Sarah: Cards Nation, we knew this one was going to sting, but 34-13 to the Cowboys? Let's break down what really went wrong and who's fighting for a roster spot.
Tom: And we're not just talking about the scoreboard – there were some serious bright spots buried in that box score.
Sarah: Welcome back to the Beatline Podcast Network, I'm Sarah, and alongside me is the sharpest mind in football, Tom. Cardinals fans, we're reacting to a rough preseason loss to Dallas, but we're not hitting the panic button.
Tom: We'll get into the offense, the defense, and look ahead to Green Bay next Saturday. Stick with us.
Sarah: Alright Tom, let's start with the offense. Gardner Minshew II went 19 of 23 for 177 yards and a pick. Those are solid numbers, but the final score doesn't reflect it.
Tom: Yeah, and that interception – it came at a bad time. But Minshew was efficient, he was spreading the ball around. The issue was the red zone. We settled for field goals twice.
Sarah: Exactly. Chad Ryland hit a 38-yarder and a 31-yarder, but we needed touchdowns against a team like Dallas.
Tom: The run game was a bright spot though. Evan Hull had 11 carries for 51 yards – that's nearly five yards a pop. He's making a strong case for the final roster.
Sarah: He sure is. And we called that last episode – Evan Hull making the roster. Looks like we're onto something.
Tom: And Simi Fehoko – only two catches, but 42 yards. He's showing he can stretch the field. That's valuable for a receiver room that needs depth.
Sarah: But Tom, the Cowboys' backup quarterback Joe Milton III looked like a star. 9 of 13, 179 yards, two touchdowns. He torched our secondary.
Tom: He did. And that 53-yarder to Jonathan Mingo was a busted coverage. We can't have those mental lapses, even in preseason.
Sarah: We'll get to the defense in a minute, but first, how do you grade Minshew's performance overall? He didn't throw the two touchdowns we predicted.
Tom: I'd give him a B-minus. He was accurate, he managed the game, but he didn't get the ball in the end zone. We need more explosiveness from the QB position.
Sarah: Fair enough. And our prediction of two Minshew touchdowns? That didn't happen. We'll own that.
Tom: But we did predict the defense would force two interceptions, and they didn't. That's a miss too. But let's not dwell on predictions – let's focus on the real issues.
Sarah: Alright, defense. Eku Leota had a sack, Owen Pappoe had 10 tackles. Those are the standouts. But overall, the Cowboys moved the ball at will.
Tom: Yeah, we gave up 34 points. That's too many, even for a preseason game. The pass rush was inconsistent, and the secondary got beat deep.
Sarah: But Pappoe was all over the field. 10 tackles – that's a statement. He's making it hard for the coaches to cut him.
Tom: Definitely. And Leota continues to show he can get after the quarterback. That sack was a highlight.
Sarah: Special teams – Chad Ryland hit both of his field goals, but Brandon Aubrey for Dallas was perfect too. That's a kicker battle we're watching closely.
Tom: Ryland has been solid all preseason. I said last episode he'd be the guy, and he's not doing anything to change that.
Sarah: And we also have to mention the injury report – Trey Benson, Tip Reiman, Josh Sweat all out. That's a lot of key guys sitting. How much does that affect the evaluation?
Tom: It's a big deal. You want to see your starters against live competition, but the preseason is about building depth. The guys who stepped up tonight – Hull, Fehoko, Pappoe – they're taking advantage of the extra reps.
Sarah: And that's what we're looking for in these final weeks. Who's going to make the 53-man roster? What's your biggest takeaway from the defense tonight?
Tom: The tackling was solid – Pappoe led the way – but we need more pressure on the quarterback. We only had one sack, and that's not enough to win games.
Sarah: Alright, let's look ahead. We've got the Packers in Green Bay this Saturday. That's a tough environment, even for a preseason game.
Tom: The Packers are a good test for us. We need to see our starters execute, especially the offensive line against a talented front seven.
Sarah: What are you watching for specifically? For me, it's the quarterback battle behind Minshew – Carson Beck and Kedon Slovis need reps.
Tom: I'm watching the run defense. Dallas ran for over 100 yards on us. If we can't stop the run against the Packers, that's a concern.
Sarah: And we've got a few players listed as questionable – Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, Blake Gillikin, Trey Benson. We need them healthy for the regular season.
Tom: Absolutely. The preseason is about getting ready for the games that count. We need to see improvement in all three phases.
Sarah: So what's your bold prediction for the Packers game? I'm going to say the defense forces two turnovers – we missed that against Dallas.
Tom: I'll go with the run game. We'll see over 150 yards rushing as a team. That's what we need to establish.
Sarah: I like it. We'll be back to break it all down. Cardinals fans, keep your heads up – it's still preseason. We're building.
Sarah: That's a wrap for today. We talked about the loss to Dallas, the standouts, and what's coming next at Green Bay.
Tom: Make sure to subscribe, rate, and review the show. Share it with your fellow Cardinals fans – we're growing this flock.
Sarah: And remember, Bird Gang, we rise together. See you next time. Go Cardinals!