Notes from the Nest: Arizona Cardinals vs. Dallas Cowboys
Game over
Cardinals win this one 12-7. What it lacked in offense it made up for in…ummm…defense?
Arizona now 2-0 on the preseason. Much to learn from and improve upon.
Time to head downstairs for all the postgame stuff. Thanks for reading.
1:40 left in fourth quarter
Facing a 3rd and 15, Tanney is picked off by Tony Jefferson. It’s the sixth turnover of the day, and the second pick for Jefferson on the day. Return is to the Dallas 35, and that should just about do it.
1:58 left in fourth quarter
It’s time for the two minute warning.
As of this moment, Tanney is leading a drive that has the Cowboys at the Arizona 45. You know as they say, you just can’t stop Alex Tanney!
3:14 left in fourth quarter
Cardinals go three and out, punt leaves the Cowboys with teh ball at their own 18.
4:13 left in fourth quarter
Defense holds, albeit with help of a pretty terrible Alex Tanney. The punt goes for 47 yards, where Hawkins is just drilled while catching the ball. Personal foul, Arizona ball at the the 48.
5:07 left in fourth quarter
Kickoff sails into the end zone where the ball is downed, and the Cowboys will begin from their own 20. No doubt the Cardinals would feel better if the D can make a stand and preserve this lead. As for the fans? Some have started to head for the exits.
5:07 left in fourth quarter
Lindley dumps the ball to Ellington short of the end zone on third and goal, and Feely comes in and makes a 22-yard field goal. It’s points, but Coach Arians will not be happy with the team’s inability to find the end zone today.
12-7 Cardinals, by the way.
7:05 left in fourth quarter
A nice mix of Andre Ellington runs as well as passes by Lindley — the most recent to Charles Hawkins — has Arizona at the Dallas 5. Good looking drive for Big Red here, can they finish it off with a TD?
10:49 left in fourth quarter
Andre Ellington takes the ensuing kickoff out of the end zone…out of the back of the end zone…and shows some moves in getting the ball out to the 23. That’s where Ryan Lindley and the offense will start this drive.
10:55 left in fourth quarter
And they’ve done it!
Cowboys get a five-yard TD pass from Alex Tanney to tight end Gavin Escobar, and now the score is 9-7 Cardinals in front.
Ladies and gentlemen, we have ourselves a football game!…that doesn’t actually count.
End of third quarter
The quarter ends with the Cowboys facing a 2nd and 1 at the Arizona 38. They’re driving, and in danger of being the first team to score on the Cardinals this preseason.
1:44 left in third quarter
Cards lose a challenge, Cowboys have a first down at their own 42.
5:48 left in third quarter
Zastudil’s second attempt is also good, as this one is downed at the Dallas 11. That’s where the Cowboys will take over before they inevitably find a way to give Arizona the ball back.
5:57 left in third quarter
Cards’ drive stalls and punt is downed at the 1, but an illegal hands to the face penalty means Arizona will kick again. It’s the team’s third penalty, and this one hurts.
Well, as much as anything can hurt in a preseason game, but you know what I mean.
‘10:21 left in third quarter
Defense forces a punt (sorry, not a turnover), and Tyrann Mathieu runs a long way for a short return. Arizona ball on the 27.
13:40 left in third quarter
Cardinals can’t challenge a forward progress call, and now it’s 3rd and 5 for the Cowboys on their 19. Good chance for an early defensive stand.
End of second quarter
Pass sails out of the end zone and then Feely is brought on for the field goal attempt. He’s good from 40 yards (yeah, he makes the tougher ones), and the Cards lead this one 9-0 at the half.
:07 left in second quarter
Stanton hits Hawkins and the Cards are at the Dallas 22. Ball is spiked. Time for one more play before a FG attempt?
:21 left in second quarter
Well imagine that, a Cowboys turnover. Tony Jefferson picks off Orton’s pass, and the Cards have the ball on their own 43.
:47 left in second quarter
Deep in Dallas territory Stanton throws a bad ball that is picked off at the Dallas four. At best, he’s doing what he can to make sure Cards fans are comfortable with what’s happening on the field. At worst, it was a terrible pass that cost the team points.
2:28 left in second quarter
Cowboys go three-and-out and punt it away. Cards take over with a chance to try and put some points on the board before the half. Can Stanton run the two-minute offense? We’ll see.
3:48 left in second quarter
Drive stalls at the Dallas 12 and Feely pushes the short field goal right. So really, when you think about it, the kick was wrong. Dallas takes over and you kind of wonder about what’s up with the kicker, especially after he struggled last week in Green Bay.
5:56 left in second quarter
We have our answer — an interception.
Facing a 3rd and 8, Kyle Orton is picked off by Jerraud Powers. Cards’ ball at the Dallas 30.
6:34 left in second quarter
Stanton misfires on a couple passes before Jay Feely puts a 53-yard field goal through the uprights. Cardinals with a commanding 6-0 lead; how will the Cowboys turn the ball over on this drive?
7:19 left in second quarter
And what do ya know, refs rule that Stanton’s hand was moving forward, which makes it an incomplete pass. Cards keep the ball, and we all got the joy of watching a big guy try to pick up a bouncing football. Win-win.
7:12 left in second quarter
Cardinals were driving but Drew Stanton is hit while releasing a pass. Ball bounces backwards (fumble?) and is recovered by Dallas’ Kyle Wilber at the Arizona 43. Of course, he only recovered the ball after hilariously attempting to pick it up and run with it first. He failed at that.
Play is under review, as all turnovers are.
9:59 left in second quarter
Cowboys — and more specifically, Dez Bryant — have been destroying Arizona’s defense. However, the receiver’s latest reception results in him being stripped of the ball by Jerraud Powers, and just like that the Cardinals have their third turnover of the day. It’s Arizona’s ball at their own 24, with the second-team offense now in the game.
12:11 left in second quarter
Cards get a first down on a run but, in their hurry up offense, see three straight misfires in the passing game. Zastudil’s punt is a good one, Dallas takes over at their own 30.
12:56 left in second quarter
Cardinals win the challenge! Hazah!
Fumble recovered at the four, which is where Carson Palmer and the offense will start from. Gotta think this is the QB’s last series.
12:56 left in second quarter
Bruce Arians with a solid toss on his first challenge flag at UofP Stadium.
Dallas, driving down the field, sees Romo hit running back Lance Dunbar. He takes it down to the Arizona seven, where he appears to have fumbled the ball. If ruling on the field is overturned, Cards will have the ball and their second turnover of the day.
And from this perspective, call should be overturned.
End of first quarter
And I jinxed it. My bad.
Cards stall after a pass to Michael Floyd is fumbled and then a fourth and two toss to Rashard Mendenhall is low and dropped. Cowboys will take over at their own seven.
Fun seeing the team try to go for it on fourth; it’s preseason, so who really cares. Still a bit disappointing, though.
1:51 left in first quarter
Cardinals are driving…yes, driving…and it’s a beautiful sight. Some solid runs along with good passes from Palmer have the Cardinals facing a 2nd and 10 on the Dallas 15. Injured Cowboy gives us a break in the action, and now I feel is a good time to remind you that the Cardinals have not thrown a touchdown pass (to their own team) in University of Phoenix Stadium since their Week 6 loss to the Buffalo Bills last year.
It’s been a while.
8:18 left in first quarter
Excellent pass to Larry Fitzgerald is negated by a holding penalty on Levi Brown.
Welcome back, Levi.
8:35 left in first quarter
Cardinals catch a break as Romo overthrows an open Dwayne Harris deep on third and short, and the punt leaves the Cardinals with the ball on their own 11.
10:16 left in first quarter
Cardinals whistled for a pair of penalties on a third down play that did not net the Cowboys enough yards. First down for them, ball at their own 44.
11:09 left in first quarter
Cardinals get a first down but Carson Palmer’s third down pass to Alfonso Smith is late and behind him, falling incomplete. Cards get a field goal, so at least there’s that.
3-0 Arizona.
Still 14:06 left in first quarter
Ruling on field is confirmed. That is all.
14:06 left in first quarter
Cardinals go three-and-out, but 56-yard punt return is fumbled and recovered by Arizona. Great special teams play, Cards have the ball at the Dallas 22. Justin Bethel forced the fumble, by the way.
Kid is pretty good.
Call is challenged.
1:00 until kickoff
Alright folks, it’s time for another football season. Optimism permeates the building as the Cardinals look to improve from a miserable 5-11 campaign in 2012.
If the media meal is any indication, they’re off to a good start.
Oh, and speaking of starts…Cardinals will receive the opening kickoff.
