THE STORY: ARLINGTON, Texas -- Nick Rallis smiled last week when asked if the tweaks he made to his unit during the bye week would solve his unit's issues.
"Whether or not I found the answers, we'll see," the Cardinals defensive coordinator said.
Monday night, at least, Rallis did.
To hold the vaunted Dallas Cowboys – who had been averaging more than 30 points a game – to 17 in a 27-17 victory was notable. Much of the postgame story was about Jacoby Brissett's third straight excellent game at quarterback in place of the injured Kyler Murray, and Marvin Harrison Jr.'s career-best seven catches that jump-started the game.
But on national television, the ESPN audience watched the Cardinals (3-5) snap a five-game losing streak by forcing three turnovers by the Cowboys (3-5-1), by twice stopping Dallas on fourth downs in scoring position, by sacking Dak Prescott five times.
"We kind of found ourselves in the same situation we have been in all year," defensive lineman Calais Campbell said. "I was impressed with my guys. We found a way."
Josh Sweat and Campbell each had two sacks. Rookie defensive lineman Walter Nolen III had two tackles for loss, including his first NFL sack, and a pass batted down. Cornerback Garrett Williams, back after a five-game absence with a knee injury, showed why he had been missed.
"It was good to see us close out a game," coach Jonathan Gannon said.
Brissett was outstanding, completing 21 of 31 passes for 261 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions as Murray missed his third straight game.
Gannon was asked if Murray would remain the starting quarterback when he was healthy. "Nothing has changed," Gannon said, saying to a follow-up question "I have nothing to add to that."
Brissett wasn't getting involved in the QB talk. "I'm just trying to win and be a good teammate," he said.
He was on Monday, finding Harrison early and often, finding tight end Trey McBride for a touchdown for a third straight game. He scored a touchdown himself on a 1-yard sneak for his first six points since Halloween, 2022, when he was playing for the Browns.
The offense has clicked in all three of his starts, but Brissett deflected any suggestion he was the key.
"I don't think it's me," Brissett said. "I really don't."
Brissett emphasized the entire offense – the play-action perfect play to hit wide receiver Michael Wilson for a 50-yard gain on the first play of the second half was a thing of collective beauty – and again, the defense gave the Cowboys fits all night.
Campbell called Sweat "the best player in football today" for his game. Rookies like linebacker Cody Simon and cornerback Denzel Burke showed out.
"All the young guys did great tonight," Sweat said. "Depth is going to play a big part the rest of the season. It's football. Things are going to happen."
More importantly the Cardinals had a victory to celebrate for the first time in a while.
"(Expletive), I almost forgot how to," Sweat said with a smile.
With a road trip to Seattle next week and a home game with the 49ers after that, the Cardinals still have a chance to climb back into conversations.
But one win isn't enough. Sweat said the Cardinals need to treat Monday as a loss when it comes to fixing what went wrong. Gannon too tried to downplay it to a point, with nine games left and the hole still significant.
To get a win though – and for once, a win that didn't come down to the last possession, that wasn't a one-score game – resonated in the visitors locker room at AT&T Stadium. It should.
"It's nothing," Gannon said, before catching himself and allowing that it was more than nothing. "They feel good.
"But they know it's a week-to-week deal."
TURNING POINT: With the Cardinals up by 10 in the fourth quarter and the ghosts of fourth quarters past looming, rookie linebacker Cody Simon forced a fumble by Cowboys running back Javonte Williams that was recovered by linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither midway through the fourth quarter. The play all but guaranteed the Cardinals could avoid the nail-biting end they had dealt with in each of their first seven games of the season.
Simon, who was put on the injury report Monday morning because of an illness, played through it. "It's all adrenaline right now," he said.
THE STANDOUTS: So many. Defensively, rookies shined. Rookie cornerback Denzel Burke, playing a ton after an injury to Max Melton, had a huge fourth-down pass breakup against CeeDee Lamb when in one-on-one coverage and added a late interception. Simon had the forced fumble. Sweat and Campbell led a pass rush that caused issues.
On offense, Brissett, Harrison and McBride were excellent. So too was running back Emari Demercado, who not only led the Cardinals in rushing (79 yards, 5.6 per carry) but had a good game in pass protection.
INJURY UPDATE: Cornerback Max Melton left the game for a concussion exam and did not return. Linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. left the game with a ribs injury.
