When the Cowboys visit Arizona of late, it's provided quite the show. The last three times, it's been decided at the very end.

• In 2008, the game goes to overtime, and the Sean Morey blocks a punt, with Monty Beisel recovering in the end zone for a 30-24 win;
• In 2010, on Christmas night, the Cardinals blew a 21-3 lead and then got a Jay Feely field goal with five seconds left for a 27-26 win;
• In 2011, Cowboys kicker Dan Bailey misses a 49-yard field goal on the final play of regulation and the game went to overtime. LaRod Stephens-Howling then grabbed a Kevin Kolb dump pass and raced 52 yards for the game-winning touchdown.

Whether we'll see that kind of drama Monday night is unlikely, but you can't really know. This is a game where you figure to get a much better read on the Cardinals. No early start time to gum up the works, no road game. If the Cards are going to show more than they have, this is the time and place.

"The Cowboys are apparently 'America's Team' so there will be a lot of eyes on this matchup," cornerback Patrick Peterson said.

In a weekend in which I'm guessing a lot of eyes will be everywhere on the NFL after the President's comments and the league-wide reaction to them, Cardinals-Cowboys will cap what will likely be an emotional weekend all around. A win would do wonders for the Cards' emotion too.

-- I like the concept from Frostee Rucker about the Cardinals staying together one way or the other when it comes to potential protest. The idea that sports can stay separate from where we are as a country, though, that's long past.

-- As expected, John Brown is going to sit again (so will D.J. Humphries), and so J.J. Nelson becomes important again. Not ideal that he's listed as questionable, or that your speed merchant is dealing with a hamstring. If I had to guess, I'd think Nelson plays, but if he was limited all week, there has to be concern with how much he can do.

-- It looks like the Cards finally get Deone Bucannon back. As for the questionable Mike Iupati, after the job Alex Boone did last week, if you aren't sure, it makes sense to me to stick with Boone again.

-- Speaking of Boone, there was some learning-on-the-fly last week. "I'm not even kidding, there was a play where I was like, 'I have no idea what's going on,' " Boone said. "Carson (Palmer) looked at me and told me and was like 'SET, GOOOO!' Hey man, trial by fire, right?"

--All this talk about offensive line play — the Cardinals certainly have had their share — there was a great quote by Browns stud left tackle Joe Thomas this week.

"As offensive linemen, we consider ourselves mushrooms because we get thrown in the corner of a dark room and people pile poop on us and then expect us to grow," Thomas said. "So that is why we are mushrooms."

I have not had a chance to run the mushroom analogy past any of the Cards' linemen.

-- One lineman who actually played tight end this week was rookie guard Will Holden, who played 15 snaps at tight end last week because Jermaine Gresham was hurt and he was a better blocking option in heavy packages than Ifeanyi Momah. Holden said he'd never played tight end before. Ever. In college, he came in for similar heavy packages but he played inside while they had another offensive lineman be the tight end.

"I felt fine," Holden said. "It's a little different view of the defense because you're wider out and it's a little harder to hear. But once you settle into the game, you're just playing football."

Holden said he was happy with his play, although he was willing to allow, smiling, that how well he did was "up for debate." OL coach Harold Goodwin said Holden needed to finish blocks better. Holden probably won't be needed this week now that Gresham is back, but it's an option going forward.

-- The last time the Cardinals hosted the Cowboys on "Monday Night Football" was 1995, when Larry Centers made his incredible leap, Buddy Ryan left before the game was over and cameras were capturing footage later used in the movie "Jerry Maguire."

"Everybody loves Jerry Maguire," Larry Fitzgerald said. " 'Show me the money.' It's what Monday night is all about."

(Speaking of Maguire, it makes you think back to Rod Tidwell, right?)

-- Bruce Arians, after the win in Indy, now has 42 victories as Cardinals head coach. It ties him with Don Coryell for second-most in team history (Ken Whisenhunt has the top mark with 49.) B.A. was asked what he thought of that.

"It was a bad team for a long time," Arians deadpanned. Seriously, though, "to be even mentioned with Coach Coryell, that's mind-boggling to me," Arians added. "He was one of my great idols and watching that team play."

-- A random tidbit Fitz revealed this week, of which I have no recollection: He played special teams as a rookie. He was on punt return, as an outside blocker taking on the opposing gunner.

"I played hold-up guy," Fitzgerald said. "I was pretty good at it too. Me and Nate Poole, we held it down out there."

Poole, if you remember, was on the receiving end of the famous McCown-to-Poole TD pass in the last game of 2003 to knock the Vikings out of the playoffs and send the Cards from the No. 1 overall pick to No. 3. Probably got them Fitzgerald in the first place. Now that's drama.

See everyone Monday night.