Most Important Takeaways From Arizona Cardinals Win Over Dallas
![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)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/21b0e38847266c8559e0d50660bd82de8740d4c7b8165240a88c539c9f5be5ec.jpg)
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.
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At this point, I’d make the switch and give the gig to rookie — he’s earned it.