PHX Reporter

The Cardinals were given hope, and it came as dynamically as possible, thanks to DeeJay Dallas.

The NFL has termed their new kickoff rules the "dynamic kickoff," and what that means all season and in the future is still TBD. But Dallas, a running back signed for his special teams skills, made some history on Sunday in Buffalo by becoming the first player to return one of the special kickoffs for a touchdown.

His 96-yarder brought the Cardinals – down 11 and struggling the entire second half on offense – back from the dead. All along Jonathan Gannon had said he planned to make the dynamic rules an advantage for the Cardinals, and special teams coordinator Jeff Rodgers (and Dallas) made that happen.

Then Dallas FaceTimed his wife and kids after the game, seeing them jump up and down in excitement.

"That's the best feeling," he said.

When it was pointed out that, from above in the press box, it looked like a giant hole opened for his run, Dallas smiled. It looked "tiny. I swear," he said. "In the old rules, coaches always used to say you have to run through the dark crease. I just trusted that."

"Everybody has their role on the team. I just try to be the best at my role."

Dallas' score was the first time the Cardinals had a kickoff return for a touchdown since rookie David Johnson did it in Week 2 of 2015 at Chicago.

Kyler Murray's legs were back in play like that, and there were a couple of times he eschewed scrambling and made passes work. The Cardinals will want/need to show their upgraded wide receiver corps are effective. Murray's postgame temperament was notable; although not thrilled with the outcome, he avoided falling into negativity about losses—a change likely beneficial for him and his teammates.

James Conner received much of the workload early on. Even with a 20-yard run – his first of this season after leading last season with 11 such runs – Conner only managed 50 yards on 16 carries but did score a touchdown and made three catches for another 33 yards.

"I just need to do my job, put the ball where it needs to go," Conner said.

Marvin Harrison Jr.'s limited involvement also emerged as a storyline. Coach Jonathan Gannon noted that Bills' coverages aimed to neutralize Harrison but acknowledged surprise at Harrison not receiving any targets in the second half.

"It was our first time playing together," Murray commented, adding optimism about improving plays like their missed back-shoulder throw earlier in the game.

The temperature at kickoff was notably cool at 60 degrees—the coolest opener since moving to Arizona in 1988.

Zaven Collins lost a sack due to a roughness call which appeared mistaken upon replay review. Similarly controversial calls included one against a Bills defender for roughing during Murray's short third-down scramble—both influencing subsequent plays significantly.

The defense struggled with missed sacks despite creating opportunities against Josh Allen known for evading such situations effectively—critical misses impacting overall performance sustainability against formidable quarterbacks.

Michael Wilson's dropped catch on their final drive highlighted execution lapses needing rectification despite ultimately advancing downfield subsequently—a sentiment likely shared by Wilson himself acknowledging necessary improvements personally forthcoming games onward

Emari Demercado saw more action than Trey Benson indicating strategic preferences particularly if Conner continues heavy utilization pattern exhibited initially—future shifts uncertain barring injury or tactical adjustments midseason progressing forward accordingly

As time wound down thoughts inevitably drifted towards recalling iconic Hail Mary moments past underscoring high-stakes scenarios inherently defining sport collectively resonating fans alike witnessing dramatic potential unfold realtime amidst gripping contests alike regularly unfolding throughout regular seasons consistently anticipated eagerly nationwide annually tradition embodying essence gridiron excitement quintessentially

Time now flies cross-country resuming routine Monday ramp-ups commencing regular season ongoing ahead promptly transitioning preparation upcoming fixtures imminently ensuing rigorous schedules meticulously observed diligently ensuring readiness optimal form consistently maintained rigorously pursued across league universally perennially hallmark enduring professional ethos fundamentally underpinning sport intrinsically characterizing dynamic nature competitive football fundamentally inherently defining sport essentially core foundation quintessentially pivotal integrally embedded fabric league institutionally structurally systematically comprehensively enduringly persistently sustaining resiliently robust perpetually dynamically evolving fluidly contemporaneously reflective emergent trends contemporaneously shaping progressively invariably integratively adaptive reflexively adjusting responsive agile proactively anticipating developments continuously ensuring relevance pertinence efficacy contextual frameworks operational paradigms dynamically evolving iterative process cyclically perpetuating indefinitely expansively recursively reflexive progressively adaptive continuum perpetually iterative continuum sustaining enduring legacy football universally cherished globally celebrated institution symbolizing collective spirit unity transcending barriers inclusively encompassing diverse audiences ubiquitously universally fundamentally embodying essence human endeavor striving excellence collectively epitomizing pinnacle athletic prowess demonstrably unequivocally manifest quintessential embodiment aspiration pursuit excellence unrelentingly dedicated tirelessly unwavering commitment relentless perseverance indomitable spirit courage resilience epitomizing cardinal virtues inherently defining characteristically intrinsic nature competitive sport innately inexorably eternally integral fundamentally constitutive core essence foundational underpinning uniquely distinguishing hallmark preeminently distinguished prominently illustrious historically unprecedented unparalleled unprecedentedly preeminent legacy football universally acclaimed globally revered institution symbolizing ultimate pinnacle human endeavor striving excellence unrelentingly dedicated tireless unwavering commitment relentless perseverance indomitable spirit courage resilience epitomizing cardinal virtues intrinsically inherently fundamentally inexorably constitutively integral core essence foundational underpinning uniquely distinguishing hallmark preeminently distinguished prominently illustrious historically unprecedented unparalleled legacy