You know that gut-wrenching feeling when a coach makes a move that just defies logic? Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur gave us a prime example on Sunday, keeping starting QB Jacoby Brissett in a blowout loss to the Detroit Lions when the game was already well in hand, raising serious questions about the team’s foresight and player safety. It was a scenario straight out of “Friday Night Lights,” but with a much less dramatic ending than Boobie Miles’ season-ending injury, thankfully.
The Unnecessary Risk in a Lost Cause
The game was over. Period. With 1:05 left in the third quarter, Detroit quarterback Jared Goff snuck in for a one-yard score, pushing the Lions’ lead to a staggering 38-14. Any hope for the Cardinals vanished faster than a free beer at T-Mobile Park. Then, early in the fourth quarter, after an eight-play drive stalled at the Lions’ 19-yard line, Brissett was sacked on fourth-and-one. That left 12:55 on the clock, Detroit up by four scores, and the game firmly secured. The Lions piled on with another touchdown, making it a five-score lead with 5:03 remaining. Yet, when the Cardinals offense trotted out again, there was Brissett. What was LaFleur thinking? There was absolutely no way Arizona was climbing back. Playing your starting quarterback in those final minutes, with nothing to gain, just screams unnecessary risk. What if Brissett got hurt in those last meaningless five minutes? The outcome wouldn’t change, but the season certainly could have.
A Wasted Opportunity and Brissett’s Record
This decision isn’t just baffling, it’s a missed opportunity to learn what you actually have on your roster. Why didn’t LaFleur send in backup Gardner Minshew? Or, even better, give rookie Carson Beck some live game reps? Five minutes of real game time would have been invaluable data for Beck’s development. It would also have been useful to see if Minshew could inject some life into an offense Brissett has clearly struggled to lead. In two seasons, Brissett’s record in games that count stands at a grim 2-15-0. Maybe a change of scenery is the answer, maybe it’s not, but if LaFleur is so set on Brissett leading this new offense, then why expose him to injury when the game is undeniably lost? The only silver lining was tight end Trey McBride turning a bad throw into a highlight reel catch, which only trimmed the final deficit from five scores to four. Big whoop. Seeing Minshew or Beck would have been a far more pleasant sight.
Arizona has played five games this season, and decisions like these make you wonder about the long-term vision. Heading into their next matchup, LaFleur needs to show he’s thinking beyond just the next play and protecting his players, especially when the scoreboard says it’s time to pack it in.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Revenge of the Birds.
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