled at times, but a favorable matchup against a Cowboys defense could lead to allow some big rushes to take place on Monday night. Jonathan Gannon told reporters over the weekend Knight will start as the RB1, but that the team will likely go with a hot hand approach. Knight has 29 carries for 102 yards (3.5 yards per carry) and two scores this season. The Cowboys, meanwhile, have Javonte Williams, who is having a career year in Dallas. Williams has scored nine total touchdowns and amassed 633 rushing yards on 123 carries (5.1 yards per carry). He's on pace for his first 1,000-yard rushing campaign and possibly a Pro Bowl appearance. Although the Cards don't have an RB playing close to Williams' level, they fortunately get to face the NFL's 29th-ranked defense against the run. Dallas has given up 146 rushing yards per game, while Arizona's D sits 12th with 100.9 rushing yards allowed per game.


The NFL's trade deadline (Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET) looms and plenty of big names have warranted discussion.

But this year's deadline has also led to some internal conversations among teams wondering how effective in-season trades can be. In other words, is it worth it?

For teams pushing to go deep into the playoffs, is a depth piece enough of a need to send away a draft pick? That internal struggle seems to be picking up this year in what could be a slightly lower wattage trade deadline than in year’s past.

Teams have made 12 trades since the start of the regular season, and the average from 2011-2024 was 10.9 from kickoff through the deadline. Time will tell if teams reach the 2019 and 2022 marks of 19.
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Here is a snapshot of where things stand ahead of Tuesday's deadline:

    The Tennessee Titans have been a frequent recipient of trade calls, with most of the focus on defenders such as Arden Key, Dre'Mont Jones and T'Vondre Sweat. Wide receiver Calvin Ridley also has emerged as a potential trade target, sources say. Several playoff-bound teams have a need at WR, and Ridley, still just 30, could be had for the right price. He is currently battling a hamstring issue, which could complicate things, as could his $23 million due this year, of which most comes in his base salary. There are ways to handle a big salary, though, and trades can always happen if both sides want to do a deal.
    The Dallas Cowboys have been in just about every trade article known to man, and this one is no exception. While they might not pull off another blockbuster like when they dealt Micah Parsons at the end of August, they are in the market for a pass rusher, sources say. Arden Key, the Dolphins' Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb, and the Raiders' Malcolm Koonce are among the edge rushers who could be traded. Dallas also appears to be open to trading 2023 first-round DT Mazi Smith, who has only played in five games this season.
    San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings has become a curiosity on the trade market, with some of the teams that tried to trade for him prior to training camp interested again. He recently deleted his IG page, which led to head coach Kyle Shanahan getting asked if he was available. Shanahan said, "I would be very surprised if Jauan wasn't on our team throughout this year." A trade of Jennings isn't off the table, but with Brandon Aiyuk still coming back from last year's season-ending knee injury, it's not considered likely. Teams will continue to call, though.
    Similar to the Titans, the New York Jets and New Orleans Saints have also gotten plenty of calls for their top players. Breece Hall, Quinnen Williams and Jermaine Johnson II have drawn headlines for the Jets, while it's Chris Olave, Alvin Kamara and Rashid Shaheed for New Orleans. All would require a high price -- perhaps too high for what acquiring teams would want to pay. An offer a team can't refuse would likely be necessary, with neither Saints GM Mickey Loomis nor Jets GM Darren Mougey conducting anything close to a fire sale. More likely, it'll be closer to players such as Michael Carter II (who was sent to Philadelphia last week) and veteran DT Davon Godchaux who could be traded.
    The Las Vegas Raiders remain open to dealing wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, but given that he is on an expiring contract and Las Vegas wants to finish the season strong, it remains up in the air if it will happen. There is some interest, but is there enough?
    Some quick final notes: The Pittsburgh Steelers remain interested in a WR; the 49ers remain interested in a front-seven player; the Chiefs are in the market for a defensive tackle; the Patriots could add a running back; the Lions want a defensive end; the Ravens are looking at front-seven additions; the Eagles could add another edge rusher; Seattle could add on the offensive line; and the Bills could add on the defensive line with Ed Oliver out indefinitely.