The outcome may have tilted on a drive midway through the second quarter when the Cowboys scored a touchdown and a field goal and came away with no points. On second down on the Cardinals' 26-yard line, receiver Ernie Mills went up and took the ball away from cornerback Tom Knight for an apparent touchdown. That didn't stand because fullback Robert Thomas was called for holding. Cunningham hooked his 48-yard attempt wide to the left. We are not taking advantage of those opportunities.
Good teams do.
The Cardinals didn't have a gain of longer than 9 yards in the first half. But recently demoted running back Adrian Murrell, who started only because Michael Pittman was hurt, broke loose around left end for a 16-yard gain to open the third quarter. Rookie David Boston burned Charlie Williams, who was playing because of a hamstring injury to Kevin Smith, for 30 yards on the next play. Two plays later, the Cardinals called a flea-flicker. The Cowboys had the play read.