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Most Important Takeaways From Arizona Cardinals Win Over Dallas

By Casey 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.

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

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