We all knew the Dallas Cowboys weren’t going to finish the season 17-0.
It’s not realistic.
However, a loss at an 0-2 Arizona Cardinals team in Week 3 was not the game I had circled on the calendar.
The Cardinals earned this win, displaying more fight and fire from the opening kickoff than the Cowboys.
Dallas just looked flat.
Perhaps the deflating loss of All-Pro CB Trevon Diggs earlier in the week had something to do with it.
Or maybe Tyron Smith, Tyler Biadasz, and Zack Martin being ruled out shortly before the game caused some disarray.
Whatever the reason was for the poor play, the bottom line is the Cowboys just didn’t get the job done in the desert.
Let’s take a look at some key plays, that if had gone in the other direction, could have changed the outcome of the game.
Dobbs 43 Yard Run
The Cardinals received the opening kickoff and completely set the tone for the game on the first play from scrimmage.
A sign of things to come, QB Joshua Dobbs faked a handoff to RB James Conner, and sprinted to the left side of the offensive formation.
The Cowboys’ defense was completely fooled, and Dobbs picked up 43 yards on the play into Dallas territory.
That play sparked a Cardinals’ rushing attack that compiled 222 yards on 30 attempts, a disgusting 7.4 yards per rush.
Dallas’ defense held them to a field goal, but the damage was done.
It’s possible a 3 & out on the initial drive takes the wind out of the sails, and halts the Cardinals’ momentum before it can even get going.
First Offensive Drive 3 & Out
Much like how the Cardinals set the tone on offense on their first drive, the Cowboys did the same.
Except it wasn’t a positive tone.
Dallas faced a 3rd & 6 from their own 29-yard line, and Terence Steele was flagged for a false start.
Cowboys QB Dak Prescott huddled up his team to call the play to try to convert a 3rd & 11.
Perhaps the three substitute offensive linemen had trouble understanding the call, but the Cowboys were flagged for a second consecutive play.
This time for a delay of game, turning their 3rd & 11 into a 3rd & 16.
The Cowboys attempted a screen to Rico Dowdle, who slipped and fell to the turf before he could get any forward momentum.
Dallas punted, and the penalties would be a telltale sign of things to come.
Jourdan Lewis Commits Defensive Holding
On the defense’s third drive of the game, they were looking to force a stop after giving up scores on their first two drives.
A holding penalty on the Cardinals put them behind the chains and eventually led to a 3rd & 11 from their own 42-yard line.
Dobbs was flushed out of the pocket and threw an incomplete pass.
Finally, the Cowboys’ defense gets a stop, except there is laundry on the field.
Jourdan Lewis is flagged for defensive holding after he is caught grabbing the jersey of WR Rondale Moore.
Two plays later, Moore takes a handoff and races untouched 45 yards for a Cardinals touchdown and a 15-3 lead.
That play wouldn’t have happened if not for the flag on Lewis.
Vander Esch Can’t Successfully Bat Down Pass
Down 18-10 with only 25 seconds left in the second quarter, the Dallas defense trotted out onto the field to close out the half.
Arizona had other ideas, as they held two timeouts, and were intent on pushing the ball down the field before the half.
On 2nd & 5 from their own 48 and holding two timeouts, Dobbs completed a slant to Moore for six yards and a first down.
Cowboys LB Leighton Vander Esch actually deflected the pass, but with good concentration, Moore made the catch anyway.
With a fresh set of downs and one timeout in their pocket, the Cardinals ran a simple handoff up the middle for two yards.
K Matt Prater nailed a 62-yard field goal at the end of the half that barely made it over the crossbar and gave Arizona a 21-10 lead.
If LVE could have successfully batted that ball down, the score at the half is most likely still 18-10 and surely would have altered some of Mike McCarthy’s decision-making in the second half.
Devin Harper Gets Called For Holding
After allowing a score on each of Arizona’s five first-half drives, the Cowboys’ defense forced a 3 & out on their first 2nd half possession.
Cowboys’ PR KaVontae Turpin took a line drive punt 51 yards deep into Cardinals’ territory, but once again a flag was on the field.
LB Devin Harper was charged with a hold, and the penalty had nothing to do with the return.
It occurred at the line of scrimmage right as the ball left the punter’s foot, but was a penalty nonetheless.
Dallas did drive the length of the field, eventually turning the ball over on downs, but that play put a damper on what normally could have been a spark play by Turpin.
Safety Is Not Called
Immediately after not converting a 4th down inside the five-yard line, the Dallas defense had the Cardinals’ offense pinned near their own endzone.
Dobbs dropped back to pass, and a flag was thrown for offensive holding on RT DJ Humphries as he tried to slow Micah Parsons.
As Cowboys Nation was celebrating a safety, the referee ruled that the infraction occurred at the one-yard line, and not in the endzone.
The hold might have begun at the one-yard line, but it continued into the endzone while the ball was still in Dobbs’ hands.
Perhaps VP of Officiating Dean Blandino can clear this one up for us because I am at a loss.
Arizona did end up punting the ball away, but those were two points that would have made it a 21-15 game and a short field for the Cowboys’ offense.
Being down by six instead of eight would have altered the decision-making of Mike McCarthy later in the game.