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Most Important Takeaways From Arizona Cardinals Win Over Dallas

ByCasey Pazzalia|
ARLINGTON, TX - AUGUST 26: Patrick Peterson #21 of the Arizona Cardinals carries the ball to the end zone for a touchdown after an interception in the first quarter of a preseason football game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on August 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - AUGUST 26: Patrick Peterson #21 of the Arizona Cardinals carries the ball to the end zone for a touchdown after an interception in the first quarter of a preseason football game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on August 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)
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LANDOVER, MD – DECEMBER 17: Phil Dawson #4 of the Arizona Cardinals celebrates after kicking a field goal in the fourth quarter against the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field on December 17, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD – DECEMBER 17: Phil Dawson #4 of the Arizona Cardinals celebrates after kicking a field goal in the fourth quarter against the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field on December 17, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

This Kicker Battle is REAL

After Arizona’s second preseason game, we talked about the potential battle at the kicker position between Phil Dawson and Matthew McCrane. Dawson had missed a field goal in Week 2 and McCrane banged a 53-yard bomb. It was worth talking about although it seemed unlikely they’d make such a drastic switch.

Fast forward to the Cardinals-Cowboys game.

THE SAME EXACT THING HAPPENED!

Dawson missed a long field goal badly after their special teams forced a turnover and Bradford moved them into field goal range. It sailed way left and probably wouldn’t have been long enough anyway.

McCrane, on the other hand, got a shot at the same field goal in the fourth quarter and drilled it.

This kicker battle is seriously serious. McCrane, who had a decorated career at Kansas State, has proved he has an NFL-caliber leg while Dawson has seemed weathered. Dawson was a captain on Arizona’s 2017 team but it’s all about production. After all, the kicker is typically an NFL team’s highest-scoring player.

At this point, I’d make the switch and give the gig to rookie — he’s earned it.

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