There were multiple times where it seemed like it was going the other way.
At least 2 or 3 times… it felt like the Dallas Cowboys had done enough to beat the Arizona Cardinals.
That’s a Cardinals franchise that hasn’t dominated anyone as of late… except for the Cowboys. That’s a Cardinals team that was down big and changed quarterbacks in the second half. They didn’t pivot to the number one overall pick making his debut, they pivoted to an NFL journeyman who was undrafted originally.
But it’s the Cardinals
and it’s the Cowboys. For whatever reason… things just have to go one way.
This really went that way. The Cowboys dropped Sunday’s game to the Cardinals in a manner that puts up it up there with some of the most disastrous losses they have had in recent memory.
They are now 3-5 and look like they have no business being buyers at the trade deadline.
How could this happen?
First Quarter
The Cowboys won the toss and deferred. Defense was up first.
Credit where it is due as they stood tall and forced a punt. It was really more that Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson couldn’t wrap one in, but a stop is a stop and the offense had a chance to get to work for the first time.
It appeared as if Dak Prescott picked up a third down on the ground, but the initial ruling was that he did not. Brian Schottenheimer challenged that ruling and the Cowboys lost, but then he decided to go for it on fourth and short.
What happened next was an absolute nightmare.
The general reaction was disgust and wonder as to why the Cowboys did not sneak it with Prescott. Sigh.
Obviously this gave Arizona a short field to work with. And it wasn’t looking good.
The Cardinals began to move and everything felt dark. They got right on the edge of the goal line and decided to roll the dice themselves on 4th and Goal. Caleb Downs said no, though!
Dallas was unable to do much with such short field position and ultimately punted the ball away. It was a bummer, but at the very least the Cardinals hadn’t scored obviously.
Arizona’s next offensive possession was hardly better for them. They were struggling to move the ball and then a miracle happened. A tipped pass wound up in the hands of Shemar James for the interception!
Jake Ferguson returned for this possession after previously heading to the locker room so that was great to see. Dallas was unable to punch the ball in and when it seemed like Javonte Williams was about to… it was miracle time once more.
Williams had the ball jarred loose… but James Mitchell recovered it in the endzone for a Cowboys touchdown!
The period ended with Arizona holding the ball.
Second Quarter
The Cardinals gained more yards on the possession in question than any to date, but it was still south of 30 and not enough to really move the needle. Notably the Cowboys sent pressure on its final third down, sacked Jacoby Brissett, and they forced another punt.
The next drive was easily the best of the game for the Cowboys offense. Prescott had been a bit under duress earlier, but he had a bit more time to work here. CeeDee Lamb got involved and then things really started to flow.
It all ended with an incredible one-handed touchdown catch from Ryan Flournoy to put Dallas up 14-0.
The Cardinals went on to match the Cowboys with a score of their own, but it was only a field goal. Still, points are points, and suddenly it was 14-3.
This was the case with 1:13 left in the half. It appeared that Dallas had a real opportunity to double-dip.
Unfortunately the Cowboys lost four yards in three plays and punted the ball away. But after the Cardinals took back over and started to move a bit… DeMarvion Overshown jarred the ball loose with a huge hit on Arizona running back Bam Knight.
Knight needed help to get off of the field which stalled things. We certainly hope he is alright.
Dallas had the ball at Arizona’s 47-yard line, 11 seconds left, and a timeout in their pocket. Brian Schottenheimer ran it and the team picked up 4 yards. He settled for a 61-yard Brandon Aubrey field goal that was pushed right.
The Cowboys took a 14-3 lead into the locker room.
Third Quarter
The Cowboys moved the ball on their opening possession of the second half, but it was a little bit like pulling teeth.
It was fairly obvious that Arizona was successfully generating pressure that was bothering Dak Prescott on some level. Still though, the offense was able to get within easier field goal range than their last time out and had to settle for one that Brandon Aubrey converted this time around. Dallas stretched their lead to 17-3.
The Cardinals really struggled on their next drive. They did technically get a little bit going, but Donovan Ezeiruaku and Von Miller provided back to back sacks that essentially ended it. The Cardinals punted and Dallas took over with a chance to really go put the game away.
Dallas responded by picking up a single yard over their next possession. Obviously they punted.
Arizona then surprised everybody by benching Jacoby Brissett and putting in Gardner Minshew. Perhaps that was enough to wake everybody up as right away the Cardinals got back in the game with a 63-yard touchdown from Tyler Allgeier.
The quarter ended right after the Cowboys picked up a huge pass interference on their next possession. It appeared imminent that they were going to score again themselves.
Fourth Quarter
It took a couple of plays for that to happen, but it did nonetheless. On 3rd and Goal the Cowboys saw Dak Prescott tuck the ball and get into the endzone. It felt like this was going to be enough.
It was more of the same in the worst way. Tyler Allgeier broke yet another big run and given the fact that almost all of the fourth quarter was left… anything was possible.
Arizona seemed to feel that way themselves. They got down near the goal line and Gardner Minshew was able to hook up with Tyler Allgeier who made a critical reach for the goal line on 3rd and Goal and scored: 24-17, Dallas.
The Cowboys offense took over with a chance to go put the game away. After falling short on a third down shy of midfield it seemed like they had failed. Thankfully Arizona committed an after-the-play unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that gave Dallas new life.
Ultimately the Cowboys were able to get points out of the drive, shout out to L.J. Collier who committed the penalty, by way of a field goal. This put them up by 10 with under 4 minutes to go.
Arizona refused to go away, though. They quickly got within striking distance, partly thanks to a roughing the passer penalty that went against Rashan Gary. In fact, just one play after Gary’s penalty Gardner Minshew found Trey McBride for a touchdown to narrow the deficit to just a field goal. It was tense.
The Cardinals declared an onside kick was coming and did not recover it. Dallas took over, partly due to a penalty from it not traveling far enough, at Arizona’s 20-yard line with 2:07 left.
Dak Prescott was sacked on second down which happened before the two-minute warning. The Cowboys ultimately settled for a field goal to take a 6-point lead and gave the Cardinals the ball with under a minute left. Arizona needed a touchdown to win.
They got it. But they did not win. At least not at that point.
Chad Ryland missed the extra point. The NFL sure is something.
This took us to, unbelievably, overtime.
Overtime
Dallas won the toss and elected to kick. The defense, the one that had allowed touchdowns on 4 straight drives, was up.
To their credit, they answered. The defense forced a quick punt and put the offense on the field in a position where any points meant a win.
That reality did not inspire much. The Cowboys punted themselves after a quick three and out, one that Josh Sweat put the exclamation point on as he sacked Dak Prescott on third down.
Arizona made good on that gift. They kicked a game-winning field goal, Chad Ryland got his redemption, and the Cowboys fell into a very bad place at 3-5.
