Cardinals outlast Cowboys in overtime thriller on Sunday
ARLINGTON (Interstat) — Gardner Minshew II threw three touchdown passes, including the tying score in the final seconds of regulation, and Chad Ryland kicked a 42-yard field goal in overtime to lift the Arizona Cardinals past the Dallas Cowboys 33-30 on Sunday at AT&T Stadium. The Cardinals improved to 3-5, and the Cowboys dropped to 3-5 before an announced attendance of 90,763. Arizona won despite Dallas controlling much of the first three quarters and despite a missed extra point that kept the game tied at the end of regulation.
Dallas opened the scoring late in the first quarter when Javonte Williams ran 2 yards for a touchdown. The Cowboys extended their lead in the second quarter when Dak Prescott found Ryan Flournoy for a 9-yard touchdown pass. Dallas led 14-0 before Arizona got on the board on Ryland’s 37-yard field goal just before halftime. Dallas added a 31-yard field goal by Brandon Aubrey in the third quarter before Arizona answered with Tyler Allgeier’s 63-yard touchdown run. The Cowboys moved back in front when Prescott scrambled 5 yards for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter.
Arizona’s comeback began in earnest when Minshew hit Allgeier for a 5-yard touchdown pass. Aubrey’s 35-yard field goal pushed Dallas ahead again, but Minshew answered with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Trey McBride. Aubrey made a 41-yard field goal with 1:09 remaining to give Dallas a 30-27 lead. Minshew then drove Arizona into scoring position and connected with Michael Wilson for a 13-yard touchdown with 6 seconds left. Ryland’s extra point missed wide left, leaving the score tied at 30 and sending the game to overtime.
In overtime, Arizona’s defense held Dallas without a score, and Ryland made the decisive 42-yard field goal with 2:53 remaining in the extra period. The kick capped a back-and-forth finish in which the lead changed hands and both teams produced late scoring drives. Arizona finished with 33 points and Dallas with 30, but the final margin was decided by Ryland’s overtime kick after his missed extra point had threatened to cost the Cardinals.
Minshew completed 17 of 23 passes for 188 yards and three touchdowns for Arizona. Jacoby Brissett also saw work at quarterback and completed 10 of 23 passes for 119 yards while adding three carries for 7 yards. Allgeier’s 63-yard touchdown run was Arizona’s biggest explosive play, and McBride and Wilson came through with key scoring catches in the fourth quarter. Elijah Higgins added two receptions for 10 yards, and Devin Duvernay contributed two catches for 14 yards, four kickoff returns for 75 yards and two punt returns for 12 yards. Kendrick Bourne had a 29-yard reception, and Simi Fehoko added a 17-yard catch.
Prescott completed 19 of 29 passes for 195 yards and one touchdown for Dallas and ran seven times for 20 yards and another score. Ryan Flournoy scored on his 9-yard reception and finished with three catches for 38 yards, one carry for 3 yards and a kickoff return for 19 yards. CeeDee Lamb caught seven passes for 58 yards, and George Pickens added two receptions for 48 yards. Brevyn Spann-Ford had four catches for 31 yards. Javonte Williams carried 24 times for 56 yards and a touchdown, while Tyler Goodson had seven carries for 14 yards, two catches for 19 yards and three kickoff returns for 104 yards. Bryan Anger punted four times for 175 yards.
Dallas’s defense got a strong game from Shemar James, who had nine tackles and an interception. Quinnen Williams recorded seven tackles and two sacks, and DeMarvion Overshown and P.J. Locke each made eight tackles. Malik Hooker had seven tackles, and Elijah Garcia added six. Donovan Ezeiruaku, James Houston and Von Miller each recorded a sack, with Ezeiruaku finishing with three tackles, Houston with two tackles and Miller with one. DaRon Bland, Caleb Downs, Markquese Bell, Juanyeh Thomas, Justin Barron and Kenny Clark were among the Cowboys defenders who contributed multiple stops. Brandon Aubrey made three of four field goals for Dallas.
Arizona’s defense was led by Jack Gibbens, who made 11 tackles. Mack Wilson Sr. had eight tackles, while Budda Baker and Andrew Wingard each made seven. Josh Sweat recorded six tackles and a sack, and Dante Stills added six tackles. Andrew Billings had five tackles and a sack, Darius Robinson made five tackles and Elijah Higgins chipped in on special teams. The Cardinals limited Dallas enough in overtime to set up Ryland’s winning kick after the Cowboys had moved the ball effectively for much of regulation.
Arizona’s victory came after a difficult stretch that included losses to Denver, the Los Angeles Rams, Detroit, the New York Giants, San Francisco and Seattle, with a win at the Los Angeles Chargers earlier in the season. Dallas had entered after a win at Philadelphia and a loss at Green Bay, and the Cowboys also had earlier results against Tampa Bay, Houston, Baltimore, Washington and the New York Giants. Both teams now sit at 3-5 as they move deeper into the season. Arizona will visit Seattle next, and Dallas will visit Indianapolis next.
Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Dallas 53, Arizona 28. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Dallas with an 83.1 percent probability to win. Dallas had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -6.5. The total score of 63 went under the over/under line of 54.5.