The Cardinals continued their unpredictable climb to respectability on Sunday through a method that’s becoming a cliche: beating the Cowboys in the final seconds at University of Phoenix Stadium.
Cardinals-Cowboys photos | Best of Cardinals fans | Box score
Running back LaRod Stephens-Howling turned a short reception on a screen into a 52-yard touchdown in overtime to give the Cardinals a 19-13 victory.
It was the Cardinals fourth victory in their past five games and improved their record to 5-7.
“You know what? Overtime games here are crazy,” coach Ken Whisenhunt said. “I’m just glad we’ve won more than our share of them.”
If it’s a Cardinals and Cowboys game, count on more drama than a soap opera on Friday afternoon. The Cardinals beat the Cowboys a year ago with a field goal in the final seconds and the year before that with a blocked punt in overtime. That’s three games decided on the final play.
This one ended, oddly, in the same manner as the Cardinals previous home game, a 19-13 overtime win against the Rams.
Like the Rams, the Cowboys had a chance to win with a field goal in the final seconds of regulation, then lost by a giving up a big play.
It’s not often a coach ices his own kicker, but Cowboys coach Jason Garrett did, calling timeout before Dan Bailey’s 49-yard attempt.
“I was glad they iced the kicker, so I didn’t have to do it,” Whisenhunt said.
Bailey’s attempt was short, as was Garrett’s postgame explanation for the timeout.
“We felt like the play clock was running down,” Garrett said. “We just want to make sure he had a real clean opportunity at it.”
The Cardinals won the toss before overtime and moved to near midfield. On first and 15, offensive coordinator Mike Miller called the screen pass, a play the Cardinals have executed unsuccessfully for several years.
So it was ironic, don’t you think, that Stephens-Howling scored on it, especially when no offensive linemen were able to block for him because the Cowboys blitzed, and Kolb had to have at least a little time to get the pass off.
“I tried to hold on to it as long as possible to give him (Stephens-Howling) enough room to make a play,” Kolb said, “then he does what he does best and that’s making people miss in the open field.”
Kolb, who missed the previous four games with a foot injury, passed for just 44 yards in the first half and finished with 247.
The Cardinals had 49 total yards at halftime and finished with 327.
“It was definitely a game of two halves,” Kolb said.
It would be easy to concentrate on the startling offensive turnaround. But the Cardinals won because their defense played well throughout, even though it was presented with terrible field position time and again.
The Cardinals sacked quarterback Tony Romo five times, and while the Cowboys didn’t have a turnover, they scored just one touchdown, and they had to go only 33 yards for that one.
“We ain’t got (expletive) to lose,” said defensive end Darnell Dockett when asked to explain the defensive improvement over the past five games. “This is our playoff game right here. And next week (against the 49ers) is going to be our Super Bowl.”
Punter Dave Zastudil deserves credit, too. Without him averaging 50.1 yards, the Cardinals field-position problems would have been worse.
It’s been a familiar theme too often this season. The defense and special teams have played well enough to win, with the offense lagging far behind.
That changed in the second half.
“I guess maybe I have a great halftime talk,” Whisenhunt said, smiling.
The Cardinals gained more yards (78) in the first possession of the second half than they did in the entire first half. They had to settle for a field goal after tackle Brandon Keith flinched before the ball was snapped on fourth down.
The Cowboys countered with a field-goal drive of their own to take a seven-point lead.
By then, Kolb and his offensive teammates had found a rhythm. A 40-yard pass to Andre Roberts, who had a career-high 111 yards receiving, helped set up a 4-yard touchdown run by Beanie Wells.
That tied the game with 13:08 remaining. The teams swapped possessions, penalties and other mistakes for the rest of the quarter, setting up the dramatic finish.
It was their second victory with Kolb at quarterback, and their first since the season opener.
Against the Cowboys, he overcame a terrible start and provided some hope for the future.
“He was very sharp in the second half,” Whisenhunt said, “being able to manage the offense and make some of those escapes and some of those throws. It’s very exciting to see that we have something to build on and build with him.”
Cardinals report
Key player: WR Andre Roberts caught six passes for 111 yards. In the final possession, he had two catches for 30 yards and drew a pass-interference call on second and 19.
Key moment: A long kick return in the first quarter gave Dallas the ball at the Arizona 35. The defense held, forcing the Cowboys to punt.
Injury report: None reported. RB Beanie Wells wore a brace on his left wrist after the game but said he was fine.
Quote: “We were 1-6 and we were fighting just as hard as we were the first week. You don’t see that everywhere, and that’s a big reflection of our leadership, our coaches and the players we have in the locker room.” -quarterback Kevin Kolb
Up next: 49ers (10-2) at Cardinals (5-7), 2:05 p.m. Sunday, University of Phoenix Stadium.
View from the press box
Even if Dallas had won at the end of regulation, the Cardinals would have benefitted from Sunday’s game. In the second half, quarterback Kevin Kolb looked comfortable and in rhythm for an extended amount of time. That’s a first this season, and Kolb’s improvement is a priority over the final month. The dramatic offensive plays at the end of the game will receive most of the attention, but the Cardinals defense won this game for them. That unit has played well now for five weeks, probably the longest stint in Whisenhunt’s five seasons.
Not much else going on in the NFL world today.
