THE DALLAS COWBOYS proved on Monday Night Football that they can take a punch and deliver one too.
The Cowboys overcame a slow start but eventually looked like their old selves again, bouncing back from last week’s crushing loss to defeat the Arizona Cardinals 28-17.
Dak Prescott threw for two touchdown passes and going airborne for another score as the Cowboys snapped a four-game losing run against Arizona.
Dez Bryant dragged five defenders over the line for one touchdown with Brice Butler hauling in a 37-yard pass for the other, while Ezekiel Elliott finished with 80 yards and also ran for a touchdown.
Before the game, the Cowboys and Cardinals added their voices to the wave of protests against racism and division across the United States as the players collectively took a knee.
The Cowboys were joined by team owner Jerry Jones in kneeling down at mid-field, but they chose to do so before former “American Idol” winner Jordin Sparks sang the national anthem in front of a crowd of 65,100 at the University of Phoenix Stadium.
The Cowboys said they wanted to take a knee as a statement of equality and a representation of unity but without protesting “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
Sparks, an African-American, also wanted to send a message of unity as she wrote on her left hand ’31:8-9′ — a Bible verse that reads: “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.”
The Cardinals also locked arms during the anthem, but nobody appeared to take a knee or raise a clenched fist.
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