GLENDALE – Morale was as low as it could be for the Arizona Cardinals following last week’s devastating loss to the Tennessee Titans. Then, the news of Kyler Murray missing Week 6 had many believing that Arizona would be blown out on Sunday vs. the Indianapolis Colts. However, backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett had a career day against his former team.
Brissett threw for 320 passing yards, the most since November 2022, and two passing touchdowns. The career backup becomes the Cardinals first 300+ yards passer of the 2025 season and was sensational to tie for the most points scored by the offense this season.
Oct 12, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7) and wide receiver Greg Dortch (4) celebrate after scoring a touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts during the third quarter of the game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
Sensational performances from other backups like wide receiver Zay Jones, who caught five passes for 79 receiving yards, the most since November 2022. Arizona had the lead late, and looked primed for the upset. However, All-Pro running back Jonathan Taylor would dominant the game late with his 123 rushing rushing yards to take the lead with under five minutes left.
The Cardinals would have an opportunity late, but would fall nine yards short and turn the ball over on downs with under a minute to play to lose 31-27.
1st Quarter: Arizona’s defense stumbles, then recovers
Indianapolis Colts tight end Tyler Warren (84) scores a touchdown during a game against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis
The game started scary for the Cardinals, as the highest scoring team in the AFC looked to make quick work of their opponents. The Colts went on a nine-play drive, where they threw the ball eight times for 62 yards. Quarterback Daniel Jones was able to find tight end Tyler Warren wide open on a crosser route for the eight-yard touchdown. This was the first opening drive touchdown that the Arizona defense had allowed all season.
After the offense quickly went three and out, the Cardinals looked primed for a long day on the gridiron. However, the impressive front seven started to show up. Linebacker Zaven Collins started with a tackle for loss on first down, leading to linebacker Baron Browning recording his second sack of the season to eventually force the punt.
Oct 12, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indianapolis Colts cornerback Johnathan Edwards (35) breaks up a pass intended for Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride (85) during the first quarter of the game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
The defensive stop gave the Cardinals stellar starting field position, which helped a struggling offense find some rhythm. Jacoby Brissett would lead a 11-play, 56-yard drive, highlighted with third third-down conversations with one a 26-yard-pass too tight end Trey McBride. Arizona punched it in on a third and goal via a one-yard Bam Knight touchdown run to tie the game up 7-7.
2nd Quarter: Cardinals can’t take advantage of mistakes
Indianapolis would punt only for the 8th and 9th time this season, before Jones on the team’s fourth offensive drive went outside the pocket on play action a threw it to Mack Wilson Sr. for the interception. Wilson read Jones eyes all the way and undercut the route to snag the turnover. All the momentum was on the Cardinals side, but it didn’t last long.
Oct 12, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Arizona Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson (2) celebrates after a play against the Indianapolis Colts during the first quarter of the game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
On the second play after the turnover, Zay Jones would collide with a Colts cornerback that led to Brissett throwing an interception to Mekhi Blackmon to give the ball right back. Turning the ball over against Indianapolis is a death sentence because you give the running back Jonathan Taylor another chance with the rock.
Taylor would answer the turnover with 52 yards on the following drive, including a 30-yard burst of speed to put the offense inside the redzone. Jones would make up for his interception with a three-yard touchdown run to retake the lead.
Oct 12, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones (17) scrambles for a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during the second quarter of the game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
Despite the turnover by Brissett, he didn’t look shaken as the offense remained calm to answer the Colts score. The 32-year-old faced three straight third downs on the drive and converted on all them, moving the team’s total to six-of-eight on third downs in the first half. Arizona was primed to respond with a touchdown of its own, but on another third down, edge Kwity Paye swooped in for the sack to finally stop the Cardinals offense for a field goal.
3rd Quarter: Brissett takes over
Brissett opens the second half with seven straight completions, opening the streak with a 20-yard pass in the flats to Knight. Marvin Harrison Jr. left the game due to a concussion, leading to Brissett relying on Pro Bowler McBride to carry the load. The backup QB found McBride four times to open the third quarter, including on a 1-yard fade route for Arizona to take its first lead, 17-14.
Oct 12, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride (85) makes a reception for a touchdown defended by Indianapolis Colts safety Nick Cross (20) during the third quarter of the game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
Arizona defense would allow a field goal the next drive, but the offense just kept on rolling. The Harrison injury open the door for other wide receivers, like Zay Jones, to become a bigger part of the offense. On the following offensive possession, Jones would have two catches for 35 yards, with the timing of him and Brissett perfect.
Brissett seemed comfortable against his former team, finding wide receiver Greg Dortch on a 12-yard crossing route for the touchdown to make it 24-17. In the third quarter alone, Brissett went 11-of-12 for 101 passing yards and two touchdowns in a sensational stretch.
Oct 12, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7) passes the ball against the Indianapolis Colts during the first quarter of the game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
4th Quarter:
Colts wouldn’t go out without a fight, as Jones took over the start of the 4th quarter. The 28-year-old scrambled for a 17-yard run to start a drive where he went three-of-three passing for 54 yards, capping off with a five-yard find to wide receiver Josh Downs.
As the game got tighter, Brissett started to see the pressure better. On a 2nd-and-16, the Cardinals quarterback evaded heavy pressure to just get the ball out to tight end Elijah Higgins for the first down and to put the team in field goal range for a 44-yard kick by Chad Ryland to make it 27-24 Arizona.
Indianapolis started to return to its identity that it has had all season of running the rock. The Colts would put the ball in their All-Pro running back hands, as he helped his team chugged down the field. Taylor had back-to-back plays with multiple broken tackles to put the offense inside the redzone. Indianapolis would reward its running back with back-to-back run plays at the goal line to punch in the lead-taking touchdown and bring Taylor’s total above 100+ rushing yards.
Oct 12, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor (28) carries the ball against the Arizona Cardinals during the first quarter of the game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
The Cardinals would have one final chance to win the game and looked to do so with some wonderful maneuvering by Brissett in the pocket to find his man down field. Despite the heroics, Arizona would fall nine yards short, as Brissett would look for McBride in the back of the end zone on 4th-and-7 but couldn’t connect to lose a heartbreaker.
Can Cardinals defensive front stop Colts RB Jonathan Taylor in Week 6?
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Reporter Tanner Tortorella covers general assignment for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @TannerTSports
