Minshew sparks improbable late turnaround
The Arizona Cardinals erased a 14-point deficit to defeat the Dallas Cowboys 33-30 in Week 8, completing a comeback that extended into overtime. With Arizona trailing 17-3 late in the third quarter, head coach Mike LaFleur decided to bench Jacoby Brissett.
Minshew, who replaced Brissett, completed 17-of-23 passes for 188 yards and three touchdowns in the comeback effort.
Execution when it mattered
Minshew's efficient downfield work helped power the late surge; those possessions erased Dallas' cushion and forced overtime, where the Cardinals prevailed 33-30.
Defense bends but does not break
The Arizona defense delivered the other half of the comeback. The Cardinals held the Cowboys' potent offense to a season-low 3.6 yards per play and 2.4 yards per carry, and recorded four sacks — the most Dallas has allowed in a single game this season.
Pressure and gap discipline late in the game stopped the Cowboys on key downs and helped swing field position in favor of the Cardinals. Those defensive stops complemented the offensive momentum created after the quarterback change and set up the scoring chances that ultimately decided the game.
Context and consequences
The result carried additional sting for Dallas. The Cowboys have never won a game against the Arizona Cardinals inside AT&T Stadium and, with the Week 8 loss, fell to 0-5 in such contests. They lost for the third time in the last four weeks and, after leading by as many as 14 points in the fourth quarter, surrendered a home game — the first time this century they lost a home game after that kind of late advantage. Prior to this defeat, they had won each of their last 69 games in which they held such a fourth-quarter lead.
The Cardinals’ comeback combined timely offensive execution under Minshew and a defense that produced game-changing plays when it mattered most. The 33-30 overtime finish will be remembered for the shift in momentum after the coach’s late-game decision and for the collective fight that followed.
