Cardinals' Best 5 Plays and 5 Plays They'd Like to Have Back


By Walter Mitchell

As FOX analyst and former NFL linebacker Jonathan Vilma said during the Cardinals vs Packers game yesterday, "the outcomes of close games come down to a handful of plays, and typically the team which team makes the most of them wins."

Cardinals' Best 5 Plays:

1. The 3rtd down long sideline pass from Jacoby to Marv:

https://x.com/AZCardinals/status/1980038206587584938

Give Marv credit for perfect execution on this downfield double move route and Jacoby for the on-time dime. Good pass pro for OL.

2. The 43-yard pass from Jacoby to Zay:

https://x.com/AZCardinals/status/1980025902714196065

Again, Jacoby with a dime up the right sideline with tremendous concentration from Zay. Good pass pro.

3. The Jacoby to Trey TD with Trey's RAC spin move:

https://x.com/AZCardinals/status/1980038636210188790

Perfect crossing route by Trey, Jacoby hits him on schedule and in stride allowing Trey to may a move and spin his way into the end zone. Good pass pro from OL. 

4. The 15-yard tiptoe TD from Jacoby to Trey right before half-time:

https://x.com/FantasyPros/status/1980028455233151204

Totally clutch TD pass with under 10 seconds left in the first half from Jacoby to Trey who tiptoes into the end zone at the right pylon. Good pass pro,

5. Zaven Collins' bull rush sack of Jordan Love:

https://x.com/elliefrenchTV/status/1980025232695197875

Zane Collins relentlessly bull rushed his man straight back into Jordan Love causing the team's only sack of the afternoon.

The 5 Plays the Cardinals Would Like to Have Back:

1. End of half 61-yard field goal by Lucas Havrisik which was set up by a 22-yard pass from Love to Doubs in a mere 6 seconds to call TO with 1 second left. Unreal to think that Havrisik was selling pizzas a couple of weeks ago and now has the Packers all-time longest FG record. Unreal too to think that the Cardinals could have rushed 3, played pesky man coverage with 5 cover men underneath and still be able to have a safety in each third of the field. What a momentum steal this was by the Packers. Note: had this FG been prevented, all the Cardinals' would have needed to win the game at the end would have been a field goal. Huge mistake by the Cardinals.

https://x.com/MySportsUpdate/status/1980029004091658335

2. The Love roll out pass to Kraft to tie the game at 20-20. Hard to believe that Nick Rallis in this situation would have Josh Sweat assigned to cover Kraft man to man. Let's not forget the last time we saw Sweat get bruned in coverage versus the Seahawks who were pinned back toward the goal line and instead Darnold exploits Sweat with a 35-yard pass to rookie TE Arroyo. 

https://x.com/packers/status/1980042541325058460

3. The game winning TD run by Jacobs, his 2nd of the day. Watch Dalvin Tomlinson get tossed to the turf, Darius Robinson get blocked backwards (at least he tried to make the tackle at the goal line) and Mack Strong get blocked away from the hole.

https://x.com/packers/status/1980052105810350350

4. The failed 4th and 1 1/2 yards on a QB sneak that was the first time this season Brissett has not converted although this one seemed much longer than the others. Why weren't the two players in the backfield closer to Brissett to be able to tush push him sooner? Would like to have seen a more creative play call here. 

https://x.com/SleeperPackers/status/1980049835970675057

5. Micha Parsons' 3rd sack to crush Cardinals' momentum on the last drive of the game. 

Walter B J Mitchell
@WBJMItch
I thought the worst decision of the game by Gannon was not calling timeout after Jacoby Brissett's 14-yard pass to Michael Cater down to the Packers' 26-yard line. Could have stopped the clock at 45 seconds and still have one TO remaining. Plus, with TO Cardinals could have ensured a double team on Parsons. Instead, Parsons switches the momentum and wrecks the game, blowing by Jonah Williams who had zero help for a 9-yard sack. This set up a 2nd and 19 from the 35-yard line with 33 seconds left and down to 1 TO. Gannon says he doesn't believe in momentum, but this season he has put on a clinic as to how to lose momentum for his team time and time again when it matters most.
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https://x.com/ESPNBET/status/1980054228757553255

Your thoughts on these plays and others that I may not have included?

Comments

  1. UnfortunateFanOctober 20, 2025 at 3:25 PM

    That 61 yard field goal was also made possible by the baffling decision to kick the kickoff out of the back of the endzone. Had Green Bay been forced to field the kick, they would not have had enough time for both a play and a FG. I think that the memory of how the Seattle game ended made the coaches afraid to attempt kicking in the drop zone.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Walter MitchellOctober 20, 2025 at 4:12 PM

      Excellent point. A no-brainer except for Cardinals.

      Delete
  2. BurberryOctober 21, 2025 at 8:00 PM

    Great analysis above. Nothing appropriate to add other than watching Brissett quarterback this team has been a massive breath of fresh air and each play you highlighted above I’d bet Murray wouldn’t have made.

    I was vocal in my displeasure of the signing and was dead wrong. The genesis behind my displeasure was I truly don’t believe Kyler is deserving of a starting qb position in this league any longer and I wanted someone brought in to compete for the job in earnest. Being handed everything has done the organization and Murray zero favors.

    Brissett obviously wasn’t given a shot to compete and it just shows how stupid this organization can be.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Walter MitchellOctober 22, 2025 at 4:26 AM

      Those were my thoughts as well about the Brissett signing, especially at the lofty backup QB salary after he looked pretty much washed last year with Pats. Very happy to now know otherwise. Jacoby looks reborn in this offense.

      Delete
    2. NSCardOctober 22, 2025 at 6:44 AM

      I was a huge fan of the JB signing and took a little flack for it so I am glad to see it is working out.

      Unfortunately, I was wrong about most everything else that I thought was a good move or idea. At 2-5, my 13-4 prediction is officially dead!

      Delete
  3. Since 61October 21, 2025 at 9:38 PM

    Jonathan Gannon stated it is "too early to be determined" whether Kyler Murray will start after the bye week. Who's starting at QB has not been confirmed by the organization yet. Murray is undefeated 9-0 at AT&T Stadium. Let's see what happens.

    ReplyDelete

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