GLENDALE – The biggest talking point from the Arizona Cardinals 27-23 loss to the Green Bay Packers was head coach Jonathan Gannon’s 4th down decision with under six minutes to go. Arizona’s offense was on its own 48-yard-line and faced a 4th-and-one situation. Gannon made the decision to keep his guys on the field, leading to offensive coordinator Drew Petzing to draw up a QB sneak for 6’4 Jacoby Brissett.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!However, the Packers read the sneak the entire way and stuffed Brissett at the line of scrimmage to get the turnover on downs. Green Bay would eventually score the game-winning touchdown off the backs of the 4th down stop with under two minutes to go. Fans had mixed reaction on the Cardinals decision to go for it, a choice that was a no-brainer for Gannon.
Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon talks with the media at the Arizona Cardinals training center in Tempe on May 9,2025.
Gannon the 4th-down decision and play call:
“Oh I definitely wanted to go for it. I would’ve gone for it a little more than that. That’s been a successful play for us, we got a couple different plays in that situation, but we like the call just got to execute a little bit better. It looked to me we might’ve muffed the snap, it didn’t look exactly clean. We got to get a yard there, we got to surge and get a yard.”
Oct 19, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett (left) is stopped by Green Bay Packers linebacker Quay Walker on a fourth and one attempt in the fourth quarter at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Gannon is correct, even when usual starter Kyler Murray is healthy, the offense tends to sub in Brissett to pull off QB sneaks on 3rd and short situations. The play has been successful in the past but wasn’t on Sunday. The combination of the offensive line struggle, and the Packers front seven dominance, the Cardinals decision to go with the sneak in that scenario might’ve been a risk too rich for their blood.
If Arizona were too punt the ball back to Green Bay, quarterback Jordan Love and the offense would have six minutes to get into field goal range, a task that seemed easy given the defensive fourth quarter struggles. A first down doesn’t end the game, but it continues to waste clock and potential put the offense in position to extend its lead.
Despite the decision not paying off, it’s not hard to see why Gannon defended his choice despite it leading to the loss.
Cardinals HC Gannon disapointed in himself during team’s five-game losing streak
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Reporter Tanner Tortorella covers general assignment for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @TannerTSports
