The Arizona Cardinals ended their five-game losing streak in style, scoring a dominant 27-10 victory on the road against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. Quarterback Jacoby Brissett was a key factor in the victory. His jaw-dropping performance didn’t just paint a picture of his skills, but displayed the impressive turnaround of the Dirty Birds. Confidence flowed from Brissett to the Cardinals. Her team had left a high-powered offense spinning its wheels, impotent on big third downs and not consistently moving the football down the field.
Brissett was sharp, completing 24 of his 32 pass attempts while accumulating 261 yards. He threw two touchdowns and played the entire game without any picks. Brissett tonight as he played in his third start of the season. As of publishing, he now owns the top five passing games for the Cardinals in 2023! His poise to control the game was on full display as he steered this team to a 38-20 halftime advantage.
Key Contributions to Victory
Brissett’s leadership on the field proved crucial as he orchestrated an 11-play, 74-yard drive that culminated in a 1-yard touchdown run just before halftime. It was a huge play that gave the Cardinals a 10-point lead and plenty of momentum headed into the halftime break. Over the course of the game, Brissett proved time and again that he could go after the Cowboys’ defensive weaknesses, especially their third down woes.
Arizona’s offense was notably more productive under Brissett’s guidance, converting seven of nine third-down attempts in the first half alone. The Cowboys entered Week 9 with their backs against the wall. On defense, they owned the league’s worst third-down mark, allowing opponents to convert an eye-popping 52.4%. Brissett took as well as possible advantage of that opportunity. His performance helped push Arizona’s total offensive yards over 300 for the third consecutive game.
No one is better at making the easy throws than Brissett. In those three starts this season, he’s thrown for six touchdowns and just one interception. His performance propelled the team to their first NCAA championship. In the process, it confirmed him to be a reliable quarterback of the future.
Evaluating the Future
With Brissett’s contract totaling $230.5 million, questions arise regarding his future with the team, especially in light of Kyler Murray‘s current status. Murray is currently under contract with a big salary. At the same time, Brissett’s hot stretch puts the Cardinals’ coaching staff in a very interesting spot. They have to balance what it’ll take to keep Brissett as a quality starter with what adding him even counts on Murray’s projected return from injury.
Trey McBride, arguably the second biggest star of this game behind Dorian Thompson-Robinson, has flourished under Brissett’s guidance. He pulled down two touchdown receptions, increasing his total to four touchdowns. Impressively, he did this in only three games with Brissett as his starting QB. Perhaps more impressively, this extensive development highlights the profound effect Brissett has had on his own performance, more so that of his teammates.
As the 2023 season approaches the midway point, the Arizona Cardinals find themselves at an interesting crossroads with Kyler Murray. They must consider Brissett’s impressive display against Dallas while keeping in mind Murray’s capabilities as a former franchise quarterback.
Analyzing Performance and Strategy
The reasserted Cardinals’ offensive plan just looked smarter together against Dallas. By reading defenses and executing plays with precision, Brissett made sure Arizona was always in command of the game. The Cardinals made radical changes on the offensive end. This increase resulted in significantly improved effectiveness on 3rd down, pretty imperative considering the Cowboys’ issues of defense.
Brissett’s performance in overtime against the Cowboys is a shining example of a drastic change for the Cardinals. This is the most encouraging trend since he became the starting QB. Credit the team’s offensive line here too, as they gave Williams time to read the field and throw the right passes. Brissett’s presence in the huddle bred reassurance to those on the field, resulting in better collective play.
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