2005 NFC Wild Card vs Cowboys
When a rookie QB and a longshot team knocked out the NFL giants.
On January 7, 2006, at Sun Devil Stadium, Arizona's rebuilding squad sent shockwaves through the NFL by dismantling the defending division champion Dallas Cowboys in a Wild Card upset. Rookie quarterback Matt Leinart led a Cardinals team that dominated one of the league's established powers in what remains one of the most jarring playoff results in history.
- Date
- January 7, 2006
- Location
- Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona
- Result
- Cardinals 27, Cowboys 7
- Key Player
- Matt Leinart (Rookie QB)
- Significance
- First playoff victory in franchise history since 1947
- Opponent Record
- Cowboys entered as NFC East Champions
Lore & Background
The atmosphere in Tempe was electric but laced with skepticism. The narrative was simple: the historic powerhouse from Texas versus the perennial also-ran from the desert. However, when the game began, the script flipped. Matt Leinart, a highly touted rookie who had spent his college career at USC, displayed a poise far beyond his years. He orchestrated the offense with surgical precision, exploiting a Dallas defense that was ill-prepared for the speed and execution of the Cardinals' attack.
In Their Own Story
The desert air hung heavy over Sun Devil Stadium as the sun began to dip below the horizon on that cold January evening. The roar of the crowd seemed to vibrate through the ground beneath the players' cleats. Matt Leinart stepped onto the turf, his eyes scanning a Dallas defense that looked less like an impenetrable wall and more like a puzzle waiting to be solved. With a deep breath, he took the snap, the ball spinning perfectly in his grip before launching it downfield—a spiral of hope that would soon shatter decades of heartbreak.
Reader's Guide
The game began with the Cowboys looking to establish control early, but they found themselves stifled by an aggressive Arizona defense. The momentum shifted decisively when Matt Leinart connected with wide receiver Anquan Boldin for a crucial touchdown in the first quarter. This play set the tone, as the Cardinals' offense seemed to operate on a different plane than the Cowboys expected. Throughout the second half, the Cardinals capitalized on Dallas turnovers and defensive miscues. The Arizona secondary, led by veterans like Adrian Wilson, held Romo in check, forcing critical errors that kept the Cowboys' scoreline stagnant. Leinart's ability to extend plays and find open receivers downfield was the difference maker, as he threw for over 200 yards and two touchdowns without a single interception. This match remains etched in fan memory because it broke the longest playoff losing streak in NFL history at the time. It wasn't just a win; it was a validation of a new era for the franchise. The final score of 27-7 stands as a testament to the night the Cardinals proved they belonged among the elite, silencing critics and igniting a passion that would define the team's identity for years to come.
Did You Know?
- This victory ended a 58-year playoff winless streak for the franchise dating back to 1947.
- Matt Leinart became the first rookie quarterback in NFL history to lead his team to a playoff victory on the road against a division champion (though technically at home, it was an away game for Dallas).
- The Cardinals' defense forced two fumbles and held the high-powered Cowboys offense to just 7 points.
- This game marked the first time since 1947 that the franchise advanced to the Divisional Round of the playoffs.