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The Dallas Cowboys suffered a disappointing 33-30 overtime loss to the Arizona Cardinals in Week 8, extending their winless streak against Arizona at AT&T Stadium to 0-5. Following the home defeat, former Cowboys backup quarterback Ben DiNucci strongly criticized the franchise, describing the outcome as an unacceptable performance.
Historic Fourth-Quarter Collapse
Dallas fell short despite holding a 14-point cushion during the fourth quarter and leading by 10 points with just 3:54 left in regulation. The result marked the team’s third loss in four games and ended a 69-game winning streak when carrying a lead of 14 points or more late in home contests, a streak spanning back to the previous century.
Arizona mounted its late comeback after backup quarterback Gardner Minshew stepped in for Jacoby Brissett, connecting with running back Tyler Allgeier to energize the offense. The Cardinals, who currently occupy the bottom of the NFC West, missed a late extra point following their final regulation touchdown, which unexpectedly gave Dallas a second chance in overtime.
DiNucci Faults Effort and Off-Field Distractions
Speaking on CBS Sports HQ, DiNucci did not hold back in his assessment of his former team.
“This was absolutely embarrassing today,” DiNucci said on CBS Sports HQ. “They stink. I’m lost for words, honestly. They have so much talent on both sides of the ball, and year after year, week after week, all we see is just letdowns from them. I’m not sure what needs to change. … But at some point, the same old, same old in Dallas for the Cowboys, it’s not cutting it. Something needs to change. Somebody needs to look themselves in the mirror. I don’t know who it is, but that was an embarrassing loss for them.”
Beyond the score line, DiNucci questioned the overall drive of the roster, noting that game film reveals inconsistent execution across different offensive setups.
“It comes down to effort for the Dallas Cowboys,” DiNucci said. He explained that off-field activities within the organization might be affecting performance on the field.
Having spent the 2020 and 2021 campaigns with the franchise, DiNucci recalled how public facility tours took place on off days while players were conducting workouts and film sessions. He urged veteran leaders, including Dak Prescott, Quinnen Williams, and CeeDee Lamb, to take accountability and alter the team culture.
“At some point, something inside that locker room needs to change,” DiNucci said. “The leaders, whoever it is: Dak Prescott, Quinnen Williams, CeeDee Lamb. Whoever it is, somebody needs to take control of that locker room and say, ‘Guys, whatever we’re doing right now is simply not working. We need to scrap this thing. We need to ignore the outside noise.'”
No Mid-Season Coaching Change Expected
Despite the recent slide, major organizational changes may not happen immediately. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones indicated that relieving head coach Brian Schottenheimer of his duties mid-season is not being considered.
Dallas will look to recover in its upcoming schedule, which features matchups against the Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans, and Philadelphia Eagles over the next four weeks, before reaching its Week 14 bye.
