It was a slow start for the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday but they finished strong in defeating the Dallas Cowboys
The Arizona Cardinals started the game against the Dallas Cowboys like they hadn’t woken up yet. After falling behind 10-0 quickly thanks mostly to a 58-yard Tyler Patmon interception return for touchdown. Quarterback Carson Palmer was hurried a lot early. In the end though it was the Cards on top 28-17 and they leave Dallas with a 7-1 record.
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After the interception the Cards were able to move the ball and today scored touchdowns instead of kicking field goals. That was huge, especially on the road. Palmer threw three touchdown passes. Again, they showed the range of weapons they have. Three different receivers caught touchdowns. Tight end John Carlson, running back Andre Ellington, and receiver Jaron Brown all got touchdown grabs.
The Cardinals got a fourth touchdown. It was on the ground and not by Ellington. Running back Marion Grice, from Arizona State, got his first regular-season action and carried the ball into the end zone for his first professional touchdown.
The Cardinals defense was phenomenal. Defensive tackle Dan Williams led the team with seven tackles. He also got his first sack of the season as well. Two of his seven tackles were for a loss. Also safety Tyrann Mathieu played well. He had five tackles and an interception. Cornerback Antonio Cromartie has another interception.
Then there was the rushing defense. They held Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray to his first sub-100-yard game of the season. He had 19 carries for 79 yards. He ran a few big ones off but for the most part the Cardinals did the job they needed to do to win.
The Cardinals special teams played well. Cornerback Justin Bethel has a blocked field goal that was almost returned for a touchdown by cornerback Patrick Peterson at the end of the first half. It initially appeared Peterson would score but he got caught. The play certainly helped change momentum though.
With Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo out, the job was left to Brandon Weeden. he wasn’t horrible but he certainly didn’t not play great. He didn’t find his big receivers in Dez Bryant and Terrance Williams until the game had been decided late in the fourth quarter. He went 18-33 for 183 yards with one touchdown late and two interceptions.
As for Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer, he shook off the early pick and finished 22-34 for 249 yards with the three touchdowns and the one interception. He didn’t let the big early pick get to his head and kept his team in the game and even though the offense stalled a bit in the third quarter, they were able to punch in two scores in the fourth quarter to put the Cowboys away.
Also on offense running back Andre Ellington played well for the Cardinals. He carried the ball 21 times for 95 yards. He had the one score via pass reception. He had a long run of 20 yards.
Now the Cardinals come home to face the St. Louis Rams next week. They are currently playing this afternoon at the San Francisco 49ers.