GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Sean Morey is that coveted yet usually unsung NFL player -- small and scrappy, a special teams performer in the best sense of the word.

Never was that more true than on the final play of the Arizona Cardinals' game Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys.

As Dallas lined up to punt in overtime, Morey noticed that the personnel on the Cowboys' line had changed. No one, he said, was looking at him.

He was supposed to block for the return, but this was too good of a chance to miss.

Morey rushed untouched off the left side of the Dallas line to block Matt McBriar's kick, then backup linebacker Monty Beisel scooped up the ball and bowled over the goal line from 3 yards out.

A wacky day in the desert was over. Final score: Arizona 30, Dallas 24.

"What a great environment in the stadium today," said Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt, who exchanged high fives with fans to celebrate the victory. "Fans were fantastic. This is what a playoff game feels like."

Morey was special teams captain for Pittsburgh in 2005 and 2006 and has filled the same role for Arizona the last two seasons.

He noticed that in previous punts, his assignment was to double-team Dallas' Kevin Burnett to set up the return. But this time, Burnett had been moved from tackle to guard.

"I figured if I have to block the tackle, and the tackle's not going to block me, then I'm just going to make a play at the end of the game," he said.

Burnett fumed at the mistake, although no one named names.

"Missed assignments -- there's no excuse," he said. "You're a grown man and this is what you make millions of dollars to do. It's a multibillion dollar corporation. There's no reason why you can't take time and make your assignments."

McBriar was hurt on the play and had to be carted off the field in the din of a crowd that included the usual large portion of Dallas fans.

Dallas (4-2) scored 10 points in the final two minutes of regulation, sending the game into overtime when Nick Folk's 52-yard field goal barely cleared the crossbar as the fourth quarter ended.

"It was almost a miracle finish for us," Dallas coach Wade Phillips said.

Almost isn't good enough when you're the Cowboys, who thus far haven't been the dominating team many expected them to be.

"This season isn't going to go straight down this narrow path and be a nice and cozy Sunday drive," Dallas quarterback Tony Romo said.

Folk was in field-goal range only because a 5-yard offside penalty was called against injured Arizona linebacker Travis LaBoy as he tried to limp downfield. The penalty moved the ball from the 40 to the 35.

That was just one of the weird moments in Arizona's sixth consecutive home victory.

"It didn't seem like the bounces or the calls were going our way and sometimes you have to overcome those things," said Whisenhunt, whose team is 9-2 at home since he became coach. "Our team did that. That's part of growing up and getting mentally tougher."

Arizona (4-2) scored 17 consecutive points, including a pair of touchdown passes by Kurt Warner, to go up 24-14 on Neil Rackers' 41-yard field goal with 3:17 left in regulation.

Romo, who threw three touchdown passes but fumbled twice under fierce pressure, connected with Marion Barber on a 70-yard scoring play that cut it to 24-21 with 2 minutes left.

The Cowboys defense held, and they got the ball at their 32. Romo connected with Patrick Crayton on a 30-yard play to the Arizona 39, where the Dallas quarterback spiked the ball with 4 seconds to play to stop the clock.

LaBoy was far upfield.

"We were about 60 yards offsides on the play," Whisenhunt said.

Officials, who had a difficult day all around, huddled for several minutes and even reviewed the play before Folk's tying kick.

The Cowboys scored the last time they had the ball in the first half and on their first possession of the second to take a 14-7 lead.

Romo was sacked three times and had to hurry his throw on several other occasions.

"Today I got hit blindside for the first time in awhile," he said. "They're good. Their D-line played an outstanding football game. You've got to give them credit. That was, I thought, the difference of the game."

Before the blocked punt, Arizona's biggest play of the game came the next time the Cardinals had the ball and it was third-and-17 on their 33.

Warner's pass was tipped at the line of scrimmage, but the intended receiver, rookie Tim Hightower, still caught it. Hightower powered to the first down, and the Cardinals went on for the tying score.

Notes: The Cardinals' home winning streak is their longest since

1975-76. ... Phillips said the team had doubled its special teams practice time to try to shore up some problems. ... Dallas lost running back Felix Jones with an injured left hamstring in the first half. ... Folk's 37-yard field-goal try at the end of the first half bounced off the left upright.