GLENDALE, Ariz. — Dak Prescott threw for two touchdowns and flipped into the end zone on a 10-yard run for another and the Dallas Cowboys beat the Arizona Cardinals 28-17 on Monday night.
Before the game, Cowboys and outspoken owner Jerry Jones kneeled before the National Anthem, which drew boos from sections of the stands at the University of Phoenix Stadium.
Members of both teams then stood in separate locations in a locked-arm anthem protests.
The National Anthem prior to @DallasCowboys vs. @AZCardinals on MNF. pic.twitter.com/VlIF074AyY
— NFL (@NFL) September 26, 2017
“We planned and it was executed that we would go out and kneel,” Jones said.
“Basically make the statement regarding the need for unity and the need for equality.”
Even pop star Jordin Sparks, who sang the national anthem, had a message. Hers was written on her hand and it was “PROV 31:8-9”
The bible verse read: “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”
ACTION ON THE FIELD
When play got underway on the field, Jaron Brown scored on a 25-yard pass from Carson Palmer to give the Cardinals the lead midway through the first quarter.
However, the Cowboys (2-1) answered back when shortly before the halftime break when Prescott finished off a 10-yard run with a head over heels flipped into the end zone with 1:11 left in the second quarter.
The third quarter ended 14-14 after Prescott found Dez Bryant with a 15-yard scoring pass for Dallas and Carson Palmer mirrored that distance when he found Larry Fitzgerald to knot the game.
Prescott and the Cowboys then pulled away in the fourth quarter after Brice Butler pulled down a 37-yard pass inside the end zone and Ezekiel Elliott ran home from 8-yards to polish off the game, as the travelers outscored Arizona 14-3 in the last quarter.
Dak Prescott of Dallas Cowboys flipped into the end zonePrescott finished 13 of 18 for 183 yards without an interception, while Butler took two catches for 90 yards and his TD and Elliott ran for 80 yards and his TD for Dallas, which bounced back from the 42-17 defeat to Denver in Week 3.
“He just kept battling,” Dallas coach Jason Garrett said of his QB.
“He kept making good decisions. Obviously he made some good plays, big-time throws, but as much as anything else he’s got an amazing spirit and our players follow him.”
Meanwhile, Carson Palmer went 29 of 48 for 325 yards and two touchdowns for the Cardinals (1-2), who outgained Dallas 332-273, but had only 49 rushing yards.
“There running game was dependent on me,” Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said, as he took the blame.
“I loved what we had passing the ball. We just had to protect better.”
Larry Fitzgerald collected 13 of 15 targets to tie a career high for receptions for 149 yards and a touchdown and Jaron Brown also had a scoring reception for Arizona in the defeat.
“That’s Fitz. It’s Monday night,” Arians said. “He’s a money player.
“It was a great performance by him. It’s a shame we couldn’t play better around him.”
