DALLAS – Former Arizona Cardinals HC Bruce Arians spoke on The Pat McAfee Show recently about the Cardinals’ 27-17 win over the Dallas Cowboys and how Jacoby Brissett was consistently able to get the offense going for Arizona.
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Dec 31, 2017; Seattle, WA, USA; Arizona head coach Arians watches a play against the Seattle Seahawks during the first quarter at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
“Jacoby Brissett has calmed that football team down and their defense is playing lights out..
They were making plays last night” ~ @BruceArians#PMSLive https://t.co/3ZLdHxg0Qx pic.twitter.com/jMejdo0Qlq
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) November 4, 2025
When Brissett stepped into the starting role for the Cardinals, what stood out wasn’t just the veteran presence; it was the production jump. The offense looked smoother, third-down conversions improved, and the ball came out quicker. That kind of change evokes fan excitement, especially when a team has been mired in heartbreak and close losses so far during their recent five-game losing streak.
Nov 3, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Arizona quarterback Brissett (7) looks to pass against the Dallas Cowboys in the second half at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
For local fans in Phoenix, it stirs the “what if” conversation: what if the offense finally takes off, what if the momentum shifts with a new voice at QB? Nationally, it speaks to the broader theme of proven backup quarterbacks stepping in, delivering, and forcing organizations to re-examine their presumptions. Questions are being asked about the future and is it going to be with Kyler Murray, or the veteran leader Jacoby Brissett?
Nov 3, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Arizona quarterback Murray (1) leaves the field after defeating the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
There’s also emotional and psychological depth here: Brissett is a professional who has been in the backup role for years, ready when called. Murray is the franchise face, the investment, the player many expected to be the long-term answer. That dynamic matters, not only for locker-room culture, but for fan identity and organizational trust. This isn’t just about who starts. It’s about whether the Cards can align roster, scheme, leadership, and production. Brissett’s play has forced that conversation.
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Reporter Benjamin Bliklen covers the Arizona Diamondbacks, Arizona Cardinals, and Phoenix Suns for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @BenBliklen
