It was almost a tale of two halves. The first an uncharacteristic sloppy one that saw the high-powered offenses for both teams stumble their way through bad plays, turnovers and penalties. The second bringing out more of the point production that was supposed to make this a high-scoring shootout.
In the end, it was the Cardinals who came out on top in exciting fashion, blocking an overtime punt attempt and walking the recovery into the end zone to take the 30-24 victory.
Dallas came into the game ranked third in the NFL with 407.4 yards per game on offense while Arizona was fifth, averaging 376.8 yards per game. The Cowboys also started the day ranked second in the league with 30.2 points per game, while the Cardinals were fifth again at 29.4 points.
But for the first 30 minutes, only two touchdowns were scored, compared to 10 penalties for 70 yards combined and one interception and two fumbles. The Cowboys managed 166 yards of total offense in that half with Arizona tacking on only 75.
In the second half and overtime, though, Dallas totaled 208 yards of offense, including 169 yards in the air, on their way to 17 points, while the Cardinals earned 201 yards and 23 points. Neither team turned over the ball in the second half.
Still, although Dallas maintained the advantage in most offensive categories, it was the home team Cardinals who came out on top in dramatic fashion.
While kickoff coverage was a concern for the Cowboys during the preseason, the problems seemed to be rectified during the first four games on the schedule. But against Cincinnati a week ago, the special teams unit struggled. Things didn't improve much in the dessert.
On the opening kickoff, J.J. Arrington took Nick Folk's kick at his own seven-yard line and bolted 93 yards for a touchdown and quick lead just 16 seconds into the game. Arrington took the ball up the left sideline and then cut back across field, scampering untouched to paydirt.
Put in an early 7-0 hole, quarterback Tony Romo and his offense took the field at their own 32 and tried to establish the ground game with Pro Bowler Marion Barber gaining short yardage on the first two runs. But after a delay of game penalty, Romo's pass to Terrell Owens on third and 12 fell incomplete, bringing on Mat McBriar for a 58-yard punt.
Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner made his debut in the game, getting his club started at the Arizona 25. But, the defense held the home team's high-powered offense to a three and out, the Cowboys taking over at their own 28 after Adam "Pacman" Jones ran the Dirk Johnson punt back a short eight yards.
On second down of their next possession, the Cowboys caught a break after Romo was sacked and, in the process, fumbled the ball. Fortunately, the whistle blew early, the quarterback having already been ruled down, so Dallas held onto the ball. Faced with a third and 19, Romo again tried to go to Owens, this time on the left sideline, but overshot his target, throwing out of bounds.
A booming 61-yard punt by McBriar, followed by an illegal block in the back penalty on the Cardinals, got Warner and Company started on their own 21 for their second series of the game. After running back Edgerrin James picked up four yards and a short pass to Steve Breaston brought third and five, Warner fumbled the ball, cornerback Anthony Henry coming out with the trophy after a fierce battle at the bottom of the pile.
But whatever momentum might have been captured was instantly lost when on the very next play, Romo went back to pass and was stripped from behind by defensive end Bert Berry, fumbling the ball again. This time there was no whistle to save him as defensive end Antonio Smith pounced on it to give possession and momentum right back to Arizona.
On first down at their own 28, Warner hit Breaston for 16 yards and an immediate first down at their own 44. That would be as far as they'd get, though, as nose tackle Jay Ratliff batted down the ball on third and eight to bring on the punting units. After the Dirk Johnson kick went out of bounds, Dallas took over at their own 20.
It would be a quick three and out for the Cowboys as two Barber runs went for only four yards combined and a pass attempt to Jason Witten went off the tight end's fingertips. A shorter kick by McBriar and eight-yard return by Breaston got Arizona going again on their won 38.
Warner tried to go for it all on the team's first snap of the possession, but pressure by Marcus Spears caused Warner to miss his target. Instead he overthrew his wide receiver Breaston and into the waiting arms of safety Ken Hamlin, who grabbed Dallas' second interception of the season.
Romo hit Witten for a quick nine yards and then rookie running back Felix Jones got his first taste of action in the game, picking up a first down on his initial carry and then later rushing for three more yards two plays later. But faced with third and two, Romo missed wide receiver Patrick Crayton streaking down the right sideline to bring on McBriar again.
After the touchback, the Cardinals got started on their own 20, then marched backwards 10 yards with a holding call and five more with an illegal man downfield on an attempted screen play. A shovel pass to Hightower got seven of it back, giving Warner a second and 23 as the first quarter came to a close.
Turnovers were the name of the game in the first 15 minutes as neither of the high-powered offenses did much. Dallas earned only 17 total yards and Arizona just 33 with both teams collecting one first down each, but neither having converted on third down.
A 10-yard pass to Larry Fitzgerald brought them to third and 13, but a dump off to wide receiver Jerheme Urban didn't pick up the needed yardage and the punt units came on.
Pacman Jones made a nice run of nine yards on the return, but an illegal block in the back on Bobby Carpenter brought the ball back to the 14 as the Dallas offense took the field.
Barber did most of the work on the Cowboys next possession, running the ball four times and also catching a pair of passes to pick up two first downs and move his team out to their own 43. But Dallas couldn't get into Cardinals' territory and so McBriar again had to punt, this time a short 23-yard flare that put Arizona at their own 34.
Warner finally got his team into Dallas territory when he hit Breaston on a 23-yard route across the middle to move down to the Dallas 41. After picking up six more yards, the Cardinals set up to go for it on fourth and four, but a false-start penalty forced them back five yards and brought out Johnson to punt. Crayton, back for his first return of the game, called for the fair catch, setting up the Cowboys at their own nine.
On second and nine, Romo went back to pass in his own end zone, but was hit by defensive tackle Darnell Dockett and appeared to have fumbled yet again. Antonio Smith was there to recover it for the defensive touchdown, but head coach Wade Phillips threw the red flag to have the play reviewed. After looking at the video, the "Tuck" rule was invoked, waving off the touchdown and giving possession back to the Cowboys.
Given new life, Romo hit Crayton on the very next play streaking across the middle for a 24-yard gain and breathing room out to the 34. A false start penalty and a holding call seemed to stall the drive, but a 19-yard screen pass to Barber set up third and two with under two minutes remaining. Romo then picked up the first down by tossing the ball out to Barber in the left flat for a short three-yard gain at the 45.
With 1:10 on the clock, Romo came out of a timeout and found Crayton flying across the middle of the field. Catching the ball in stride, Crayton made two moves to avoid tacklers, then raced to the left corner of the end zone to complete the 55-yard score. Folk added the extra point to tie the game at 7-7. In all, the drive went 91 yard on seven plays in just under four minutes.
And then the Cowboys kickoff coverage unit got a little redemption. A short pooch kick by Folk was muffed by the Cardinals' Calais Campbell and was recovered by rookie Tashard Choice, giving Dallas possession on the Arizona 27 with 56 seconds left to play.
Romo had Miles Austin open on a post pattern in the end zone, but couldn't quite connect with his receiver. The quarterback then hit Owens on a short pass, but missed the same target on third down to bring out Folk for a 37-yard field goal. Surprisingly, the sure-footed kicker hit the left upright, his first missed field goal of the season, keeping the score tied.
The crazy first half concluded with Dallas holding the advantage in first downs (6 to 2), total yards (166 to 75) and time of possession (18:11 to 11:49). Romo was 11-for-19 for 145 yards and one touchdown with Barber leading all rushers with 26 yards on 10 carries. Barber also had 39 yards on five pass receptions as Crayton led every receivers with 84 yards on three catches.
For Arizona, Warner was 7-for-11 for 59 yards, his primary target being Breaston, who has 40 yards in receiving on three grabs. James totaled 15 yards on the ground on six carries.
Dallas got the second half underway with Felix Jones running back the kickoff 22 yards to the 23. An impressive nine-yard catch by Owens on second down moved the chains once, then a 10-yard reception again by Owens on second and eight, kept the team moving downfield to the 47.
On the next play, Romo threw to Barber on a short pass over the middle, who was then stripped of the ball. But, tackle Marc Colombo was there to fall on it, to maintain possession.
Felix Jones got Dallas deeper into Cardinals territory with a 14-yard run around the left end to the Arizona 35. Owens then stayed in the flow with an eight-yard reception, which was followed two plays later by a 10-yard catch by Witten on a crossing route.
Set up with first down on the Arizona 20, Barber powered up the middle for six yards. Romo then had tight end Martellus Bennett wide open on the left side for what would have been a touchdown, but the rookie dropped the ball. Not to worry, on the very next play, Romo went back to the left side, this time to Austin, who caught the ball at the one and tiptoed just inside the pylon for the score. After a false start call, Folk's extra point was pushed back five yards but was still good, giving Dallas the lead, their first of the game, 14-7.
The Cardinals started their next drive in good field position at the 40 when Folk's kickoff bounced out of bounds, but appeared to shoot themselves in the foot with a pair of penalties to bring up a third and 17. Faced with the long yardage, Warner was able to hit Hightower on a short screen, the speedy back racing up the left sideline for the 17 yards and the first down.
Three plays later, on third and six, Warner hit Breaston cutting across the middle for a 22-yard gain and the ball on the Cowboys 24. That was followed by a quick out to Arrington who added 10 more yards to the Dallas 14.
Hightower picked up four yards, but an offside call on the Cowboys gave them second and one at the five-yard line. Warner threw a fade to Fitzgerald in the back right corner of the end zone, and the receiver came down with the ball for what was initially called a touchdown. Again, coach Phillips threw the red flag to review and video replay showed Fitzgerald stepped on the line with his second foot, wiping the score off the board.
On third and one, Warner handed off to Hightower, who went three yards to set up a first and goal. Warner then tried the same fade route to Fitzgerald in the right back corner of the end zone, and this time, Fitzgerald came down with the ball and both feet in the end zone. Neil Rackers tacked on the extra point to tie the game at 14-14 with 3:21 left in the third quarter. The drive went 60 yards in 11 plays, eating up 4:50 off the clock.
Arizona tried a little trickery on the ensuing kickoff, Rackers chipping an onside boot that went to no avail. Choice was there again on special teams, coming down with the ball to give Dallas great field position at the Cardinals 46.
Two plays later, the Cowboys had a first and 10 and the 32, but that was quickly erased when consecutive sacks on second and third downs took Dallas out of field goal range and forced the punt. McBriar's punt went 37 yards with the Cowboys wrapping up Breaston for a one-yard gain at the Cardinals 11.
A penalty on Breaston for illegal formation pushed the home team back five yards, but the receiver made up for it on the next play with a lengthy 17-yard catch from Warner to move Arizona out to the 23-yard line as the third quarter came to a close.
In the quarter, the Cardinals narrowed the offensive gap, picking up eight first downs to Dallas' six and totaling 148 yards to the Cowboys' 93.
Warner opened the final frame by throwing a jump ball up to Fitzgerald who leaped high over Henry to come down with the prize for a 39-yard reception and a first down at the Dallas 38.
The march continued with another first down just two plays later, which was followed three plays after that with Warner finding Breaston on a post route in the end zone for an 11-yard strike and six points. Rackers hit the extra point to regain the lead, 21-14.
Austin, on his first kickoff return of the day, scooted around the left corner for a 32-yard pickup, setting up Dallas at their own 33. The Cowboys were unable to make any progress, going three and out, which brought in McBriar for the seventh time. Breaston brought the ball back 15 yards, but an illegal block in the back penalty on Courtney Brown tacked on 10 more yards, giving Arizona the ball at their 34.
Dallas held the Cardinals to just three yards on their first two snaps, but on third down, Warner found Fitzgerald downfield for a 16-yard catch in traffic, a first down at the Cowboys 47-yard line. Fitzgerald then made another nice 12-yard catch on the left sideline to get his team to the Dallas 28.
There, the Dallas defense held, bringing out Rackers for a 41-yard field goal. The kicker split the uprights to give the Cardinals a 24-14 lead with 3:17 left in the game.
Austin went back for the kickoff and brought the ball out to the 25-yard line. A short passes to Witten and Barber brought a quick first down, but a holding call on tackle Flozell Adams on the next play took them back 10 yards and set up first and 20 at the 35.
Two plays later, that potent offense of the Cowboys struck again. Romo hit Barber with a short dump off, but the running back turned and raced down the left sideline, breaking tackles and then cutting across the middle to bolt all the way to the end zone for a 70-yard score. The touchdown brought the score to 24-21 with just two minutes left.
An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on guard Leonard Davis on the touchdown celebration moved the kickoff back 15 yards, possibly eliminating the onside kick. Folk instead kicked away, albeit short, with the Cardinals taking over at their own 43.
But the Dallas defense held again, DeMarcus Ware sacking Warner on third and seven to bring on the punt unit. Pacman Jones took the return 11 yards to set Romo up at the Dallas 32 for one final drive.
A holding call on first down moved the team back 10 yards to make the job even tougher. That was then followed by Romo dumping off to Barber for a short four-yard gain, who got out of bounds with 38 seconds on the clock.
Safety Adrian Wilson tipped away Romo's attempt to Crayton on second down, then an offside call on Arizona gave Dallas a third and 11. Romo then hit Witten on a 30-yard strike to get Dallas across midfield to the Cardinals 39, setting up Folk for a 52-yard field goal with just four seconds left on the clock.
There was some confusion prior to the final kick because an injured Cardinals player, Travis LaBoy, was behind the line of scrimmage when Romo ran up to spike the ball on the play previous. An offside penalty was called moving the ball up five yards to slightly shorten the distance for Folk.
Right before the ball was snapped for the final play, the Cardinals called timeout to freeze Folk, which was a break for the Cowboys as on that first attempt, Folk's kick was blocked by Arizona. Given a second chance, Folk split the uprights to tie the game 24-24 as regulation time expired.
Austin took the overtime kickoff from Rackers out to the 22, but the Cowboys went backwards seven yards when Romo was sacked. He actually fumbled on the play, but was able to fall on it to maintain possession. Incompletions on the next two snaps brought on McBriar for the punt.
And just like that it was over. Storming off the left edge, Sean Morey smothered the punt and Arizona's Monty Beisel scooped up the block and walked into the end zone to give the Cardinals the 30-24 overtime victory.
Overall for the game, Dallas finished with 374 yards of total offense, 301 of which came in the air. Romo went 24-for-39 for 321 yards and three touchdowns. He also snapped his interception streak at eight games, as he avoided throwing the pick.
Barber actually led all receivers with 128 yards on 11 catches and tacked on another 45 yards off of 17 runs. Crayton added 84 yards on three receptions with Witten and Owens each catching four balls for 55 and 36 yards, respectively.
For the Cardinals, they totaled 276 yards of offense. Warner finished 22-for-30 in the game for 236 yards with Breaston the primary recipient, catching 8 throws for 102 yards. Fitzgerald also hauled in five catches for 79 yards. On the ground, James totaled just 29 yards on nine attempts as the Dallas defense held Arizona to just 50 yards rushing.
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