Cardinals prove tanking is a myth with stunning win over Cowboys

It’s one of biggest taboos in American sports. Should weakened, under-performing teams focus on acquiring as high a draft pick as possible for the following season, rather than competing in games in the current?

Of course, admitting to deliberate tanking, i.e. looking to lose games, is illegal, and an act which goes against every value of sport. Yes, the NFL is a business and earlier picks means better players, which could ultimately lead to greater on-field success.

So much of the 2023 offseason chatter about the Arizona Cardinals was focused on their roster moves, and how much of an indication their strategy was in line with tanking. With Kyler Murray injured and future up in the air, Caleb Williams seemed to be the goal, and with it, a fresh start for the franchise.

But on Sunday, the Cardinals stunned the NFL world by toppling the previously unbeaten Dallas Cowboys 28-16 in Arizona, in a game billed as the best against the worst in the league.

The Cowboys were without a number of stars in Trevon Diggs, Zack Martin, Tyron Smith and Tyler Biadasz, but the Cardinals had to do it without their best player in Budda Baker. The away side were incredible poor throughout the context; ill-discipline, a woeful run defense and poor red zone offensive conversion were largely to blame.

Yet it was the brilliance of Arizona, led by new head coach Jonathan Gannon, that unexpectedly stole the headlines. They are proving they are not the pitiful, untalented team that many pundits believe are looking to be uncompetitive in 2023.

Maybe the Cardinals aren’t all that bad?

Of course, there is reason to think that the Cardinals were dismissing the progress of 2023 to focus on 2024. Not only do the Cardinals own their first-round draft pick in the upcoming draft, but also they own Houston’s, and have an abundance of selections next year.

With Kyler Murray still not ready to return from knee surgery, they traded for Dobbs just a few weeks before the opener. It didn’t look good.

But the Cardinals coaches and players have seemingly reversed that narrative and impressed during the opening stage of the season. Infact, for the third week in a row, the Cardinals entered the fourth quarter with a lead, they could have won in week one against the Commanders, and should been able to protect a 20+ lead against the Giants.

QB Joshua Dobbs finished 17-of-21 for 189 yards and a touchdown against the Cowboys to pick up his first career victory as a starter, with big plays from Rondale Moore, Marquise Brown and Kyzir White all making big plays.

The team is playing hard, and will continue to do so for the rest of the season. Players are playing for their futures, and that could lead to a few more surprises down the line.