Cowboys Collapse: Dallas Falls to Cardinals in Overtime Thriller
The Cowboys surrendered a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter and lost 33-30 in overtime, while Florida State fired head coach Mike Norvell after a loss to Clemson.
By Jessica Abebe ·
The Dallas Cowboys lost their grip on the NFC East on Sunday night, surrendering a 14-point fourth-quarter lead to fall 33-30 to the Arizona Cardinals in overtime. The defeat marks a sharp reversal of form for a team that was trending as a division favorite following a dominant win over the Philadelphia Eagles the previous week. The loss places the Cowboys atop the list of the NFL's biggest losers for the week, a designation driven by the magnitude of the collapse rather than just the final score.
The turnaround occurred in just under 15 minutes of play. Dallas held a 30-16 advantage before allowing 23 unanswered points. Arizona quarterback Gardner Minshew, who entered the game as a backup, completed key passes to break the Cowboys' defense. The final scoreline obscures the statistical anomaly of the game. Since 2000, the Cardinals were 1-174-1 when trailing by 14 or more points in the fourth quarter. In contrast, the Cowboys were 69-0 at home when holding a lead of 14 or more points in the fourth quarter prior to this game.
The result has raised questions about head coach Brian Schottenheimer's job security, though he remains in charge for now. The loss was part of a wider wave of NFL upsets on Sunday, including a victory by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers over the Atlanta Falcons. The Cowboys' inability to close out games in tight situations is a recurring theme in their recent history. This specific implosion serves as a stark reminder of the volatility inherent in the current NFL regular season.
In college football, Florida State University has begun a search for a new head coach after dismissing Mike Norvell. The decision followed a loss to Clemson on Saturday night. Norvell finished his tenure with a 10-22 record over his last three seasons at the helm. The program is now looking for a successor to stabilize a roster that showed flashes of competitiveness but lacked consistent execution.
The Georgia Bulldogs climbed to the No. 2 spot in the new AP Top 25 poll after defeating the Florida Gators. Their next challenge comes in a top-tier matchup at Ole Miss. The college football season is entering its critical phase, with the first College Football Playoff rankings scheduled for release Tuesday night. Ohio State, which lost to Oregon, now faces a high-stakes game against the Ducks with no margin for error remaining on its schedule.
In the WNBA, the Golden State Valkyries claimed their first championship in team history by defeating the Atlanta Dream 68-63 in Game 7. Gabby Williams scored 30 points to lead the comeback. The victory caps a remarkable second season for the franchise, which has quickly established itself as a title contender in the league.
The UFC light heavyweight rankings are set to shift after Tom Nolan defeated Renato Moicano via TKO. The decision was controversial because referee Dan Mirgaliotta stood the fighters up due to inactivity while Moicano held a dominant position. Nolan gained momentum in the following round to secure the stoppage, moving closer to the top ten in the division.
Upcoming events include a college basketball game between No. 20 Maryland and No. 1 South Carolina at noon ET, and an NFL game featuring the Bears at the Seahawks at 8:15 p.m. ET on ESPN. The Ohio State Buckeyes will face No. 25 BYU at 9 p.m. ET, a contest that will test the depth of their quarterback rotation.
