Analysis of Jacoby Brissett's 0-6 record with chance to win close games

By Walter Mitchell

When the Cardinals' defense holds the opponents to fewer than 20 points, Jacoby Brissett is 2-0.

Over his 16 starts, the Cardinals' defense has given up an average of 31.4 points per game.

However, Cardinals' fans are pointing to Jacoby's 0-6 record when he and the offense have had chances to win on a final drive. 

The question is how much of the blame for those late game losses does Jacoby Brissett deserve?

How much credit should Jacoby Brissett and his boys be given for getting themselves in position to win these games? And for being able at times to bounce back after one go-ahead score from the defense giving the lead right back?

Here are the late game scenarios so you can judge for yourself.

ARI (2-3) @ IND (4-1)

IND 31 ARI 27

Colts 8.5-point favorites (Cardinals cover). Over/Under 46.5(Over wins at 58)

Halftime score: IND 14 ARI 10

Q3 ARI goes up 17-14

Q3 IND ties it at 17-17

Q3 ARI goes up 24-17,

Q3 IND ties it at 24-24

Q4 ARI goes up 27-24,

Q$ IND goes ahead 31-24

ARI Final drive: 10 play 78 yards.

4th and Goal from 7-yard line, pass from Jacoby Brissett to Trey McBride INC, real time and replays show McBride was clearly held with two hands on the top of his route. No call.

Brissett: 27/44, 320 yards, 7.3 ypa, 2 TD, 1 int., 26 pressures, 2 sacks

Summary: On all three occasions when the Cardinals took the lead in the 2nd half, the Colts immediately tied the score or went ahead. With a chance to win, Cardinals marched 78 yards and lost the game on a pass to Trey McBride in the end zone where he was held but did not get the call.

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GB (3-1-1) @ ARI @ (2-4)

Packers 7-point favorites. O/U: 44.5

GB 27 ARI 23

Cardinals cover, OVER (50 points)

Halftime: ARI 13 GB 6

Q3 GB ties game at 13-13

Q3 ARI takes lead at 20-13

Q4 GB ties game at 20-20

Q4 ARI takes lead 23-20

Q4 GB takes lead 27-23

ARI final drive: 8 plays, 39 yards

Key Play: (-9 yard sack by Micah Parsons with 27 seconds left)

14-yd Pass

0:55 - 4th

(Shotgun) J.Brissett pass short right to M.Carter to GB 26 for 14 yards (J.Bullard).

2nd & 10 at GB 40

Sack

0:32 - 4th

(No Huddle, Shotgun) J.Brissett sacked at GB 35 for -9 yards (M.Parsons).

1st & 10 at GB 26

(0:27 - 4th) Timeout #2 by ARZ at 00:27.

8-yd Run

0:27 - 4th

(Shotgun) J.Brissett scrambles up the middle to GB 27 for 8 yards (N.Hobbs; E.Williams).

2nd & 19 at GB 35

(0:19 - 4th) Timeout #3 by ARZ at 00:19.

Incompletion

0:19 - 4th

(Shotgun) J.Brissett pass incomplete deep left to M.Harrison [K.Brooks].

3rd & 11 at GB 27

Incompletion

0:13 - 4th

(Shotgun) J.Brissett pass incomplete deep middle (X.McKinney) [R.Gary].

4th & 11 at GB 27

Brissett: 25/36, 279 yards, 7.8 ypa, 2 TD, 0 int, 28 pressures, 6 sacks

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JAX (6-4) @ ARI (3-7)

JAX 2.5-point favorite, O/U 47.5

Cardinals cover. OVER wins (51 points)

JAX 27 ARI 24 (OT)

Halftime: ARI 14 JAX 10

Q3 JAX takes lead 17-14

Q4 ARI takes lead 21-17

Q4 JAX takes lead 24-21

Q4 ARI ties score 24-24

Cardinals go 69 yards in 8 plays

Key play:

31-yd Pass

0:35 - 4th

(Shotgun) J.Brissett pass deep left to M.Wilson to JAX 11 for 31 yards (C.Braswell).

1st & 10 at JAX 42

Problem was, Michael Wilson spun the football after the catch instead of running it over to the hash marks, leaving only one play to try to win the game in regulation:

Incompletion

0:10 - 4th

(No Huddle, Shotgun) J.Brissett pass incomplete short left to M.Wilson.

1st & 10 at JAX 11

OT: JAX takes lead 27-24

Cardinals go 30 yards in 8 plays and try to hit the home run on 4th and 4:

Incompletion

4:07 - OT

(Shotgun) J.Brissett pass incomplete deep middle to X.Weaver (C.Braswell, A.Wingard).

4th & 4 at JAX 42

Brissett: 33/49, 317 yards, 6.5 ypa, 1 TD, 0 int, 45 pressures, 6 sacks

Note: The Jaguars and their top 10 defense ended the regular season 13-4 on an 8-game winning streak. 

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ARI (3-8) @ TB (6-5)

TB 3.5-point favorites, O?U 44.5

Cardinals cover. UNDER wins (37)

TB 20 ARI 17

Halftime: TB 10 ARI 3

Q3 Field Goal Missed

7:50 - 3rd

C.Ryland 43 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Right, Center-A.Brewer, Holder-M.Haack.

4th & 3 at TB 25

Q3 TB extends lead 17-3

Q3 ARI cuts lead 17-10

Q4 TB extends lead 20 -10

Q4 ARI cuts lead 20-17

Final drive:

Punt

2:00 - 4th

R.Dixon punts 59 yards to ARZ 4, Center-E.Deckers. G.Dortch to ARZ 9 for 5 yards (M.Watts; J.Hayes).

4th & 5 at TB 37

3-yd Pass

1:49 - 4th

(Shotgun) J.Brissett pass short right to G.Dortch to ARZ 12 for 3 yards (J.Parrish) [V.Vea].

1st & 10 at ARI 9

5-yd Pass

1:23 - 4th

(No Huddle, Shotgun) J.Brissett pass short left to M.Carter to ARZ 17 for 5 yards (J.Dean; J.Parrish).

2nd & 7 at ARI 12

Incompletion

0:58 - 4th

(No Huddle, Shotgun) J.Brissett pass incomplete short middle to X.Weaver.

3rd & 2 at ARI 17

Incompletion

0:55 - 4th

(Shotgun) J.Brissett pass incomplete short middle to M.Wilson.

4th & 2 at ARI 17

Note: Todd Bowles said after the game that after studying the Cardinals' past 2-minute offense, he knew which plays the Cardinals would try to run. 

But to be fair, Jacoby Brissett's 2 second half TD drives made this game-tying or winning drive possible. Plus, the missed field goal in Q3 was a significant factor in this game. 

Brissett: 29/40, 301 yards, 7.5 ypa, 2 TD, 1 int, 27 pressures, 2 sacks

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ATL (5-9) @ ARI (3-11)

Falcons 3 point favorites. O/U 48.5

Falcons covered. UNDER wins (45 points)

ATL 26 ARI 19

Halftime: ARI 16 ATL 16

Q3 ATL takes lead 19-16

Q3 ARI Field Goal Missed

3:46 - 3rd

C.Ryland 44 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Right, Center-A.Brewer, Holder-M.Haack.

4th & 11 at ATL 26

Q4 ATL extend lead 26-16

ARI cuts lead to 26-19

Final Drive:

5-yd Run

2:05 - 4th

(Shotgun) E.Demercado up the middle to ARZ 45 for 5 yards (D.Onyemata). ** Injury Update: ATL-A.Terrell has returned to the game.

1st & 10 at ARI 40

(2:00 - 4th) Two-Minute Warning

-1-yd Pass

2:00 - 4th

(Shotgun) J.Brissett pass short right to E.Higgins ran ob at ARZ 44 for -1 yards (D.Alford).

2nd & 5 at ARI 45

5-yd Penalty

1:54 - 4th

(Shotgun) PENALTY on ARZ-J.Fryar, False Start, 5 yards, enforced at ARZ 44 - No Play.

3rd & 6 at ARI 44

19-yd Pass

1:54 - 4th

(Shotgun) J.Brissett pass short middle to E.Higgins to ATL 42 for 19 yards (X.Watts; J.Bates).

3rd & 11 at ARI 39

Interception

1:30 - 4th

(No Huddle, Shotgun) J.Brissett pass short right intended for M.Wilson INTERCEPTED by C.Henderson at ATL 37. C.Henderson ran ob at ATL 37 for no gain.The Replay Official reviewed the interception ruling, and the play was Upheld. The ruling on the field stands.

1st & 10 at ATL 42

Note: Michael Wilson slowed down and stopped running on his route on the out pass which gave C.J. Henderson a passing lane to the football. Here's the replay.

https://x.com/onlygators/status/2002896262790844497?s=20

Note: Falcons finished season on a 4-game winning streak with wins over Bucs, Cardinals, Rams and Saints.

Brissett: 16/31, 203 yards, 6.5 ypa, 1 TD, 1 int, 15 pressures, 2 sacks

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ARI (1-2) @ NYG (2-1)

Cardinals are 2.5-point favorites. O/U 44.5 (60 points)

Giants cover. OVER wins

NYG 36 ARI 24

Halftime: NYG 19 ARI 17

Q3 ARI take lead 24-19

Q3 NYG take lead 27-24

Q4 NYG extend lead 30-24

Final Drive:

11-yd Pass

2:06 - 4th

(Shotgun) J.Brissett pass short middle to Mi.Wilson to ARZ 44 for 11 yards (G.Newsome).Penalty on NYG-G.Newsome, Illegal Use of Hands, declined.

1st & 10 at ARI 33

9-yd Pass

2:02 - 4th

(Shotgun) J.Brissett pass short right to Mi.Wilson to NYG 47 for 9 yards (G.Newsome).

1st & 10 at ARI 44

(1:58 - 4th) Two-Minute Warning

Incompletion

1:58 - 4th

(Shotgun) J.Brissett pass incomplete deep right to T.McBride (T.Nubin).

2nd & 1 at NYG 47

8-yd Run

1:54 - 4th

(No Huddle) J.Brissett up the middle to NYG 39 for 8 yards (T.Edmunds; K.Thibodeaux).

3rd & 1 at NYG 47

5-yd Pass

1:32 - 4th

(No Huddle, Shotgun) J.Brissett pass short right to T.McBride to NYG 34 for 5 yards (A.Reese).

1st & 10 at NYG 39

8-yd Pass

1:15 - 4th

(No Huddle, Shotgun) J.Brissett pass short right to Mi.Wilson to NYG 26 for 8 yards (T.Nubin).

2nd & 5 at NYG 34

Incompletion

0:55 - 4th

(No Huddle, Shotgun) J.Brissett pass incomplete deep right to T.McBride [A.Carter].

1st & 10 at NYG 26

4-yd Pass

0:49 - 4th

(Shotgun) J.Brissett pass short right to T.McBride to NYG 22 for 4 yards (A.Reese) [D.Alexander].

2nd & 10 at NYG 26

18-yd Penalty

0:27 - 4th

(No Huddle, Shotgun) J.Brissett pass incomplete deep left to M.Harrison.PENALTY on NYG-D.Banks, Defensive Pass Interference, 18 yards, enforced at NYG 22 - No Play.

3rd & 6 at NYG 22

Incompletion

0:22 - 4th

J.Williams reported in as eligible. J.Brissett pass incomplete short left to Mi.Wilson.

1st & Goal at NYG 4

Incompletion

0:18 - 4th

(Shotgun) J.Brissett pass incomplete short right to Mi.Wilson (A.Phillips).

2nd & Goal at NYG 4

Incompletion

0:14 - 4th

(Shotgun) J.Brissett pass incomplete short left to T.McBride (D.Banks).

3rd & Goal at NYG 4

(0:11 - 4th) Timeout #3 by ARZ at 00:11.

Interception Return Touchdown

0:00 - 4th

(Shotgun) J.Brissett pass short left intended for Mi.Wilson INTERCEPTED by D.Banks at NYG 2. D.Banks for 98 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

4th & Goal at NYG 4

Note: on the 2nd and goal play action pass, Jacoby said he wasn't able to get his head around in time to see Trey McBride, who appeared to be open on the play.

Note: Amazing that NYG DC Dennard Wilson knew so well of where the last two passes were going to go that he had his best cover CB Devonte Banks cover Trey McBride on 3rd and goal and then switched Banks over the Michael Wilson on 4th and goal. 

And Banks mossed both routes, big-time, making up for the PI penalty incurred on the pass to Marvin Harrison Jr. Not only did Banks know who the pass would be going to --- he knew McBride was going to run the out pass, so he leveraged him outside and he knew that Wilson would be running the quick slant, so he leveraged him inside. Credit Dennard Wilson for having his defense so well prepared for the Cardinals' tendencies after just three game tapes.

Note: here is what Michael Wilson said after the game about stopping on his route on the 4th and 4:

https://x.com/BoBrack/status/2106850001125273897?s=20

Brissett: 21/35, 166 yards, 4.7 ypa, 2 TD, 3 int., 14 pressures, 2 sacks

Biggest Plays:

Colts --- no call on Trey McBride being held in end zone. 

Packers --- not chipping on Micah Parsons in a 2-minute drill who ate up Jonah Williams so fast that Jacoby had not time to react during a drive crushing 9-yard loss.

Jaguars --- going for the home run deep post pass in OT

Bucs --- Todd Bowles knowing the Cardinals' 2-minute drill to a tee

Falcons --- stopped out route by Michael Wilson that gave C.J. Henerson a clear path to the football

Giants --- Devonte Banks mossing both Trey McBride and Michael Wilson and 3rd and 4th and goal. 

What Jacoby Brissett and the Cardinals Offense Need to Improve:

1. Better pass protection --- over the course of these six close games, Jacoby Brissett was pressured 155 times and was sacked 20 times. 

2. Put a halt to the far too predictable play calling. 

3. The receivers need not only to improve their routes (do not saw-off so quickly under pressure), but they also need to be given "choice" routes where they can run opposite of where they are being shaded or leveraged on the pre-snap. Versus the Giants, Trey McBride should have run a quick slant when Banks was shading on the out route. Wilson should have run a fade when Banks was taking away the quick slant. Both of them played into Wilson's hands --- literally and figuratively. 

4. Jacoby needs to be less compliant on throwing to the number one option so he can adjust better to how the receivers are being covered. On timing routes, he tends to throw some of his passes to spots, but in the red zone opponents are trying even harder to disrupt the timing of the routes. 

5. Stronger urgency and faster tempo in their hurry-up offense. 

6. Being better practiced and prepared for late game situations. Have some pet plays for man and zone. Engage Marv and J. Love --- both should be red zone superstars.