The Arizona Cardinals have not lost to the Dallas Cowboys since Week 3 of 2017. For the second straight year, a Week 8 win over America’s team improved Arizona’s record to 3-5.

And it came in the form of a thrilling comeback victory. The Cardinals trailed by 14 points as the fourth quarter began. According to ESPN Insights, Arizona was 1-147-1 since 2000 when trailing by 14 or more in the fourth. Dallas was 69-0 at home when leading by that number in the final quarter in that timespan.

But Sunday’s story was not Chad Ryland’s redemptive 42-yard winner overtime, nor the slew of injuries suffered, nor the positive late-game plays made by Nick Rallis’ defense.

The Cardinals made a long-awaited change at quarterback, and the difference was immediately felt.

Cardinals Complete Cowboys Comeback after QB change

Riding a 3-16 record as Arizona’s starter, Jacoby Brissett began his Sunday with an ugly first half. Through the first two quarters, he had completed just eight of his 20 passes for 104 yards and an interception. He held a passer rating of 36.2. Arizona stalled out on the goal line, settled for a field goal, punted twice and turned it over twice in two ugly quarters of football.

Brissett would only get one second half drive — which lasted six plays for a total of -6 yards — before the Cardinals turned to backup Gardnew Minshew. Carson Beck remained the emergency third QB.

But Minshew proved to be the man for the job. When he entered for his Cardinals debut, there was an instantaneous swing of momentum. RB Tyler Allgeier, in relief of both Jeremiyah Love (ankle) and Bam Knight (concussion), broke free for a 63-yard score on Minshew’s second play. And so began the offensive renaissance.

Allgeier finished with star-level numbers: 191 total yards and two total touchdowns. But the back’s breakout was overshadowed by Minshew, who fired accurate passes and navigated a less-than-clean pocket to a higher degree than his predecessor.

Minshew led a touchdown drive on every regulation possession as the Cardinals roared back to knot the game at 30. He completed 17 of his 23 pass attempts for 188 yards and three scores for a passer rating of 137.3 as the Cardinals’ offense exploded for 467 total yards.

He consistently got the ball to playmakers like Trey McBride and Michael Wilson and finished all three of his Red Zone drives with a touchdown, something the Cardinals had done just once in their previous 12 attempts.

Minshew perfectly engineered not just one, but (nearly) two game-winning drives. An eight-play, 80-yard drive with a minute remaining and no timeouts ended with a strike to Wilson in the end zone. With six seconds left, an extra point would have taken the lead, but an uncharacteristic miss by Ryland spoiled a chance at a regulation victory.

But after a defensive stop in overtime, eight more plays and 44 more yards, the Cardinals kicker was perfect from 42. Minshew’s first snaps in Arizona red came with a clutch victory — and an immediate reversal of quarterback-centric fan anguish.

Cardinals QB situation in flux following Brissett benching

Minshew may not be the answer at quarterback long-term for the Cardinals. In fact, he almost certainly isn’t. But with the repeated struggles of Brissett, a change was long overdue.

It’s fair to point out that other factors have led to a longer leash for Brissett. Arizona’s offense and defense have performed poorly overall. Brissett, however, has repeatedly looked more inaccurate and uncomfortable with each passing game, while Mike LaFleur’s offense felt clunky and disjointed.

With Minshew under center, Arizona’s offense looked like the high-output, low-mistake group fans had hoped to see. The run game looked was much-improved; the pass game was unrecognizable; and extended drives finally concluded with six, not three, points.

After the game, LaFleur would not say for sure if Brissett would remain on the bench in the coming weeks. But the choice is obvious.

Minshew may not lead the Cardinals to the playoffs or assert himself as a top starter — he, like Brissett, has been a backup for most of his career — but he looks like a more comfortable fit in LaFleur’s offense and comes with improved accuracy and mobility. It’s clear Brissett was not the answer.

This was a change that needed to happen, and could signal at least a moderate turning point for this struggling Arizona franchise. Whether or not this road leads to Beck under center, Arizona’s dominance over the Cowboys was saved by their decision to swap quarterbacks.