Believe it or not, folks, football is back and it officially kicks off the 2017 NFL Preseason! As usual, the Hall of Fame Game from Canton, Ohio, kicks off the exhibition season – although for the first time ever it’s being played on a Thursday instead of Sunday. It’s Dallas against Arizona – don’t expect starters to play much if at all. But be sure to take a look at our latest NFL odds for the start of the regular season.
2017 NFL Preseason Preview: Dallas vs Arizona. Hall of Fame Game
Where: Fawcett Stadium, Canton TV: NBC Radio: KRLD 105.3 FM The Fan (Dallas) / Sports 620 KTAR (Arizona) Stream Option: NFL Live Opening NFL Lines: Cardinals -1 (37)Who’s coming out to Canton? #DallasCowboys vs. @AZCardinals in the 2017 @ProFootballHOF game!
8/3 7pm CT on @SNFonNBC pic.twitter.com/WDs9JYNMZY — Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) July 30, 2017
Why The Shift?
Remember that last year’s Hall of Fame Game between the Colts and Packers was canceled because the field at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium was unplayable? That was due in part because of the short turnaround time between the Saturday night enshrinement and the Sunday game. Crews were unable to get the field uncovered and painted with enough time for the paint to dry, and when clumps of paint and rubber pellets began to form, it became clear the teams couldn’t play safely. So that played a role in why the game was moved from Sunday to Thursday, two days before the inductions into the pro football shrine. Plus the game doesn’t overshadow the enshrinement ceremonies now. The Cowboys and Cardinals both will play five exhibition games and were allowed to report to training camp a bit earlier than the other 30 teams. The NFL generally picks teams that are going to have a tie to one of the people being enshrined. Both do this year as former Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner and Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones both are set to be enshrined into the Hall. The rest of this year’s class includes running backs Terrell Davis and LaDainian Tomlinson, pass-rusher Jason Taylor, safety Kenny Easley and kicker Morten Andersen. Plus the Cowboys are always a strong television draw, so the league was more than happy to open the 2017 preseason with Dallas on national television.No Cardinals Stars
Arizona coach Bruce Arians said quarterback Carson Palmer and wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald will not play in the game. Linebacker Karlos Dansby also may not. In addition, Arians said linebacker Jarvis Jones has a vessel injury in his quad and is listed as day-to- day. Arians wants to limit Palmer’s workload this summer considering Palmer is 37 and injury-prone. Backup Drew Stanton should start. As a matter of fact, in 2016, Palmer passed for 4,233 yards with 26 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in 15 games. Fitzgerald is a lock to be in Canton some day. A 10-time Pro Bowler, Fitzgerald leads all active players with 14,389 receiving yards, the ninth-best total in NFL history. The Cardinals, who played in the first-ever Hall of Fame Game in 1962, return to Canton for the fifth time and the Cowboys will make their sixth appearance in the Hall of Fame Game series too.
Cowboys Player News
The Cowboys made a move over the weekend in adding quarterback Josh McCown after Zac Dysert was lost to injury. In the meantime, Dysert needs surgery to repair a herniated disk in his back and is out for the season. The Cowboys will be McCown’s sixth NFL team and he has also played for the Browns, Buccaneers, Jaguars, Falcons and most recently, the Saints — although he never started more than four games during his 13 NFL seasons. McCown signed a two-year deal with the Saints in March 2016, but was released in April. McCown is currently the third stringer behind Dak Prescott and Kellen Moore. It’s not yet clear if Prescott or star running back Ezekiel Elliott will play. Prescott was magnificent last preseason in winning the starting job after Tony Romo got hurt. At the present time, the NFL remains undecided on how long to suspend Elliott as it continues its investigations into his two assault accusations, the first of domestic variety and the second involving a nightclub brawl where Zeke was alleged to have broken a man’s nose. The Cowboys plan to use Elliott more in the passing game this season. Regardless, Jones explains why Dallas signed McCown over Colin Kaepernick, who is clearly a better quarterback: “We really have our guys set in a way that Luke fit what we wanted from our third quarterback. Dak [Prescott] is obviously No. 1. [Kellen] Moore obviously is No. 2, and so we’re looking for more somebody that we can evaluate and train and possibly be a quarterback of the future.” Kaepernick is 29, has 58 career starts, and doesn’t fit the mold of scout team QB looking to grow into a more permanent role in the future.Cardinals in Hall of Fame Game (1-2-1)
- 1962 – vs. New York Giants (T, 21-21)
- 1974 – vs. Buffalo Bills (W, 21-13)
- 1986 – vs. New England Patriots (L, 16-21)
- 2012 – vs. New Orleans Saints (L, 10-17)
Cowboys in Hall of Fame Game (2-3)
- 1968 – vs. Chicago Bears (L, 24-30)
- 1979 – vs. Oakland Raiders (L, 13-20)
- 1999 – vs. Cleveland Browns (L, 17-20 OT)
- 2010 – vs. Cincinnati Bengals (W, 16-7)
- 2013 – vs. Miami Dolphins (W, 24-20)
Dallas Cowboys vs Arizona Cardinals Game History
- Total Meetings: 88
- First Meeting: October 23rd, 1960. Busch Stadium. St. Louis, MO.
- Last Meeting: November 2nd, 2014. AT&T Stadium. Arlington, TX.
- All-Time Series: Dallas leads 55-32-1
- Largest Margin of Victory: Dallas 48-7 (2000)
- Longest Win Streak: Dallas 13 (1990-1996)
- Current Win Streak: Arizona 3 (2010-2014)
