Cardinals earn decisive victory over Cowboys: By the Numbers

The game might have been lost, if not for one gigantic momentum swing.

It was a Cardinals defensive stop on a Cowboy’s fourth-and-1. Arizona rookie Deone Bucannon got to Dallas running back DeMarco Murray first, stuffing him into the scrum of waiting defensive tackles.

Turnover on downs. Cardinals ball.

The stop was the first domino that set the rest toppling; from there a game the Cardinals had led by only four points at the half was stretched to an 18-point gap after an interception by Antonio Cromartie, which led to a quick touchdown reception by Andre Ellington, then another touchdown by rookie running back Marion Grice — both in the fourth quarter.

See? Like dominoes.

But Bucannon, big as he is, was the one who started it; shoving that momentum into motion in a place where those who threaten Jerry’s World are not often able to find it.

And now, with the 28-17 victory over Dallas, the Arizona Cardinals are 7-1 and solely lead the division.

What’d the victory look like by the numbers?

7-1

The Cardinals are now 7-1, which is the best record in the NFC. This is the first time since 1974 that Arizona has held the best NFC record this late in the season.

To get here, Arizona has beaten all five of their conference opponents, and has won four games in a row.

2

Arizona faced a Cowboys team without its face. Tony Romo was forced to sit out with yet another back injury, so backup quarterback Brandon Weeden filled in.

Weeden threw two interceptions throughout the game, one snagged by Tyrann Mathieu and the other by Antonio Cromartie.

Mathieu’s interception was his first since returning from a knee injury that forced him to ride the bench last season.

4, 3

Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer went 22/34 with 249 yards, throwing three touchdowns out of Arizona’s four (rookie running back Marion Grice ran in the fourth).

All of the Cardinals’ touchdowns came on third down.

60-27

Dallas backup Weeden struggled to find offensive momentum, only completing 18 of 33 pass attempts with one touchdown and two interceptions.

Arizona managed a 60 percent third down efficiency rate, converting nine of 15 third downs, as opposed to Dallas’ 27 percent and three converted third downs out of 11.

79

Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray has gone eight straight games with 100 or more rushing yards — until today.

The Arizona defense managed to hold Murray to only 79 rush yards and no touchdowns in their victory, while the Cowboys as a whole were held to only 102 rushing yards.

4/4

As dependable as ever, Cardinals kicker Chandler Cantanzaro made four extra points on four attempts. He is now perfect on the season, hitting 18 of 18 PATs.

1

Arizona State product Marion Grice scored his first NFL touchdown, punching in a one-yard run in the fourth quarter — much to the delight of ASU fans following on Twitter:

TOUCHDOWN #SunDevil4Life Marion Grice #BirdGang @AZCardinals

— Sun Devil Football (@FootballASU) November 2, 2014

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