For two quarters, it looked like the Dallas Cowboys had no business winning a football game Monday night.
Their offense was still sputtering and being suffocated by an Arizona Cardinals defense brimming with athleticism. At halftime, the Cardinals had a mammoth lead in time of possession after holding the ball for 20:19. They had thumped the Cowboys in every way, most laughably in offensive yardage, with the Cardinals and suddenly youthful quarterback Carson Palmer gaining 152 yards and the Cowboys stuck at just 57 yards.
The Cowboys had two three-and-outs to begin the game and didn't record a first down until midway through the second quarter at the 8:20 mark.