Photo by Andre Odums/ossports
Arlington, Tx – Kyler Murray has observed better days. However, he left AT&T Stadium similarly as he appeared in the three years when he competed at nearby Allen high school. A winner.
Just before Murray discovered his rhythm, the Cardinals defense staked out the Cowboys offense, seizing four turnovers in routing Dallas 38-10 on Monday.
Safety Buda Allen, linebackers Dennis Gardeck, Jordan Hicks, Haason Reddick, defensive linemen Zach Allen, Angelo Blackson, and Jordan Phillips administered pressure on the Cowboys offense shortly after the whistle sounded. It harassed backup quarterback Andy Dalton, who made his first start in place of injured Dak Prescott, sacking him three times and at decisive moments, getting rid of the ball before plays developed. Ezekiel Elliott never got going, rushing 12 times for 49 yards and fumbling twice.
Tailback Kenyan Drake had his way with the Cowboys defense, piling up 164 yards on 20 carries and two touchdowns. Receiver Christian Kirk finished with 86 yards on two receptions and two scores.
Meanwhile, Murray struggled in the pocket over and under throwing receivers, yet Dallas miscues benefited the Cardinals. He finished 9-of-24 with 188 yards, two touchdowns, and rushed for a score.
Dallas started sluggishly and never recovered. On its third possession, 4-time All-Pro right guard Zack Martin left the game with a concussion. Also, Buda Baker strip tackled Elliott, separating him from the ball, after catching a screen pass from Dalton. Phillips came away with the loose ball at the Arizona 46.
An evening that went sour suddenly watched Dalton end his day, completing 34-of-54 attempts with 266 yards, two interceptions, and one touchdown. Receiver Amari Cooper caught seven passes for 79 yards and a score.
Murray then fired back-to-back incompletions but used his feet on the next play to scamper to the Dallas 44. Three completions followed, pointing to a fourth down and one. Murray called his number, gaining 11 yards to the seven-yard line. A couple of plays later, Kirk took a quick pass from Murray and turned it into a foot race to the end zone corner. That provided the Cardinals (4-2) with a 7-0 edge after Zane Gonzalez’s extra-point kick.
Immediately after, Elliott fumbled on yet another strip tackle. Phillips jarred the ball loose as cornerback Byron Murphy recovered at the Cowboys 27.
Murray continued to struggle but overcame it. He called his number once again, splitting Dallas defenders while progressing to the one-yard line. Drake capped the possession when he scored from a yard out, extending Arizona’s lead, 14-0 with 10:31 left in the second quarter.
Baker and Reddick maintained its dominance as Baker sacked Dalton. It ultimately assisted in halting Dallas’ drive. Reddick batted away a crucial pass, and CeeDee Lamb’s holding infraction did not improve the Cowboys cause.
Back on offense, the motivated Cardinals watched Murray throw an eighty-yard strike to Kirk, who executed a beautiful fingertip grab to put Arizona up, 21-3 follow Gonzalez’s bonus kick.
Despite sustaining his second sack to Reddick, Dalton directed Dallas (2-4) as Zuerlein booted a 34-yard field goal with ten seconds left in the first half.
The Cardinals made plays in the second half, including defensive back Dre Kirkpatrick’s interception at Arizona’s 21-yard line with 12:25 remaining in the third quarter.
Drake jump-started the frame with two twenty-plus yard carries to the Cowboys 37. Running back Chase Edmonds got in on the action, picking up 21 yards on three carries. Next, Dallas cornerback Jourdan Lewis drew a pass interference call, placing the Cardinals at the one-yard line where Murray scored with 7:53 to go in the third quarter as Arizona expanded its lead, 28-3.
The Cardinals wrapped up things by sacking Dalton on the last play before the third quarter concluded while tallying ten points. Three of the points emerged from a turnover during Baker’s pick of Dalton at Arizona’s ten, and later, Drake exploded through the heart of Dallas defense, sprinting 68 yards to the end zone as the final score displayed 38-10.
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