ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) \u2014 All three catches Marvin Harrison Jr. had in the first quarter converted long third downs for the Arizona Cardinals, and that certainly helped set a tone against the Dallas Cowboys.<\/p>\n
\u201cPut the pads on. Showed up,\u201d quarterback Jacoby Brissett said, drawing laughter after being asked how Harrison created opportunities early and often. \u201cOnce he got off the bus, I knew he was going to be open. We knew we were going to get our chances outside.\u201d<\/p>\n
Harrison went on to a career-high seven catches for 96 yards, including a 4-yarder from Brissett for the game\u2019s first touchdown, and the Cardinals finished 7 of 9 on third-down conversions in the first half of a 27-17 win Monday night<\/a> that ended their five-game losing streak.<\/p>\n \u201cI knew we\u2019d be aggressive in the first half, especially trying to get me the ball a little bit. So obviously that was music to my ears and I was excited about that,\u201d Harrison said. \u201cBut that was a lot of credit to the O-line, man. They did a good job of giving Jacoby enough time to make some throws, and then after Jacoby did his part as well, putting the ball where it needs to be. I\u2019ve just got to finish the play.\u201d<\/p>\n Maybe this game was a bit easier to watch for Marvin Harrison Sr., the Pro Football Hall of Fame receiver and father of the second-year Cardinals receiver who was the fourth overall pick in the 2024 draft.<\/p>\n The elder Harrison told ESPN.com<\/a> in a story posted before the game Monday that it has been \u201cvery hard\u201d for him to watch Arizona\u2019s offense.<\/p>\n The eight-time Pro Bowl pick who had 1,102 catches and 128 TDs said he \u201cjust can\u2019t relate\u201d to watching the current style of offenses that are so different from his 13 NFL seasons with Indianapolis from 1996-2008. He won a Super Bowl with the Colts at the end of the 2006 season.<\/p>\n \u201cEverybody has their own opinions … he said that’s how he feels, not how I feel,\u201d the younger Harrison said. \u201cI trust in all the guys. I know everyone works really hard throughout the week to be successful. … I just try to do my part and be accountable on my end, do my best to help the team.\u201d<\/p>\n Asked if he thought his father enjoyed watching his latest game, Harrison responded, \u201cYeah, I think so.\u201d<\/p>\n Harrison has 31 catches for 492 yards and three TDs this season. The former Ohio State star’s previous game high for receptions was six, once this year and twice during his rookie season.<\/p>\n On the opening drive for the Cardinals (3-5) against Dallas (3-5-1), he had a 13-yard catch on third-and-8, and gained 15 on a third-and-10. The first quarter ended with his 20-yard reception to convert third-and-14, on the same drive that ended with his TD catch that put Arizona ahead 10-0.<\/p>\n “How many did he have? It seemed like he converted a bunch,” coach Jonathan Gannon said when talking about third-down conversions. \u201cHe was winning a bunch of one-on-ones out there, and Jacoby found him.\u201d<\/p>\n