The Cowboys substituted freely, although the heat was still felt.
“It was ridiculous,” said linebacker Ryan Simmons. “I was cotton-mouthed the whole game. My lips were so dry. The sun was constantly beaming on my lips, and I’m constantly trying to bring saliva.
“It’s like you’re evaporating every time you get some water on you. It was ridiculously hot.”
Still, the Cowboys pushed through, especially on defense in a dominant second half.
How did they manage the conditions, along with what became a wild game?
“Our mentality,” Simmons said. “That’s our mentality. We’re all go-getters around here.