Cardinals Stun Cowboys 33-30 in Overtime as Gardner Minshew Sparks Comeback

For most of Sunday afternoon at AT&T Stadium, the Dallas Cowboys looked in control. They led the Arizona Cardinals 17-3 in the third quarter, their defense had forced two turnovers, and the offense was grinding the clock. Then Arizona changed quarterbacks, and the game flipped.

Gardner Minshew replaced Jacoby Brissett with 1:35 left in the third quarter, led touchdown drives on his first four possessions, and tied the game with six seconds left. After a missed extra point sent it to overtime, kicker Chad Ryland made up for it with a 42-yard field goal, and the Cardinals won 33-30.

Both teams are now 3-5. According to NBC Sports, Arizona is 5-0 all-time at AT&T Stadium and has won nine of the last 10 meetings in the series.

Cardinals vs. Cowboys: the final score and how it happened

Dallas scored first in an odd way. Linebacker Shemar James intercepted a Brissett pass that bounced off tight end Elijah Higgins’ hands and returned it to the Arizona 5. Two plays later, Javonte Williams fumbled near the goal line, and tight end James Mitchell, who had been promoted from the practice squad on Saturday, fell on the ball in the end zone for a 7-0 lead, per the Cowboys’ official recap.

Receiver Ryan Flournoy made a one-handed touchdown catch to cap an 85-yard drive in the second quarter, and Arizona answered only with a 37-yard field goal. Dallas led 14-3 at halftime after Brandon Aubrey missed a 61-yard try wide right. Aubrey hit a 31-yarder to open the third quarter for a 17-3 lead.

From there, Arizona took over:

• Third quarter: With Minshew in, Tyler Allgeier broke a 63-yard touchdown run to make it 17-10.
• Fourth quarter: Dak Prescott scrambled in from 4 yards for his first rushing touchdown of the season (24-10). Allgeier answered with a short touchdown catch after a 52-yard run. Aubrey’s 35-yard field goal made it 27-17, and Minshew hit tight end Trey McBride from 14 yards to cut it to 27-24.
• Final minutes: Arizona’s onside kick failed, and Aubrey’s 41-yard field goal with 1:09 left put Dallas up 30-24. Minshew then drove 80 yards in eight plays and found Michael Wilson for a 13-yard touchdown with six seconds left.

Chad Ryland: from missed PAT to game-winner

Ryland pulled the go-ahead extra point wide left. Both the Cowboys and NBC Sports noted it was his first missed extra point in about two years. In overtime, Dallas won the toss and chose to kick off. The Cardinals went three-and-out, and so did the Cowboys. On Arizona’s second possession, the Cardinals moved 44 yards in eight plays, and Ryland made the 42-yard winner. The Cardinals’ site credited a Josh Sweat third-down sack for forcing the Dallas punt.

Gardner Minshew vs. Jacoby Brissett

The Cardinals’ team site described Brissett as “struggling” before the switch, but neither club’s recap gave any other reason for the change. Minshew went 17-of-23 for 188 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions, a 137.3 passer rating according to the Cowboys. NBC Sports called him a good bet for NFC Offensive Player of the Week. Whether Arizona sticks with Minshew as the starter hadn’t been announced when this was written.

Player stats: Allgeier, Wilson and McBride

Allgeier was Arizona’s only healthy running back after Jeremiyah Love (ankle) and Bam Knight (concussion) left. He ran 11 times for 147 yards and a touchdown, with 143 of those yards in the second half, and caught five passes for 44 yards and another score. Wilson had eight catches for 111 yards and a touchdown, and McBride had seven for 72 and a touchdown. The Cardinals outgained Dallas 467 yards to 261.

For Dallas, Prescott was 19-of-29 for 195 yards with a touchdown pass and a rushing touchdown. CeeDee Lamb caught seven passes for 58 yards. Javonte Williams had 56 yards on 24 carries, and the Cowboys averaged just 2.4 yards per carry as a team. Quinnen Williams had two of the team’s five sacks.

Injuries to watch

Besides Love and Knight, NBC Sports reported that Arizona lost left tackle Jayden Williams (knee) and receiver Kendrick Bourne (ankle). Receiver Reggie Virgil was hurt when he ran into the goal post late in the fourth quarter. The team had not shared updates on any of them at publication.

What it means for the Cowboys

NBC Sports noted the Cowboys still haven’t won back-to-back games since last November. Dallas had a chance to finish the game with 2:07 left but couldn’t run out the clock or score a touchdown, settling for Aubrey’s field goal and leaving Minshew more than a minute to work with. The Cowboys’ own recap called it their worst loss “in a season full of disappointing finishes.”

Quick FAQ

Who won Cardinals vs. Cowboys? Arizona won 33-30 in overtime.

Who kicked the winning field goal? Chad Ryland, from 42 yards, after missing an extra point at the end of regulation.

Why did Gardner Minshew play? Arizona replaced Jacoby Brissett late in the third quarter. The Cardinals’ site said Brissett was struggling.