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DeMarvion Overshown Doesn’t Hold Back After Collapse Against Cardinals
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- DeMarvion Overshown Doesn’t Hold Back After Collapse Against Cardinals
The Dallas Cowboys had everything going their way against the Arizona Cardinals before watching another victory slip away. After holding Arizona to just three points in the first half, Dallas surrendered 30 points over the final two quarters and overtime in a devastating 33-30 loss.
The defeat was especially frustrating for a defense that showed significant improvement in its previous matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. Linebacker DeMarvion Overshown didn't hide his frustration after the game, making it clear that the Cowboys cannot continue putting together incomplete performances.
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DeMarvion Overshown frustrated with Cowboys' defensive collapse
The Cowboys entered halftime with a 17-3 advantage and appeared to have control of the game. Their defense was playing aggressively, making tackles and forcing Arizona into difficult situations.
However, the second half was a completely different story. Backup quarterback Gardner Minshew and running back Tyler Allgeier helped lead Arizona's comeback, with the Cardinals scoring touchdowns on four consecutive possessions to erase Dallas' lead.
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"You have a great second half versus Eagles, and you have a great first half in this game, so you think you're on the right track, and then you crap the bed the second half," Overshown said candidly of the Cowboys defense in the 33-30 overtime loss at home. "I don't know. We have to see what exactly went wrong, but it's just — it can't happen. It just can't happen."
Dallas managed to get a stop on Arizona's opening possession in overtime, but the offense couldn't capitalize. The Cowboys went three-and-out, giving the Cardinals another opportunity to win the game.
Cowboys defense continues to struggle with explosive plays
One of the biggest problems for Dallas was its inability to prevent Arizona from creating explosive plays after halftime.
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Allgeier finished with 147 rushing yards on just 11 carries, including a 63-yard touchdown. Minshew also provided a spark through the air, completing 17 of 23 passes for 188 yards and three touchdowns.
"We just didn't find a way to get off the field as a defense, and gave up too many explosive plays, Overshown said. "We already know that if you give up explosive plays, teams find ways to score the ball, so we gotta be better, man. We've just gotta be better."
The Cowboys have struggled to consistently stop opposing offenses throughout the season. Sunday's performance was another reminder that a strong start means very little if the defense cannot maintain that level of play for four quarters.
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DeMarvion Overshown says Cowboys must learn from repeated mistakes
Perhaps the most concerning part of Sunday's loss is that Dallas continues to experience similar problems. The Cowboys have shown flashes of defensive improvement, but putting together a complete performance remains a challenge.
"To be honest, I wish I had the answer to that. I really don't know what happened in the second half. We weren't tackling great and, like I said, giving up explosives is stuff you can't do," Overshown said. "We were up 17-3, and you gotta hone in at that point. That's the time to choke them out as we want, but you can't let a NFL team play and keep close in any game.
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"We already know how these games are. They're never over until the fourth quarter. It's a lesson we've got to learn, and we're tired of learning this lesson, but it was another lesson we got to learn."
The Cowboys have another opportunity to respond next week when they travel to face the Indianapolis Colts. However, the defense needs to show that it can carry its best performances from one half into an entire game.
This story was originally published by Athlon on Nov 2, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
