Editor: Joe Bryant. Game Recap Contributors: Mike Anderson, Michael Brown, Chris Burtt, J.D. Caldwell, David Dodds, Bobby Elder, Jim Enochs, Joel Faulhaber, Michael Flynn, Kevin Goldblum, Clayton Gray, Bob Harris, Fred Hebert, Jesse Hilsenrad, Drew Kendall, Jeff Lewis, Joey Matusek, Justin Oliver, Steve Prosapio, David Shick, Cody Smith, Scott Smith, Jeffrey Stout. Dallas 6 at Arizona 9 (OT) WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW Dallas Cowboys: Behind a banged-up makeshift line, Quincy Carter was unable to sustain a drive. Tackle Larry Allen did not suit up. The game plan became run the Cardinal secondary to sleep, then throw a deep prayer to Antonio Bryant and maybe they'll get lucky. Carter was sacked on the Cowboys' opening play and was afforded no protection in the backfield from blitzes. He made mistake after mistake, making bad throws into double coverage. Interceptions came from under throwing deep, throwing behind the receiver at the goal line, or into double coverage in the end zone while being pressured out of the pocket. Carter did not seem to recognize the term "ball security". Emmitt Smith ran for a season-high 82 yards. He got virtually all of the carries in the first three quarters. He was doing a nice job picking holes. However, he was running more on his toes than running hard. Still has 93 yards to go to break Walter Payton's record. Troy Hambrick came in the fourth quarter and overtime to give the Cowboys a change-of-pace to Smith. Hambrick's straight-ahead style was effective. Hambrick got to the holes much quicker than Smith as the Cowboy offensive line could not maintain their blocks and holes disappeared as soon as they opened up. Arizona Cardinals: Arizona's game plan was opposite that of the Cowboys. The Cardinals played a conservative, field-position game. This was most evident when the Cardinals did not have any wide receivers on the field for four straight plays inside the Dallas ten, right before the half. Thomas Jones was the man for three quarters. He carried the ball 15 times in the first half. The Cardinals ran out of a single-back or no-back formation throughout the first two drives. Twice Jake Plummer threw to Jones when he was split-out wide. Both times the pass went through Jones' hands. Jones was benched in favor of Marcel Shipp in the fourth quarter after Jones' lost fumble. Plummer's accuracy was non-existent. He was consistently missing receivers or putting the ball where the receiver was unable to gain yards after the catch. Had several nice scrambles, finishing with 46 yards rushing. David Boston was Plummer's main target, even though he only got one look in the first quarter. Boston was wide-open in the second quarter before Dallas adjusted to double coverage in the second half. Plummer missed Boston twice, once on a pass deflection at the line of scrimmage. Boston bobbled an incompletion while wide-open over the middle and dropped a pass when hit by Mario Edwards. Boston was unable to get both feet in bounds on a catch in the corner of the end zone. WHAT YOU OUGHT TO KNOW Dallas Cowboys QB: Quincy Carter - Carter was sacked on the Cowboys' opening play and was afforded no protection in the backfield from blitzes. He made mistake after mistake, making bad throws into double coverage. Interceptions came from under throwing deep, throwing behind the receiver at the goal line, or into double coverage in the end zone while being pressured out of the pocket. Carter did not seem to recognize the term "ball security". RB: Emmitt Smith - Ran for a season-high 82 yards. He got virtually all of the carries in the first three quarters. He was doing a nice job picking holes. However, he was running more on his toes than running hard. Still has 93 yards to go to break Walter Payton's record. Troy Hambrick - Came in the fourth quarter and overtime to give the Cowboys a change-of-pace to Smith. Hambrick's straight-ahead style was effective. Hambrick got to the holes much quicker than Smith as the Cowboy offensive line could not maintain their blocks and holes disappeared as soon as they opened up. WR: Antonio Bryant - The rookie was Dallas' number one target. Carter was looking to Bryant on two of his interceptions, the first one being a long pass. Had a wide-open drop when Dallas was at their own two. Nice finger-tip catch and run on the 78-yard touchdown. Was overthrown later in the game on another deep route. Joey Galloway - Got his first look when Carter missed him with four minutes left in the first half. His first catch came within the last two minutes of regulation. In overtime, he made a nice move turning a two-yard catch into a 24-yard gain. Played with thumb wrapped. Ran a reverse. Darnay Scott - Was a good third receiver when Carter could get him the ball. TE: Tony McGee - Went up high for a nice catch. Was the target on one of Carter's interceptions in the end zone, as Carter was flushed from the pocket. Cowboys Pass Defense: Missed Dat Nguyen, who is out with a wrist injury. That allowed Boston to get wide open over the middle. Mario Edwards could not match up with Boston. It was Edwards' pass interference in overtime that set up the winning field goal. Cowboys Rush Defense: Rookie safety Roy Williams showed he could play the run with tackles in the Cardinal backfield. The front four did an adequate job against the "Big Red" line of Arizona. Cowboys Special Teams: Muffed snap on an extra point by holder Micah Knorr cost Dallas the game. Billy Cundiff missed wide right on a potential game-winning 49-yard field goal. /**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/** Arizona Cardinals QB: Jake Plummer - Plummer's accuracy was non-existent. He was consistently missing receivers or putting the ball where the receiver was unable to gain yards after the catch. Had several nice scrambles, finishing with 46 yards rushing. RB: Thomas Jones - Was the man for three quarters. He carried the ball 15 times in the first half. Twice Jake Plummer threw to Jones when he was split-out wide. Both times the pass went through Jones' hands. Jones was benched in favor of Marcel Shipp in the fourth quarter after Jones' lost fumble. Marcel Shipp - Was ineffective running East and West. Plummer overthrew him in the flat. Damien Anderson - Suited up but did not see any action in the Cardinal backfield. WR: David Boston - Was Plummer's main target, even though he only got one look in the first quarter. Boston was wide-open in the second quarter before Dallas adjusted to double coverage in the second half. Plummer missed Boston twice, once on a pass deflection at the line of scrimmage. Boston bobbled an incompletion while wide-open over the middle and dropped a pass when hit by Edwards. Boston was unable to get both feet in bounds on a catch in the corner of the end zone. MarTay Jenkins - The Cardinals' number two man. He was blanketed on an early incompletion. Bobbled and stayed with the ball to come up a catch later in the game. Was overthrown in overtime. Ran a reverse. Frank Sanders - Has become a third-down possession receiver. Was overthrown on a deep sideline route. Was the nearest receiver in the end zone on a Plummer throw away. TE: Freddie Jones - Jones was Plummer's target on three of his first eight attempts, but only two more looks the rest of the game. He dropped one of those early attempts in his gut and was missed on another as Plummer was flushed from the pocket. Received a target in the end zone but it was more of a Plummer throw away. Steve Bush - Caught both of his passes when split out wide. Cardinals Pass Defense: Showed a good rush against a poor offensive line. Nickel back Renaldo Hill did a fine job in coverage. Arizona was caught with only three defensive backs on the Cowboy touchdown. Cardinals Rush Defense: Should have dominated the line of scrimmage against Dallas. Instead, they allowed 148 yards rushing. Cardinals Special Teams: Bill Gramatica went three for six while short and wide right on a 53-yarder, hooking badly a 27-yarder, and missing a 51-yarder by a hair to the right. Came back to solidly stroke the game winning 40-yarder in overtime. Punter Scott Player could have been Arizona's "player" of the game. Player placed five punts inside the twenty, including three inside the ten.