Trivia Thursday: Dallas-Arizona rivalry answers 

1) Which current Cowboys coordinator was the Cardinals' offensive line coach the last two seasons?

After serving as Arizona's offensive line coach during the 2023-24 seasons, Klayton Adams came to Dallas to be the Cowboys' offensive coordinator. It's no coincidence that in his two years with the Cardinals, their running game ranked fourth and seventh in yards gained, and now in his first season in Dallas, the Cowboys' rushing attack is among the league's top 10 in yards per carry.

2) Emmitt Smith, the NFL's all-time leading rusher, finished his Hall of Fame career with two seasons in Arizona. How many rushing yards did he gain in his only game against the Cowboys, played on Oct. 5, 2003?

It was a tough afternoon for Smith when he had to line up against his old team. He carried the ball only six times for minus-1 yard before leaving the game due to an injury. Meanwhile, the Cowboys got two touchdown passes from Quincy Carter and a pair of field goals from Billy Cundiff on the way to a 24-7 victory.

DT Daleroy Stewart of the Dallas Cowboys sacks QB Jeff Blake 3) In that same game, the Cowboys tied what franchise record?

In the third quarter of Dallas' win over the Cardinals, defensive tackle La'Roi Glover and defensive end Kenyon Coleman both sacked Arizona quarterback Jeff Blake in the end zone for a safety. That marked only the second time in club history the team has recorded two safeties in the same game (also Nov. 19, 1972 vs. Philadelphia).

4) This unlikely player led the Cowboys to a 37-13 victory over the Cardinals on Christmas Day 1995 with 307 total yards, the second-highest mark for a game in franchise history.

Wide receiver Kevin Williams was practically unstoppable as he hauled in nine passes for 203 yards, which included 48- and 25-yard touchdown catches. But that wasn't all. He also had three carries for 21 rushing yards and returned four kickoffs for another 83. At the time, his 307 yards overall set a team record for the most in a single game, and it's still the second-highest mark in club history books.

5) Which Cowboys player returned a fumble 98 yards for a touchdown against Arizona on Oct. 3, 1999, the longest fumble return in team record books.

With the Cowboys already comfortably ahead, 28-7, in the fourth quarter, defensive end Greg Ellis ended any hopes of a Cardinals comeback when he picked up a fumble at his own 2-yard line and rumbled the length of the field for a 98-yard touchdown return. The scoop-and-score was the only one of Ellis' 12-season career.

6) True or False. In the Cowboys' very first appearance on Monday Night Football, they were shut out by the Cardinals, 38-0, on Nov. 16, 1970.

True. The Cowboys seemingly didn't have much interest in being a part of a Monday night affair as they allowed 242 yards rushing and turned the ball over six times. It got so bad that fans started chanting for Don Meredith, the former Dallas quarterback who was now in the Monday Night Football TV booth. One good thing did come out of this debacle, though. The embarrassed Cowboys rallied, particularly the defense, and won their next seven games by a combined score of 175-46 to reach Super Bowl V.

7) This running back scored four touchdowns against the Cardinals on Dec. 18, 1971, tying Cowboys records for touchdowns and points in a game. This was the final regular-season game of a campaign that would see the Cowboys eventually win the club's first Lombardi Trophy and the Cardinals miss the playoffs. Meaning, Duane Thomas more or less could do what he wanted in this one, racking up 144 yards from scrimmage with three rushing scores and a receiving touchdown in a 31-12 victory. Thomas is one of seven players in franchise history to have scored four touchdowns and 24 points in a single game.

8) Which Cowboys player returned a kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown against the Cardinals on Sept. 28, 1975, and upon doing so, celebrated by becoming the first player in NFL history to dunk the football over the goalpost?

One of the best pure athletes in team history, Thomas "Hollywood" Henderson took a handoff from Rolly Woolsey on a reverse kickoff return and sprinted down the left sideline untouched for what is still tied for the 10th-longest kickoff return in Cowboys record books. And not only did he outrace the coverage, but he then dunked the football over the goalpost … as a 6-foot-2, 221-pound rookie linebacker.

9) In that same 1975 game, this Cowboys tight end led the team with 100 receiving yards and scored the game-winning touchdown in a 37-31 overtime win.

The Cowboys were ahead, 31-17, early in the fourth quarter when the visiting Cardinals mounted a comeback, scoring 14 points to tie the game in regulation. But Billy Joe DuPree hauled in a 6-yard pass from Roger Staubach in overtime to send the fans home happy. In doing so, he hit triple-digits in receiving yards for the first time in his career, one of only two times during his 11 seasons in Dallas he reached the mark.

10) How many years were the Cardinals and Cowboys in the same division?

In the 66-year history of the Cowboys, they have been in the same division with the Cardinals in 38 of those. The 13th team in the augural season of 1960, Dallas was in the NFL West but was moved to the NFL East the next year and battled St. Louis for division rights from 1961-66. The league was realigned in 1967 with the Cowboys in the Capitol division and the Cardinals playing in the Century, but in 1970, with the AFL merger complete, they were both put in the NFC East, where they would stay for 32 years, 1970-2001. When the Houston Texans joined the NFL in 2002, the divisions were realigned again, and the Cardinals, now in Arizona, were moved to the NFC West.

11) True or false. The Cowboys have played more overtime games against the Cardinals than any other team.

True. These two teams have needed an extra quarter six times in their series history, which is more than the New York Giants (5), Philadelphia (4) or Washington (4). Unfortunately, Dallas has gone just 2-4 in these games and have not won an overtime affair against the Cardinals since Oct. 15, 1978. Roger Staubach threw for 289 yards and three touchdowns in that one, but Rafael Septien (pictured) played the hero, kicking a 47-yard field goal in OT to seal the win.

12) One of those overtime games, played on Oct. 12, 2008, at Arizona, saw the Cowboys lose in a most peculiar fashion. What was it?

Nick Folk kicked a 52-yard field goal as time expired in the fourth quarter to tie the game, 24-24. But just one minute into overtime, the Cardinals blocked a punt, scooped up the ball and then returned it for the winning touchdown, the only time in NFL history a game has been decided in overtime by a blocked punt. It's also the first game in NFL history to start and end with a special teams score as the Cardinals returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown. Even worse, Cowboys punter Mat McBriar was injured and lost for the season on the play while quarterback Tony Romo was also hurt on the team's final possession and missed the next three games.

13) Who was the best player the Cowboys ever signed during the Plan B era of NFL free agency, stealing him away from the Cardinals in 1990?

From 1989-92, the NFL instituted Plan B free agency where each team could protect 37 of its 47 players on the roster, which left the other 10 available to sign with any other club. When the Cardinals didn't protect tight end Jay Novacek, the Cowboys took advantage of their mistake. He would go on to help Dallas capture three Lombardi Trophies while also earning five consecutive trips to the Pro Bowl from 1991-95 and an All-Pro nod in 1992. Novacek is still third among Cowboys tight ends with 3,576 career receiving yards.

13) Who was the best player the Cowboys ever signed during the Plan B era of NFL free agency, stealing him away from the Cardinals in 1990?

From 1989-92, the NFL instituted Plan B free agency where each team could protect 37 of its 47 players on the roster, which left the other 10 available to sign with any other club. When the Cardinals didn't protect tight end Jay Novacek, the Cowboys took advantage of their mistake. He would go on to help Dallas capture three Lombardi Trophies while also earning five consecutive trips to the Pro Bowl from 1991-95 and an All-Pro nod in 1992. Novacek is still third among Cowboys tight ends with 3,576 career receiving yards.

15) Which Cowboys wide receiver set a career high with 210 receiving yards in a Sept 20, 1992, victory over the Cardinals?

Michael Irvin has admitted he was having a tough time getting up for this matchup against the struggling Cardinals. That is until a Phoenix defensive back decided to talk trash at midfield during pregame warmups. Big mistake. Given the spark he needed, Irvin erupted for a career-high 210 receiving yards – still the 11-highest total in team history – to lead Dallas to a 31-20 victory. The future Hall of Famer also had three touchdown catches, equaling his personal best.

16) Other than Emmitt Smith, who is the only player in the Pro Football Hall of Fame to play for the Cowboys and Cardinals?

Jackie Smith, a great tight end who spent most of his career with the Cardinals, who is unfortunately known for a negative play with the Cowboys. Smith dropped a surefire touchdown by Roger Staubach in Super Bowl XIII against the Steelers. The play would've tied the game and the Cowboys had to settle for a field goal in an eventual 35-31 loss. Smith played 15 years with the Cardinals, only joining Dallas for one season in 1978.

17) What undrafted quarterback made his first NFL start against the Cardinals, leading the Cowboys to a 17-3 win, one of just five victories in the 2001 season?

Clint Stoerner, one of the most prolific passers in Arkansas history, joined the Cowboys in 2000 and eventually started two games in 2001, the first against the Cardinals.

18) Jason Garrett's playing career is known mostly for his Thanksgiving Day win over the Packers in 1994. But his first career start occurred against the Cardinals in 1993. What veteran relieved him in the first half and finished the game?

Bernie Kosar was signed earlier that week to help the Cowboys after Troy Aikman's injury. While Garrett got the start, Kosar finished the job, leading the Cowboys to a 20-15 win.

19) In that 1993 win, what player had the longest play from scrimmage for his career, catching an 86-yard pass?

Emmitt Smith became the NFL's all-time leading rusher, but he could catch out of the backfield, too. Against the Cardinals, Smith caught a short dump-off pass from Kosar and turned it in an 86-yard gain to the 2-yard line.

20) Who has the most rushing TDs by any Cowboys quarterback but has just one against the Cardinals?

Dak Prescott flipped over Cardinals defenders for this touchdown in 2017 on Monday Night Football. Prescott has 30 rushing touchdowns in his career, more than any other Cowboys quarterback.