Marvin Harrison Jr. showcased an impressive performance, playing a significant role in the Arizona Cardinals’ victory over the Dallas Cowboys with a score of 27-17. The game, held on a Monday night, was highlighted by backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett, who stepped in for Kyler Murray. Brissett not only threw for two touchdowns but also contributed a rushing touchdown, marking his third consecutive start during a challenging season for the Cardinals.
Initially, there were expectations that Murray, who has been sidelined due to a foot injury, would return after a bye week. However, Coach Jonathan Gannon opted to continue with Brissett, stating that Murray was not quite prepared to take the field. This marked a crucial win for the Cardinals, improving their record to 3-5 and only their second victory in the last 18 games when Murray was either absent or limited in play.
On the other hand, the Cowboys, who also hold a record of 3-5-1, struggled to maintain the momentum they had gained from a special teams play, where Sam Williams blocked a punt that was recovered for a touchdown by Marshawn Kneeland. Following that scoring play, the Cowboys failed to halt the Cardinals, who executed two lengthy touchdown drives surrounding halftime, leaving Dallas trailing significantly at 24-7.
Harrison Jr. made headlines with a career-best performance, hauling in seven receptions for 96 yards. His notable contributions included a pivotal four-yard catch that resulted in the game’s opening touchdown. Additionally, tight end Trey McBride joined the scoring frenzy with a 12-yard touchdown reception.
Dallas had opportunities to score early in the game, advancing to the Arizona seven-yard line on their opening drive. However, they squandered that chance when Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott was sacked on a crucial fourth down by Josh Sweat, one of the defensive standouts with two sacks, along with Calais Campbell, who also recorded two sacks in his 250th career regular-season game.
The Cowboys struggled offensively, managing only three points in their first three drives inside the Arizona 25-yard line, which contributed to their considerable 17-point deficit as they entered the fourth quarter. They could have narrowed the gap early in the final quarter with a field goal attempt, but Prescott’s pass to CeeDee Lamb fell incomplete on a pivotal fourth-and-three play, with Dallas finishing the game 0 for 3 on fourth downs.
Despite losing their first two games with Brissett at the helm, he demonstrated solid performance, completing 21 of 31 passes for 261 yards without throwing an interception. In his three games as a starter, he has accumulated 860 passing yards, six touchdowns, and just one interception.
For context, Kyler Murray, the first overall pick in the 2019 draft, has an unbeaten record at AT&T Stadium, where he won state championships in high school, two Big 12 titles with Oklahoma, and has triumphed over the Cowboys twice. However, Brissett now boasts a 1-0 record as a starter against Dallas.
The Cowboys’ hopes for a comeback were dashed after they lost a fumble late in the game. Running back Javonte Williams had the football stripped away during a short catch, leading to the final moments of despair for Dallas. Prescott, despite a strong offensive reputation, managed only one touchdown pass, which came in the fourth quarter — a five-yard connection for Ryan Flournoy’s first career touchdown, following a week where he didn’t throw any touchdowns at all.
The Cardinals had a rocky start to the season, beginning with two wins before enduring a five-game losing streak, where they lost by a mere total of 13 points. Gannon, in his new role as head coach, celebrated his first victory against the Cowboys two years ago, part of a tenure that began with a disappointing 1-8 record.
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