Coming off five consecutive losses, the Arizona Cardinals needed a major change to get things back on track as they went against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football. Through the first half, even with backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett continuing to play the QB1 role, they were able to get just that.
A 17-7 lead at halftime gave them some hope about getting back on track, especially as they held an elite Cowboys offense to less than 150 yards of total offense. But, throughout the period, the one player whose production remained suspect was star tight end Trey McBride.
What Happened to Trey McBride?
Two excellent drives from Arizona in the second quarter paved the way for two touchdowns, after they managed to put up just three points in the first quarter. But despite an excellent showing from the offense as a whole, it was a night to forget for McBride.
Targeted on five separate occasions, he only caught two passes, adding 17 receiving yards to the total. Instead, it was the Marvin Harrison show, as the second-generation star tallied 80 yards and a touchdown in the period.
Based on PFSN’s TE Impact metric, McBride is currently the eighth-ranked tight end in the league, and the numbers support that ranking immediately. Leading the team in receptions (47), receiving yards (421), and touchdowns (4), he has been a one-man wrecking crew for the Cardinals.
Even as the team has struggled, with a particular rough patch from Harrison grabbing everyone’s attention, he has been the one bright spot on the team throughout the year. And it was immediately visible for Arizona coming out of the break.
Trey McBride has a touchdown!
AZvsDAL on ESPN/ABC
Stream on @NFLPlus and ESPN App pic.twitter.com/WAJlqNnYcV— NFL (@NFL) November 4, 2025
Capping off an electric drive to begin the second half, he caught a 12-yard touchdown pass from Brissett to push their lead to 24-7. For a team that had been in a one-score battle in every game of the season, it was hard to justify whether they had turned a corner or if their dominance was a byproduct of a porous Cowboys defense.
That momentum continued throughout the game. Adding two more catches, he finished with five total receptions on nine targets for 55 yards along with a touchdown. It marked his 10th consecutive game with five or more receptions, which made him the third tight end in history, behind Travis Kelce and Tony Gonzalez, to achieve the mark.
Thanks to an explosive second half, the Cardinals were easily able to maintain control of the game, and eventually pull away with a 27-17 victory.