ARLINGTON, Texas – All week long at the Cowboys’ headquarters, the permeating theme entering Week 17’s NFC high-profile matchup became, “this is a statement game.” The postseason had not officially begun but after Dallas clinched a playoff berth and the NFC east crown, the meeting mirrored a playoff setting as Kyler Murray and the Cardinals rolled into town. However, the Cowboys’ winning streak snapped as Arizona controlled the pace of the ballgame, culminating in a 25-22 victory at AT&T Stadium. Despite the playoff-bound opponent, most of the Cowboys’ woes on Sunday afternoon were self-inflicted. The Cowboys’ offense finally found a rhythm in the fourth quarter materializing in two touchdowns, but by that point, the damage had been done. With both the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Los Angeles Rams winning their matchups earlier in the day, the Cowboys dropped to fourth in NFC standings.
After demoralizing the Washington Football team last week, the Cowboys’ offense once again sputtered. Dak Prescott totaled 150 passing yards through the first three quarters and holding penalties along the offensive line paralyzed what positive plays the offense did have. Drops continued for Prescott’s supporting cast that limited drives and put Dallas behind the chains. The Cowboys were unable to get the ground game going with Prescott finishing with more rushing yards (20) than both backs, Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard.
“Not discouraged, definitively disappointed we didn’t come away with the win but damned sure not discouraged,” Prescott said after the loss. “I know the team we have, what we’ve got. Just simply didn’t get it done as a team, starting with myself, (I’ve) got to be better. All of us, we’ve got to look at ourselves in the mirror and find a way to come out with a win in a game like this.”
On the opposite side of the ball, the defense struggled to generate pressure on Kyler Murray and contain him in the pocket. The elusive speedster ran for 44 yards in addition to 263 yards through the air. Throughout the ballgame, defenders over-pursued and Murray took advantage of open rush lanes along the perimeter. The Cowboys failed to record a takeaway for only the fourth time this season and gave up too many chunk plays downfield.
First Quarter
The Cardinals struck first with a 24-yard field goal. Dallas’ defense was bailed out after giving up a 42-yard completion to A.J. Green. Trevon Diggs got beat on a stutter step and Green moved the Cardinals down the field. Diggs made the tackle at the three-yard line and avoided giving up a touchdown. The first and second series by the Cowboys’ offense was a microcosm of the day. A holding penalty on Tyron Smith stalled the first drive and a false start flag on Tyler Biadasz on the second possession produced the same outcome. Not a winning formula. To make matters worse, Greg Zuerlein missed the 43-yard field goal attempt.
Second Quarter
The debacle continued. A holding penalty on La’el Collins nullified a would-be first down run by Tony Pollard and instead, pushed the Cowboys back to third-and-11. Prescott was sacked on the ensuing play that forced a Cowboys’ punt.
A special teams’ play by C.J. Goodwin made things challenging for Murray and co., pinning the Cardinals at their nine-yard line. However, Arizona managed to methodically march 91 yards to the end zone. Dallas seemingly stopped the Cardinals with a pass breakup by Anthony Brown on third down, forcing a punt. Instead, a fake punt picked up 23 yards and gave Arizona a first down. A pass interference penalty on Donovan Wilson moved the chains for the Cardinals, and eventually the club elected to go for it from fourth and goal. Murray rolled to the left and hit Antoine Wesley to give the Cardinals a 10-0 lead.
Dallas was able to respond with a score of their own to thin the deficit. The Cowboys traveled 77 yards on 11 plays, largely due to a 9-yard gain by Amari Cooper, an 11-yarder by Cedrick Wilson and two defensive pass interference penalties by Arizona. The drive culminated in a 21-yard throw to Michael Gallup. No. 13 showed off his acrobatic skills, spinning around mid-air to haul in the back shoulder pass. However, the points came at a high price. Gallup suffered a serious left knee injury and was ruled out. He will undergo an MRI on Monday to uncover the severity.
Before the half, the Cardinals were able to get in field goal range. Matt Prater drilled a 53-yard try to extend Arizona’s lead 13-7.
Third Quarter
Arizona’s dominance continued in the third. Murray found Christian Kirk for a 43-yard gain that set up Wesley’s second touchdown of the day. The Cardinals failed to convert on the two-point attempt but tacked on three more points on the next possession.
A holding penalty on Connor Williams negated Prescott’s 12-yard scramble on the following drive. Then for the defense, Jayron Kearse had a near-interception in the end zone but was unable to haul in the ball, leading to Prater’s 26-yarder. Before the field goal, the Cowboys had to burn a timeout with confusion by the defense as Murray and Prater came onto the field.
Fourth Quarter
Prior to the end of the third quarter, Arizona punted, and CeeDee Lamb took the return out 17 yards to the Cardinals’ 31-yard line. As the clock transitioned to the fourth period, the Cowboys faced fourth-and-one. Prescott kept it and rushed behind Tyron Smith for the first down. Two plays later, he connected with Cedrick Wilson in the back of the end zone for the Cowboys’ score. Dallas then trailed, 22-14. The Cardinals were forced to punt on the next drive and Dak Prescott once again took over.
When things seemed to have flipped in favor of the Cowboys with a 26-yard strike to CeeDee Lamb over the middle of the field, fate stepped in two plays later. Prescott scrambled up the middle and fumbled. Arizona linebacker Dennis Gardeck recovered at Dallas’ 44-yard line. The Cowboys defense held the Cardinals to a field goal and Prater added three to the scoreboard.
Kellen Moore’s crew answered. Dallas marched down the field on an eight-play, 75-yard drive, highlighted by a trick play. Prescott threw a lateral to Cedrick Wilson, who tossed a deep pass to Tony Pollard for a 31-yard gain. Wilson orchestrated the drive, notching three passes for 15 yards, in addition to the pass to Pollard. Amari Cooper may have hauled in the four-yard touchdown pass, but it was only fitting that Wilson caught the two-point conversion to put the Cowboys to within three points of Arizona.
The Dallas defense nearly made the stop of the day. From first-and-ten, Chase Edmonds fumbled the ball but since the Cowboys were out of timeouts just outside of the two-minute warning, Mike McCarthy could not challenge the play (ruled down on the field) – halting the Cowboys’ comeback bid.
Dallas will now have a quick turnaround to face the Eagles on Saturday night in Week 18 as the postseason nears.
