The Arizona Cardinals go into Sunday’s game in Dallas with the NFL’s worst red-zone touchdown rate, and coach Mike LaFleur said Friday that the bigger danger is letting a two-week slump turn into a habit. Asked whether his players could start to doubt themselves inside the 20, he answered: “I hope we’re mentally strong enough not to worry about that.”
The numbers explain the question. Arizona reached the end zone on 9 of its first 13 red-zone trips across the first four games. Over the last two it has scored once in 10 trips: nothing on five chances in the Week 6 loss to the Detroit Lions and one touchdown in five against the Denver Broncos. The worst moment came late in the 30-16 loss to Denver, when the Cardinals, trailing by 14 with less than two minutes left, ran four plays from the Broncos’ 1-yard line and came away with nothing.
LIVE: HC Mike LaFleur and S Budda Baker https://t.co/8QzZtauK77
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) October 30, 2026
The play-caller takes the blame
LaFleur, who calls the plays, has spent the week taking the blame. Earlier in the week he pointed out that his offense ranked in the top 10 in goal-to-goal situations until two weeks ago, and he said the fix begins with the design of each red-zone call, how clearly it is taught and when he chooses to use it. Only after that, he said, does it fall on the players to execute. Receiver Michael Wilson took the other side of the same argument, saying the coaches have dialed up good calls and that the failures belong to players who are not winning their one-on-one matchups.
The frustrating part for Arizona is that it moves the ball. The Cardinals lead the league in drives of 10 or more plays and rank in the top five in time of possession. What is missing is the finish, and LaFleur said the team will be back in scoring range on Sunday and simply has to find a way in.
The run game and Jeremiyah Love
A steadier ground game would help, and LaFleur’s verdict was mixed: better than it was, but still well short of where he wants it. “Run game, it’s a mindset and continuity,” he said, adding that he trusts his players’ attitude and that the continuity part is still being built with the mix of players available.
The best news on that front is the return of rookie running back Jeremiyah Love, who has missed the last two games with a sprained ankle. Even with the time off, Love remains Arizona’s leading rusher by a wide margin, with 245 yards on 67 carries. Bam Knight and Tyler Allgeier carried the load while he was out. Love told reporters he has not felt like himself all season because of his ankles and wants the running backs to set the tone for the offense.
Continuity is harder to find up front. Two starters, Paris Johnson Jr. at left tackle and Isaiah Adams at right guard, are already on injured reserve, backup Jon Gaines II has a knee injury, and center Hjalte Froholdt, who has not missed a game since joining the Cardinals in 2023, sat out Friday’s practice with a knee problem and is questionable. If Froholdt cannot go, Hayden Conner, who has been filling in at right guard, would slide to center. Every injury designation is on the injuries page.
A road trip Arizona tends to enjoy
The Cardinals are 2-5, but this matchup has gone their way for years. They have won eight of the last nine meetings with the Cowboys and are 4-0 at AT&T Stadium, with wins there under three different starting quarterbacks. Dallas is 3-4 after beating Philadelphia on Monday night, and its coach, Brian Schottenheimer, has told his team the series has turned on turnovers.
What comes next
The Cardinals play the Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on Sunday, November 1, at 1 p.m. ET, which is 11 a.m. in Arizona and 8 p.m. in Cairo. The Cardinals-Cowboys Game Center has the full matchup. Arizona then visits the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, November 8, at 4:25 p.m. ET.
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