At this point, Arizona Cardinals fans are desperately hoping their team can bottle some of this up for the games that count.
Rookie quarterback Josh Rosen didn't take the field due to a minor thumb injury, but the guys who did play Sunday took care of business (and then some) to improve to 3-0 during the preseason with a 27-3 win over the host Dallas Cowboys. Granted, Cowboys starting quarterback Dak Prescott and running back Ezekiel Elliott didn't take the field -- but Cards fans still had to be encouraged with what they saw from their team.
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Here are three big takeaways from the Cards' victory in Dallas.
1. Turnovers, turnovers, and more turnovers
The Cardinals have forced a ridiculous 16 turnovers in their first three preseason games, including eight on Sunday night and five in the first half alone. In particular, star cornerback Patrick Peterson had an interception return for a touchdown and a forced fumble, second-year safety Budda Baker recorded an interception of his own, and wide receiver Trent Sherfield recovered a muffed punt for the Cards' first TD of the game.
Hey, Cards: Save some of this for the regular season!
.@AZCardinals punt.@AZCardinals... touchdown?
¯\_(ツ)_/¯#AZvsDAL pic.twitter.com/iJJyvYUbW2
— NFL (@NFL) August 27, 2018
That's a @P2 PICK...
**He starts celebrating from the 20 yard line**
...SIX! #AZvsDAL pic.twitter.com/GuQ2cbrbQv
— NFL (@NFL) August 27, 2018
.@buddabaker32 pulls another turnover out of the oven!
That's FIVE for the @AZCardinals...
In one half. 😱 #AZvsDAL pic.twitter.com/QaiOOfYN1s— NFL (@NFL) August 27, 2018
2. Running wild
Some national experts have been critical of the Cardinals' depth, or lack thereof, heading into the season -- but running back is one position in which there is no such concern.
Along with the return of star David Johnson, who missed most of last season with a wrist injury, rookie running back Chase Edmonds has impressed during preseason play, and he had 55 yards on 11 carries Sunday. T.J. Logan -- an outstanding kickoff return man who is essentially a rookie after missing last year due to injury -- reeled off a 59-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. For the game, the Cardinals ran the ball 27 times for 146 yards.
No one is catching him.@T_Ocho8 TD! pic.twitter.com/P70EmgBL8h
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) August 27, 2018
3. Big injury concern for Foster
Not all is well in the Cardinals' backfield, however, as third-string running back and Valley native D.J. Foster was cartedoff the field late in the first quarter with a knee injury. There is still no official word on Foster's injury, but an MRI is set for Monday.
