Cowboys Suffer Historic Overtime Collapse to Cardinals

The Dallas Cowboys lost another home game in overtime on Sunday night.

The team fell 33-30 to the Arizona Cardinals, extending a losing streak in such contests to five straight. It marked the third defeat for Dallas in its last four regular-season games.

The Cowboys held a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter. They also led by 10 points with 3:54 remaining in regulation. Despite that cushion, they failed to close out the contest. This result broke a streak of 69 consecutive victories for the team in games where they held a double-digit advantage in the fourth quarter.

The collapse was aided by a missed extra point for the Cardinals on their final touchdown. That miss forced the game into overtime. In that sudden-death period, the Cardinals scored first to take the win.

The Arizona offense gained momentum when backup quarterback Gardner Minshew replaced starter Jacoby Brissett. Minshew elevated the play, assisted by running back Tyler Allgeier. The Cardinals enter this stretch potentially positioned to finish last in the NFC West division.

Former Cowboys quarterback Ben DiNucci criticized the performance on CBS Sports HQ. He called the result "absolutely embarrassing." DiNucci said he was "lost for words" after watching the tape. He noted that the team possesses talent on both sides of the ball but continues to deliver letdowns. "They stink," DiNucci stated. "Something needs to change. Somebody needs to look themselves in the mirror."

DiNucci argued that the issue stems from a lack of effort. He said observers can tell the difference between run and pass plays based on the intensity displayed by the offense. He acknowledged the difficulty of assessing effort weekly but maintained that the current standard is insufficient for a team aiming to win its division.

Team owner Jerry Jones indicated that head coach Brian Schottenheimer is not being considered for a mid-season dismissal. DiNucci suggested that veteran leaders in the locker room must step forward. He named Dak Prescott, Quinnen Williams, and CeeDee Lamb as potential figures who need to take control. He urged them to ignore outside noise and reset the team's culture.

DiNucci, who served as the backup quarterback for Dallas in 2020 and 2021, described the distractions that come with the franchise. He recalled seeing facility tours and meetings on off days during his time with the team. He suggested that the volume of activity surrounding the team may take a toll on the players' focus.

The Cowboys have three of their next four games against teams in the AFC South and NFC East. Those opponents include the Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans, and Philadelphia Eagles. The team will not receive a break until its bye week in Week 14.