Cardinals take down Cowboys in OT, 30-24

GLENDALE - In what has to go down as one of their most impressive wins since coming to the Valley two decades ago, the Arizona Cardinals beat the Dallas Cowboys, 30-24, in overtime Sunday at University of Phoenix Stadium.

The victory not only improved the Cardinals' record to 4-2 while keeping them atop the NFC West, but perhaps more importantly, validated them as legitimate playoff contenders and a force to be reckoned with.

SLIDESHOW: Cards edge Cowboys in OT

The win was delivered in dramatic fashion when Arizona's Sean Morey blocked a Matt McBriar punt by the Dallas goal line and Monty Beisel scooped up the loose ball for the game-winning touchdown a minute into the extra session.

Morey analyzed the game-winning play afterward. "They just had new personnel. So I figured if I have to block the tackle and the tackle's not going to block me, then I'm just going to make a play at the end of the game," he said. "I'm just glad that I got to make a play at the end. I sit on the sideline most of the game. I only get a handful of plays so I have to make them count."

The entire game was a back-and-forth affair with numerous big plays and momentum swings. Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt attested to the game's difficult nature.

"It was a hard-fought game today. There were a lot of times during the game today I thought our team could've given up," he said. "There were many times in the past where they did not respond the way they did. I think it's a credit to the progress we've made."

Early on though, Arizona had the upper hand.

J.J. Arrington returned the game's opening kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown to put Arizona ahead first. The lead stood for almost all of the first half, until Dallas evened the score a minute before halftime on a 55-yard touchdown pass from Tony Romo to Patrick Crayton.

The Cowboys then took their first lead on a 14-yard touchdown pass from Romo to Miles Austin midway through the third quarter. The score wrapped up a 12-play, 77-yard drive that took nearly seven minutes off the clock.

But the Cardinals pulled even on their next possession, traveling 60 yards on 11 plays and scoring on a 4-yard touchdown pass from Kurt Warner to Larry Fitzgerald to knot the game at 14-14.

Then following a Dallas punt, Arizona went up 21-14 after driving 89 yards on eight plays and scoring on an 11-yard touchdown pass from Warner to Steve Breaston with 10:44 left in the fourth quarter. And after forcing the Cowboys to once again kick the ball away on their next drive, the Cardinals chewed nearly five minutes off the clock with a nine-play, 43-yard drive capped off by a Neil Rackers 41-yard field goal with 3:17 left in the fourth quarter to pull ahead 24-14.

And that's where the game's excitement was elevated a notch.

The Cowboys did not go away quietly and scored on a 70-yard touchdown pass from Romo to running back Marion Barber with two minutes left in the game to pull within three. Then after forcing an Arizona punt with a minute left in regulation, the Cowboys were able to move from their own 32-yard line and tie the game with a 52-yard Nick Folk field goal as time expired.

It had looked earlier in the day that the Cardinals were on the verge of taking control a couple of times, but were twice on the wrong end of controversial calls while holding a 7-0 lead in the first half. The calls could have swayed the game heavily in their favor.

Five minutes into the game Darnell Dockett sacked Romo and knocked the football free inside the Dallas 20-yard line, before the Cardinals pounced on the loose ball. But referee Peter Morelli ruled Romo was already down. Replays did not appear to substantiate the call on the field.

Then late in the second quarter, Arizona appeared to score its second touchdown when Dockett drilled Romo in the end zone and jarred the ball loose, before Antonio Smith recovered the ball. But after the officials on the field signaled a touchdown, Dallas challenged for an instant replay review and the call was changed to an incomplete pass, citing the tuck rule.

"It didn't seem like the bounces or calls were going our way and sometimes you have to overcome those things, and I think our team did that," said Whisenhunt. "That's part of growing up and getting mentally tougher. We responded to that today, which is a great step. This was a good win against a very good football team."

The Cardinals also earned the praise of the Dallas quarterback.

"I didn't think we were sluggish or slow," said Romo. "I think they were good. At home and with the crowd behind them made for a difficult atmosphere. You have to tip your hat to them; they played an outstanding football game."

The Cardinals will have successive road games at Carolina and St. Louis following a bye week, before hosting the 49ers in a Monday night game on Nov. 10. Dallas will visit the Rams next week.

GAME NOTES

• Both teams were missing key performers. Arizona was once again without star wide receiver Anquan Boldin, who is still recovering from a facial fracture. Dallas played minus the services of defensive backs Roy Williams and Terence Newman.
• As is usually the case when the Cowboys visit the Valley, a large contingent of their fans were in attendance to help offset Arizona’s home-field advantage. But it was nothing like the old days at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe when the Cardinals fans were usually severely outnumbered.
• A shirtless fan ran out onto the field with 38 seconds left in the game but was quickly apprehended by security and police officers.
• The roof at University of Phoenix Stadium was closed, despite sunny and pleasant outdoor conditions.