The Arizona Cardinals pulled off what is the biggest upset in the early going of the NFL season in Week 3. They welcomed the 2-0 Dallas Cowboys into town, who had been dominant in their first two games of the season. 

Dallas entered the Week 3 matchup outscoring the New York Giants and New York Jets 70-10. Not many people were giving the Cardinals much of a chance in the game, as they expected another steamrolling and Cowboys victory.

Alas, Arizona had other plans. They looked like the team that was coming into the game with a 2-0 record and dominating opponents as they crushed the Cowboys 28-16. It was a wire-to-wire victory for the Cardinals, who scored on their opening drive of the game and never looked back.

It was a monumental moment for Carindals’ starting quarterback Joshua Dobbs. Dobbs had made four starts previously in his career, coming away as the loser in each one. Sunday was the first time that his team won a game with him as the starter in his NFL career. Coincidentally enough, it was the Cowboys who he made his first career start against.

“It was a tremendous full-circle moment because it feels like yesterday, man, I was getting ready for my first start on Thursday night against the Dallas Cowboys,” Dobbs said following the 28-16 win, via ESPN. “So, yeah, it was a great full-circle moment and so it was good to take a moment to enjoy it.”

Dobbs played well in the victory, continuing his solid play from the first two weeks of the season. Against Dallas, he completed 17-of-21 pass attempts for 189 yards and one touchdown, adding 55 yards on six carries on the ground.

On the season, Dobbs has now completed 72 percent of his passes for 549 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. He has added 93 yards on 13 carries with another score on the ground, playing well enough to keep Arizona competitive early in the season. He is hopeful that Sunday afternoon isn’t a one-and-done deal.

“I mean, hopefully one of many,” Dobbs said, “but back to the drawing board tomorrow.”

The Cardinals have looked better than anyone could have imagined coming into the season. They played the Washington Commanders and Giants tough in the first two weeks of the season, holding a fourth-quarter lead in both games.

While they were unable to finish the deal in those games, the Cardinals have shown that they will not be pushovers this season. This is a win that could build some momentum for the franchise. 

“Especially when you hear everybody saying, we’re going to go 0-and-16,” linebacker Kyzir White said. “To get a win against the Cowboys, a great team like that, feel good.” White sealed Dobbs first career win, and the first for the Cardinals in 2023, with an interception in the end zone with about three minutes remaining in the game.