THE STORY: INDIANAPOLIS – Jacoby Brissett, coming back to play against the team for whom he started 30 games for once upon a time, was excellent.
But the storybook finish the veteran quarterback wanted was instead ripped from the pages of the same script the Cardinals have played over the last month – a game down to the end that doesn’t end well.
“I thought we had a chance,” said Brissett, who led the Cardinals down to the Indianapolis 9 with less than a minute left, only to have his final pass fall incomplete in the end zone in a 31-27 loss at Lucas Oil Stadium.
“That’s all you can ask for in this league, is a chance.”
Brissett, starting after Kyler Murray was sidelined with a foot injury, led the Cardinals (2-4) to a season-best 400 yards of offense, and that was after wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. left in the first half with a concussion.
Brissett completed 27-of-44 passes for 320 yards, two touchdowns and one interception, just six yards shy of his career high. The Cardinals had a season-best 400 yards of offense against the Colts (5-1).
Coach Jonathan Gannon stressed that Murray remains the starting quarterback when Murray returns. When that is remains a mystery; the Cardinals have a home game against the Packers before their bye week.
But even if Brissett has to play, there will be confidence in what comes next.
Gannon lauded Brissett’s poise and command in the pocket. “I hate to say I’m not impressed” Gannon added, “but I know that’s who he is.”
The only second-half possession with which the Cardinals did not score was the final one. Tight end Trey McBride screamed at the official after the last pass was intended for him, believing he was held by the Colts defender. No flag was thrown.
“I thought I got a little pass interference,” a subdued McBride said after. “They didn’t think so.”
Added Gannon, “they call what they call.”
That end was a gut punch. The Cardinals have seen every one of their six games come down to the final 60 seconds in some fashion. The four-game losing streak they ride has been by a total of nine points.
“It doesn’t feel like that,” McBride said. “They’ve all been close. It’s frustrating.”
Gannon said the Cardinals defense allowed too much to running back Jonathan Taylor, who had 123 yards rushing and averaged nearly six yards a carry. They needed a stop somewhere in the second half but couldn’t.
“This is not no time to put our heads down,” safety Rabbit Taylor-Demerson said. “It’s a long, long season. These games are close. We’re not where we want to be but we’re not in a bad spot.”
That could’ve been OK, given that the game was evolving into last-team-with-the-ball-wins. That’s what that final Cardinals drive could have been.
Brissett said he thought offensive coordinator Drew Petzing felt Brissett’s rhythm early, and Brissett liked how Petzing was vibing too.
“I was seeing it very well,” Brissett said. “I don’t remember if it was Kyler or (QB) Kedon (Slovis), but one of them said to me, ‘I can see you see it.'”
That’s why the Cardinals signed Brissett in the offseason, for such a Kyler-less situation. It was nearly enough.
“It’s hard. It’s hard,” Gannon acknowledged. “We’re in a tough spot. Four in a row is tough. But we’ll be resilient.”
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