ARIZONA CARDINALS

Cardinals jump on Cowboys before pace slows in first half

Sep 25, 2017, 6:46 PM | Updated: 10:05 pm

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) dives for a touchdown as Arizona Cardinals cornerback J...

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) dives for a touchdown as Arizona Cardinals cornerback Justin Bethel (28) and strong safety Antoine Bethea, rear, defend during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

The Arizona Cardinals had a 3rd-and-5 just outside the Dallas Cowboys’ 10-yard line to begin the second quarter.

They had a 7-0 lead as well after a dominating the first quarter Monday night by allowing three total yards to the Cowboys. They’d put up 140 yards of their own, but the pace slowed and the fast start wouldn’t lead to more points.

After a flipping of field position and Dallas’ Dak Prescott’s flip into the end zone, the game was tied, 7-7, at halftime of the Cardinals’ 2017 home opener.

Quarterback Carson Palmer was the heart of the fast start, leading Arizona to eight first downs and completing 12-of-13 passes for 135 of those yards. Six of those completions were to Larry Fitzgerald, who recorded a career-high in receptions for a first quarter. Palmer’s 25-yard touchdown pass to Jaron Brown capped the first possession, an eight-play, 82-yard drive.

Meanwhile, Dallas had run just three plays. The Cowboys possessed the ball 1:54 to the Cardinals’ 13:06, but the second quarter turned the tide — if only for a bit.

Arizona began with a holding penalty on right tackle Jared Veldheer, saw Palmer get taken down at the line of scrimmage, and then kicker Phil Dawson miss a 36-yard field goal, his third miss in three games, which matched his total number of misses for all of 2016.

The Cowboys scored with just more than a minute to play in the first half on a 10-yard scramble by Prescott. That capped a three-play, 33-yard drive that started after Arizona’s Andy Lee punted out of Arizona’s own end zone.

Pass protection hurt Arizona in the second quarter, as Palmer took two sacks and completed just 10 more yards through the air and 12 total yards.

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) makes the catch as Dallas Cowboys free safety Byron Jones (31) and cornerback Orlando Scandrick (32) defend during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Cole Beasley (11) is hit by Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson (21) during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) looks at Dallas Cowboys defensive end Demarcus Lawrence after being sacked during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) runs for a touchdown as Arizona Cardinals free safety Tyrann Mathieu (32) defends during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) scores a touchdown as Arizona Cardinals free safety Tyrann Mathieu (32) defends during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) celebrates his touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) throws under pressure from Dallas Cowboys defensive end Tyrone Crawford during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) trees to elude Arizona Cardinals defensive end Frostee Rucker (92) during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians talks with quarterback Carson Palmer (3) during the second half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) runs as Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche (90) misses the tackle during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) pulls in a touchdown catch as Dallas Cowboys cornerback Anthony Brown defends during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant (88) is hit by Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Chandler Jones (55) celebrates his sack of Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) with teammate nose tackle Corey Peters (98) during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) celebrates his touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals with offensive guard Zack Martin during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) celebrates his touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) dives for a touchdown as Arizona Cardinals strong safety Antoine Bethea and inside linebacker Haason Reddick (43) defend during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) dives for a touchdown as Arizona Cardinals cornerback Justin Bethel (28) and strong safety Antoine Bethea, rear, defend during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) dives for a touchdown as Arizona Cardinals cornerback Justin Bethel (28) and strong safety Antoine Bethea, rear, defend during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett, left, greets Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians prior to an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) From left; Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson, president Michael Bidwill, wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald and head coach Bruce Arians stand during the national anthem prior to an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) The Dallas Cowboys stand during the national anthem prior to an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Jaron Brown (13) scores a touchdown as Dallas Cowboys cornerback Anthony Brown defends during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Jaron Brown (13) scores a touchdown as Dallas Cowboys cornerback Anthony Brown defends during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) throws under pressure from Dallas Cowboys defensive end Demarcus Lawrence (90) during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) stretches for yards as he is hit by Dallas Cowboys cornerback Jourdan Lewis during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) is hit by Arizona Cardinals nose tackle Corey Peters (98) and outside linebacker Chandler Jones (55) during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) is hit by Dallas Cowboys strong safety Jeff Heath (38) during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals kicker Phil Dawson (4) looks way after missing a field goal as Dallas Cowboys outside linebacker Kyle Wilber (51) heads to the bench during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals kicker Phil Dawson (4) walks to the bench after missing a field goal against the Dallas Cowboys during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals running back Andre Ellington (38) signals first down against the Dallas Cowboys during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians looks for a call from line judge Julian Mapp (10) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) The Dallas Cowboys, led by owner Jerry Jones, center, take a knee prior to the national anthem prior to an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Comments

Comment guidelines: No name-calling, personal attacks, profanity, or insults. Please keep the conversation civil and help us moderate comments by reporting abuse.
comments powered by Disqus

Arizona Cardinals

Isaiah Simmons practices...

Tyler Drake

Nick Rallis, Cardinals not rushing process with LB Isaiah Simmons

Arizona Cardinals linebacker Isaiah Simmons has been a defensive nomad throughout his career. Will he have a home in Year 4?

1 day ago

Budda Baker #3 of the Arizona Cardinals shakes hands with fans after beating the Seattle Seahawks 2...

Wills Rice

Carson Palmer believes Cardinals need Budda Baker

Carson Palmer thinks keeping safety Budda Baker around is vital for the rebuilding years of the Arizona Cardinals.

1 day ago

DeAndre Hopkins...

Arizona Sports

Breer: ‘There’s a healthy divide’ on what ex-Cardinal DeAndre Hopkins has left

The MMQB's Albert Breer sees a split between those who think Hopkins still has something left and those who feel his price tag is too steep.

2 days ago

DeAndre Hopkins speaks after a game...

Dan Bickley

DeAndre Hopkins’ release ends WR’s selfish legacy with Cardinals

For the second time in three years, DeAndre Hopkins is moving on to another team and bringing little or nothing of value in return.

2 days ago

Zaven Collins tackles Dalvin Cook...

Tyler Drake

Vikings hosting joint practices with Cardinals ahead of preseason matchup

The Minnesota Vikings are hosting the Arizona Cardinals for joint practices ahead of their preseason tilt on Aug. 26.

2 days ago

DeAndre Hopkins...

Tyler Drake

Positives of DeAndre Hopkins’ release outweigh negative of Cardinals not trading WR

The Arizona Cardinals missed out on receiving some kind of trade compensation for DeAndre Hopkins this offseason. And that's OK.

2 days ago

Cardinals jump on Cowboys before pace slows in first half