Gardner Minshew Leads Cardinals Back To Stunning Win Vs. Cowboys After Replacing Jacoby Brissett

The Dallas Cowboys appeared to be in control early in Week 8. After jumping out to a 17-3 lead, the Cowboys watched as the Arizona Cardinals made a desperation move, benching Jacoby Brissett near the end of the third quarter.

Then, Gardner Minshew happened.

Despite a 14-point deficit, the backup led the Cardinals all the way back against the Cowboys, eventually willing his team to a 33-30 overtime win vs. Dallas.

After leading the team to four straight touchdown drives to tie things up in reguation, Minshew then watched as the Cardinals' defense and running game put the team in position for a game-winning field goal in overtime.

Despite missing an extra point at the end of the fourth quarter that would have won the Cardinals the game in regulation, Cardinals kicker Chad Ryland managed to convert this time, leading the Cardinals to a victory.

It was an improbable result, especially considering how things started. When Minshew took over, his team faced a 14-point deficit, and had not been able to get anything going offensively.

But the backup found a way to rally the Cardinals in the final quarter, bringing the team all the way back to tie the game with just seconds to play. If not for a missed extra-point attempt with just six seconds on the clock, Minshew would have led the Cardinals to a win in regulation.

But Ryland's missed kick kept the game tied. Two plays later, the Cowboys decided to take a knee, sending the contest into overtime.

In overtime, the Cardinals initially gave Minshew a chance to keep the magic going. But a sack and two incomplete passes ended the team's first drive in the frame.

The Cardinals' defense forced a quick stop, however, leading to a 3-and-out for Dallas.

At that point, Arizona decided to bully Dallas' run defense. Minshew completed a short pass to tight end Trey McBride on the team's second drive in overtime and then watched as the Cardinals ran six straight running plays to get into field goal position.

Ryland converted this time around, giving the Cardinals an unexpected win.

Jacoby Brissett benched vs. Cowboys

That result didn't seem possible through the first three quarters of the contest. With the Cardinals trailing by 14, Brissett couldn't do enough to lead the team back. After taking sacks on consecutive plays with a little over four minutes to play in the third quarter, Brissett was benched in favor of Minshew.

At the time he was removed from the game, Brissett was just 10 of 23 for 119 yards and an interception. He was sacked four times.

With the team trailing 17-3, Minshew was put into the game with roughly 1:35 to play in the third quarter. He completed his first pass attempt and then watched as Tyler Allgeier broke free for a 63-yard rushing touchdown on the next play, bringing the Cardinals within one score.

The Cowboys scored a touchdown on the team's next drive, however, threatening to end any chance of a Cardinals' comeback.

But Minshew continued to claw the team back. Despite the deficit, Minshew threw touchdowns on the team's next two offensive drives. The Cowboys answered both drives with field goals, giving Dallas a 30-24 lead with just 1:06 to play.

Despite being out of timeouts, Minshew once again led the Cardinals down the field, connecting with Allgeier and Michael Wilson to get the team down to the 13-yard line with just 10 seconds to play.

That's when Minshew found Wilson in the back of the end zone for the game-tying touchdown. That proved to be Minshew's final big play in the win, and the one that will likely lead to Minshew being the team's starter moving forward.

After Brissett failed to get things done early, Minshew finished 17 of 23, with 188 passing yards and three touchdowns in the win.