Arlington, TX (SportsNetwork.com) – Carson Palmer threw three touchdown passes
and the Arizona Cardinals took advantage of Tony Romo’s absence in recording a
28-17 win over the reeling Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium.
With Romo held out after sustaining two small fractures in his back during
Monday’s overtime loss to Washington, the Cowboys’ offense wasn’t the same
with backup Brandon Weeden at the controls.
Dallas (6-3) mustered a meager 266 total yards and didn’t produce an offensive
touchdown until Dez Bryant’s 3-yard touchdown grab from Weeden with 1:08
remaining. Weeden completed just 18-of-33 passes for 183 yards and tossed a
pair of interceptions, while Bryant — shadowed by Patrick Peterson for most
of the game — didn’t register a catch until the late TD drive.
The Cardinals’ third-ranked run defense also limited DeMarco Murray to 79
yards on 19 carries, the first time the star running back was held under 100
in nine outings this season.
Palmer shook off an early interception that Tyler Patmon returned 58 yards for
a touchdown to finish 22-of-34 for 249 yards for the NFC-leading Cardinals
(7-1), who ended a string of 14 consecutive regular-season losses in Dallas
and are off to their best eight-game start since 1974.
Andre Ellington totaled 95 rushing yards on 21 attempts in the win, while
adding 39 yards and a touchdown on four receptions.
