Christmas Thriller in Arizona; Win streak snapped
Dallas at Arizona
The Arizona Cardinals hadn't had much of a great year, and were already out of the NFC West playoff race, so it may be deserving that they had a Merry Christmas this morning. And then they added a nice football game to go with it.
Arizona squandered a 21-3 lead before rallying and winning on a 48 yard field goal by Jay Feely that barely cleared the crossbar as the Cardinals beat the Dallas Cowboys 27-26 Christmas night, adding a little more excitement to the holiday.
Dallas started with the ball, but on the second play of the game a Cowboy receiver wasn't able to get open on a curl pass. The ball was thrown behind him and right to cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who intercepted the pass and took it back for 6 the other way, giving Arizona the 7-0 lead.
The Cowboys got down to the Arizona 39 yard line and on 1st and 10 they were facing a Cardinals blitz. Jon Kitna was forced to throw a short pass to Roy Williams, who couldn't hold on. The ball went right to Cardinals corner Greg Toler, who returned the pick 66 yards for a touchdown. Arizona led 14-0 after 1.
Dallas poured on a field goal, but the Cardinals would respond, this time on offense. Rookie quarterback John Skelton saw that Andre Roberts had got behind a slipping CB Mike Jenkins, and he timed the pass perfectly, giving Roberts enough time to juke the Dallas safety and chug the extra 30 yards into the end zone.
However, Dallas came back, picking up a huge first down after a 4th down offsides. Then, they converted a 4th and 2, as Kitna found Jason Witten for a touchdown. Arizona led Dallas 21-10 at the half.
After 4 punts, Dallas got the ball at their own 39, and they were able to complete a 19 yard pass and get into field goal range. David Buehler drilled a 53 yard field goal, and Dallas made it a one-score game. Then, on their next possession, a 16 yard punt return set up Marion Barber's 25 yard TD run, making it a 21-20 game.
Arizona was able to put together a nice drive, and Jay Feely finished with a 49 yard field goal, making up for his missed kick earlier. However, Dallas came back, and on a 4th and 5 Rodgers-Cromartie was called for pass interference. On the next play, Miles Austin got a step ahead of his defender, and the safety couldn't bat the ball down. Austin caught the pass and scored, making it 26-24.
However, one of the biggest plays of the game came right on the extra point. Buehler hooked the kick 20 yards away wide left, and the game changed. At 26-24, a field goal would win it for Arizona.
But that didn't seem the case, as Arizona's 3rd string rookie quarterback and the team were forced with a 4th and 15. But this time Skelton came through, finding Larry Fitzgerald in between defenders on a post route for the first down. Thus the Cardinals had the first down, and the momentum.
On second and 10 for Arizona, receiver Max Komar got open on a deep slant. Skelton found him, and he caught the pass, setting up a 48 yard field goal for kicker Jay Feely. The kick went just inches above the crossbar, giving Arizona the 27-26 lead with 5 seconds left.
And the ensuing kickoff? Oh, that couldn't have been much better. A penalty set the kick back to the 15, but that ended up helping. The kick wasn't touched until it stopped at the 6 inch line, giving the kick returner for Dallas no choice. That ended the game, and gave Arizona a huge win on Christmas.
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Bowl games tonight: Florida International vs Toledo, 5:30 PM PT
Tomorrow: Air Force vs Georgia Tech, 2:00 PM PT
The Arizona Cardinals hadn't had much of a great year, and were already out of the NFC West playoff race, so it may be deserving that they had a Merry Christmas this morning. And then they added a nice football game to go with it.
Arizona squandered a 21-3 lead before rallying and winning on a 48 yard field goal by Jay Feely that barely cleared the crossbar as the Cardinals beat the Dallas Cowboys 27-26 Christmas night, adding a little more excitement to the holiday.
Dallas started with the ball, but on the second play of the game a Cowboy receiver wasn't able to get open on a curl pass. The ball was thrown behind him and right to cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who intercepted the pass and took it back for 6 the other way, giving Arizona the 7-0 lead.
The Cowboys got down to the Arizona 39 yard line and on 1st and 10 they were facing a Cardinals blitz. Jon Kitna was forced to throw a short pass to Roy Williams, who couldn't hold on. The ball went right to Cardinals corner Greg Toler, who returned the pick 66 yards for a touchdown. Arizona led 14-0 after 1.
Dallas poured on a field goal, but the Cardinals would respond, this time on offense. Rookie quarterback John Skelton saw that Andre Roberts had got behind a slipping CB Mike Jenkins, and he timed the pass perfectly, giving Roberts enough time to juke the Dallas safety and chug the extra 30 yards into the end zone.
However, Dallas came back, picking up a huge first down after a 4th down offsides. Then, they converted a 4th and 2, as Kitna found Jason Witten for a touchdown. Arizona led Dallas 21-10 at the half.
After 4 punts, Dallas got the ball at their own 39, and they were able to complete a 19 yard pass and get into field goal range. David Buehler drilled a 53 yard field goal, and Dallas made it a one-score game. Then, on their next possession, a 16 yard punt return set up Marion Barber's 25 yard TD run, making it a 21-20 game.
Arizona was able to put together a nice drive, and Jay Feely finished with a 49 yard field goal, making up for his missed kick earlier. However, Dallas came back, and on a 4th and 5 Rodgers-Cromartie was called for pass interference. On the next play, Miles Austin got a step ahead of his defender, and the safety couldn't bat the ball down. Austin caught the pass and scored, making it 26-24.
However, one of the biggest plays of the game came right on the extra point. Buehler hooked the kick 20 yards away wide left, and the game changed. At 26-24, a field goal would win it for Arizona.
But that didn't seem the case, as Arizona's 3rd string rookie quarterback and the team were forced with a 4th and 15. But this time Skelton came through, finding Larry Fitzgerald in between defenders on a post route for the first down. Thus the Cardinals had the first down, and the momentum.
On second and 10 for Arizona, receiver Max Komar got open on a deep slant. Skelton found him, and he caught the pass, setting up a 48 yard field goal for kicker Jay Feely. The kick went just inches above the crossbar, giving Arizona the 27-26 lead with 5 seconds left.
And the ensuing kickoff? Oh, that couldn't have been much better. A penalty set the kick back to the 15, but that ended up helping. The kick wasn't touched until it stopped at the 6 inch line, giving the kick returner for Dallas no choice. That ended the game, and gave Arizona a huge win on Christmas.
Basketball News
Late 3 pointers by Jameer Nelson help Magic rally from down 12, snap Celtics win streak with 86-78 win. Nelson got a screen and pulled up for a 3 on the wing to make it 77-75, then with the game tied he stepped above the 3 point line, then stepped back and launched up a 3 pointer. After a Celtic free throw, J.J Reddick took a jumper and drilled it, helping Orlando win.
Kevin Durant scored 44 points as Oklahoma City survived Denver 114-106. Durant was able to drive to the hoop and finish on a runner, which he showed. OKC went on a 26-14 run during the 4th quarter.
Monta Ellis scored 39 points as Golden State rallied from down 6 with 4 minutes left to beat the Blazers 109-102. The Warriors got the lead on a Dorell Wright steal and basket, and then a kick-out from Ellis to Reggie Williams gave them a 5 point lead.
LeBron got a triple-double, making 5 threes as the Heat beat the Lakers 96-80. Chris Bosh scored 24 for Miami, while the Heat held Kobe Bryant to just 17, giving the Lakers their second straight 16+ point home loss.
Amare Stoudamire and Raymond Felton helped the Knicks pull away from the Bulls early in the 4th quarter as the Knicks beat the Bulls 103-95. For a period of 8:22, Chicago scored no points. Carlos Boozer scored 26 points and grabbed 19 rebounds for the Bulls, but 20 each from Amare and Felton powered NY to the win.
Bowl games tonight: Florida International vs Toledo, 5:30 PM PT
Tomorrow: Air Force vs Georgia Tech, 2:00 PM PT
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