Hall of Fame wide receiver Marvin Harrison Sr. had some harsh words for the Arizona Cardinals offense that his son, wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. plays in. But Harrison Jr. said after Monday night’s win in Dallas that he doesn’t agree with his dad.
Asked about his father’s opinion that the Cardinals’ offensive scheme is a bad one for a wide receiver, Harrison Jr. said he doesn’t share that opinion.
“Everyone has their own opinions,” Harrison Jr. said. “He said that’s how he feels, not how I feel. I think that’s good to mention because I trust in all the guys.”
Harrison Jr. said he doesn’t talk to his dad much about football and that his dad saves his coaching for his younger son, Jett Harrison, a high school sophomore who also plays wide receiver and is receiving scholarship offers from top programs.
“He’s done a great job of just being a father. He’s more hard on my younger brother now. He just lets me go out there and play,” Harrison Jr. said.
Harrison Jr. did go out there and play on Monday night, catching seven passes for 96 yards and a touchdown. It was a performance that might have even impressed his hard-to-impress father.
Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett has played very well in place of the injured Kyler Murray, but head coach Jonathan Gannon says Murray will return to the starting lineup as soon as he is cleared.
Asked if he would reconsider and keep Brissett at quarterback, Gannon insisted he wouldn’t.
“Nothing’s changed on that,” Gannon said. “That’s how I feel.”
As reporters started to ask follow-ups, Gannon said he wouldn’t answer.
“I’ve got nothing to add on that, guys,” Gannon said. “Like I said, nothing’s changed, guys.”
But the question remains of whether Murray is actually a better quarterback than Brissett, who completed 21 of 31 passes for 261 yards, with two touchdowns and no interceptions, in Monday night’s 27-17 win over the Cowboys. Statistically, Brissett has been better than Murray this season. Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman, who called the game for ESPN, said he believes Brissett should remain the starter even after Murray is cleared. Aikman is far from alone in that opinion.
Gannon’s opinion is the one that matters, however, and Gannon says that if Murray’s injured foot is healthy enough for him to play on Sunday against the Seahawks, then Murray will start.
The announced crowd at AT&T Stadium was 92,211. There were a lot of empty seats when the game started, and only Cardinals remained midway through the fourth quarter.
The Cardinals led from start to finish, blowing out the Cowboys 27-17.
Arizona improved to 3-5, ending its five-game losing streak, while Dallas fell to 3-5-1.
The Cowboys had 333 yards. They punted only once in nine possessions, but twice turned it over on downs across midfield, lost two fumbles, threw an interception and missed a 68-yard field goal. Dallas was 1-for-3 in the red zone.
The Cardinals gained 340 yards on Dallas’ 31st-ranked defense.
Jacoby Brissett, subbing for injured starter Kyler Murray, completed 21 of 31 passes for 261 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for a 1-yard touchdown.
Marvin Harrison Jr. caught seven for 96 yards and a touchdown, and Michael Wilson had three receptions for 61 yards. Emari Demercado had 14 carries for 79 yards.
The Cardinals had five sacks of Dak Prescott, including two each by Josh Sweat and Calais Campbell, and they forced fumbles by Jake Ferguson and George Pickens in Arizona territory. Denzel Burke intercepted Prescott’s final pass of the night when the game was already decided.
Prescott was 24-of-39 for 250 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Javonte Williams ran 15 times for 83 yards. CeeDee Lamb caught seven passes for 85 and Pickens six for 79.
The Cardinals needed only three plays and 2:12 of the second half to increase their lead over the Cowboys.
Arizona opened the second half with Michael Wilson’s 50-yard, catch-and-run to the Dallas 24. Zonovan Knight then ran for 17 yards.
After an illegal formation penalty, Jacoby Brissett hit tight end Trey McBride for a 12-yard touchdown.
The Cardinals lead 24-7.
Brissett is 17-of-24 for 220 yards and two touchdowns. He also has run for a touchdown.
The Cardinals have 269 yards.
Owner Jerry Jones said Monday the Cowboys have a trade in place. He saw in the first half Monday night that one player isn’t going to help his defense.
The Cowboys allowed 190 yards and trail the Cardinals 17-7 at halftime.
Arizona, playing without Kyler Murray again, saw Jacoby Brissett throw a touchdown and run for another. He hit Marvin Harrison Jr. for a 4-yard score and then ran 1 yard for a touchdown on a quarterback sneak.
The Cardinals entered with the 22nd-ranked offense, but the Cowboys trail only the Bengals in total defense.
Arizona scored on three of four possessions, and the only punt they had was blocked by Sam Williams and recovered in the end zone by Marshawn Kneeland. That accounted for all of the Cowboys’ scoring in the first half.
The Cowboys turned it over on downs in the red zone, went three-and-out and lost a fumble by Jake Ferguson. On their final possession, Brandon Aubrey missed a 68-yard field goal that would have tied the NFL record set by Jaguars kicker Cam Little on Sunday.
Brissett was 15-of-22 for 158 yards and a touchdown, with Harrison catching six passes for 80 yards and a touchdown. Elijah Higgins caught three passes for 30 yards.
The Cowboys had 122 yards, with Dak Prescott going 8-of-16 for 75 yards. He had his ankle twisted on the final play of the half when Calais Campbell landed on it. Prescott had a slight limp leaving for the locker room.
George Pickens has two catches for 28 yards and Ferguson four for 27. Javonte Williams has nine rushes for 42 yards.
The Cowboys have four penalties for 30 yards.
