3 takeaways from Cardinals' loss to Green Bay Packers

For the second time in as many weeks, the Arizona Cardinals were led by their backup quarterback, Jacoby Brissett, against an opponent with aspirations of a deep playoff run.

For the second time in as many weeks, they were competitive for four quarters, looking like a more complete football team than they did in the season’s first five games.

But for the second time in as many weeks, they fell just short. On Oct. 12, it was a 31-27 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. On Oct. 19, it was a 27-23 loss to the Green Bay Packers, the Cardinals’ fifth consecutive one-possession defeat.

And it sent the Cardinals into their bye week with more questions than answers. Where does their season go from here, after a 2-5 start? What should be made of their rebuild, now halfway through year three? And perhaps most importantly: With Brissett once again outshining Kyler Murray, what is their future at quarterback?

Here are three takeaways from the loss:

Cardinals' season is likely over

At 2-5, the Cardinals would need a momentous turnaround to make the playoffs.

Since 2020, when the NFL playoffs expanded to 14 teams, 28 teams have started the season at 2-5. Only three of them have made the playoffs. All of them did so at 9-8, a record that seems unlikely to be enough for a playoff spot in a deep, competitive NFC.

Given how the Cardinals' offense has looked over the past two weeks, it’s not impossible to envision a win in Dallas after the bye, against a weak Cowboys defense. After that, two of the Cardinals’ next three games are against the Jaguars and the injury-ravaged 49ers.

But at this point, dissecting the schedule seems immaterial. The Cardinals are 2-5. They have not beaten a team over .500 in a full calendar year. And they will, for the fourth consecutive year, almost certainly not reach the playoffs.

Quarterback questions grow louder

Brissett was, again, mostly excellent in the Cardinals’ loss.

Despite consistently being pressured by Micah Parsons and the Packers’ ferocious pass rush, Brissett finished 25 of 36 for 279 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.

One key to Brissett’s performance was his ability to stand in and fire downfield on third-and-long. Last week, he converted a third-and-17 with a deep completion over the middle to Trey McBride — the Cardinals’ longest third-down conversion since 2022.

This week, he followed that up with two improbably third-down conversions. Facing a third-and-23 on the Cardinals’ final drive of the first half, Brissett ripped a ball down the sideline to Zay Jones, just before a Packers safety arrived over the top. The play helped set up a touchdown with Trey McBride with 7 seconds left in the half — but only after Brissett converted an additional pair of third downs, both on third-and-4.

Then, on the Cardinals' second drive out of halftime, Brissett lofted a perfect ball to Marvin Harrison Jr. on a go route to convert a third-and-14.

Both of those third-and-long conversions were indicative of a Cardinals offense that once again had an explosive downfield element with Brissett at quarterback.

It certainly wasn’t all perfect for Brissett. On the first drive of the second half, he got hit from behind and fumbled as he reared back to pass. And on a key fourth-quarter drive, he yanked a pass to an open Harrison, eventually leading to a turnover on downs two plays later.

But Brissett’s ability to move the ball downfield — even under relentless pressure — will only amplify the questions around the Cardinals quarterback situation. Last week, Gannon repeatedly insisted that Murray will still be the starting quarterback when he returns.

But the reality is now this: The Cardinals have put together their two best offensive performances of the season with Brissett leading the way, even in a pair of losses.

Cardinals' defense too porous again

All season, the Cardinals' defense has been solid. But it has not yet been the dominant unit that was envisioned in the offseason.

Against Green Bay, that was the case once more.

The drive that summed up the Cardinals' weaknesses came with 7 seconds left in the first half. Yes, 7 seconds. That’s how much time remained when Green Bay got the ball at its own 35-yard line, following McBride’s touchdown and a touchback. The half should have been over with the Cardinals leading, 13-3.

Instead, they allowed Green Bay to pick up an easy 22-yard gain over the middle in just 6 seconds. Lucas Havrisik still had to hit a 61-yard field goal, but the Cardinals made it far too easy.

That was the trend for much of the day. Take a fourth-and-2 on Green Bay’s go-ahead drive late in the fourth quarter. With pressure on Jordan Love, safety Dadrion Taylor-Demerson gave up far too much room to tight end Tucker Kraft on a corner route.

Ultimately, those were the moments that cost the Cardinals.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Where Cardinals' season stands after loss to Packers