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Instant Reaction: Cardinals Crush Cowboys

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Alex D’Agostino Avatar

Arizona Cardinals DL Walter Nolen III.

For the first time in over a month, the Arizona Cardinals will be heading home victorious, taking down the Dallas Cowboys by a sturdy score of 27-17. For the first time all season, Arizona found itself in victory formation to run out the clock — fully in control of their destiny.

It was a matchup that offered a more favorable outlook to Jacoby Brissett and Arizona’s offense, and they took full advantage. Brissett was in command, feeding his playmakers and making accurate throws downfield.

Brissett threw for 261 yards on 21-of-31 passing with two passing touchdowns and one on the ground. Marvin Harrison Jr. recorded a career-high seven receptions for 96 yards and a touchdown.

Arizona ran the ball well in addition. Behind Emari Demercado and Bam Knight, the Cardinals rushed for 119 yards — a 4.1 yard per carry clip. It might not have been James Conner rumbling down the field, but they were able to move the ball consistently all night.

Of course, with franchise QB Kyler Murray still sidelined, the QB controversy talks will only grow louder after another excellent performance by Brissett (and, of course, a win).

But for as good a night as Arizona’s offense had, it was their defense that stepped up to make plays in the fourth quarter — a quarter that has been nothing short of a horror story for all seven games previously played.

Cardinals’ Defense Closes

The Cardinals’ defense was stout in the first half, holding what had been a scorching-hot Cowboys offense to only three offensive points, including a fourth down stop in the red zone and a fumble recovery.

But after they finally did allow Dak Prescott to find the end zone early in the fourth, it was then that a switch appeared to flip. Rookie LB Cody Simon made a play, ripping the ball out of RB Javonte Williams’ hands to halt a promising Dallas drive.

It was also encouraging to see first-round draft pick Walter Nolen III — making his season debut after a lengthy return from injury — have an instant impact. Nolen recorded four tackles, including two tackles-for-loss, swatted down a pass, and managed his first career sack — in a crucial, late-game drive.

On the other end of the age spectrum, Calais Campbell had two sacks — both on the final drive, setting up CB Denzel Burke to seal it with a fourth-down interception.

The Cowboys may not be a good football team, but they are a good offense. Nick Rallis and Jonathan Gannon clearly put together an excellent game plan to hold Dallas to only 10 offensive points, and the execution was there in all facets. Arizona did not commit an (accepted) defensive penalty for the duration. The Cardinals came to play disciplined, focused and ready to right their previous wrongs.

For as bleak as it looks, a game like Monday night’s does not happen with a locker room that is hopeless or in the early stages of a mutiny against its head coach. There is still fire in the gut of these players, with five ugly losses now behind them. The Cardinals have not given up, yet.

At 3-5, it still feels as if the season will be extremely tough to salvage (if not impossible). But Monday’s win goes a long way toward Arizona proving (both to fans and themselves) their ability to not only play well for four quarters, but truly utilize their weapons properly on both sides of the football.

It was a game that truly never felt close, even if the familiar anxiety began to arise as Dallas moved the ball late. But the Cardinals did not look anxious. They played like there was a plan, and it was a good plan.