Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon isn’t changing course when it comes to quarterback Kyler Murray.
In fact, “nothing’s changed” about Murray’s status as Arizona’s starting signal caller — even after Jacoby Brissett’s critical role in his team’s 27-17 Monday Night Football win over the Dallas Cowboys. That’s how Gannon feels.
When Murray is healthy, the Cardinals maintain he’ll play. And that just feels counterproductive given what’s transpired in recent weeks.
Three starts into his career as a Cardinal, Brissett has done more than enough to remain Arizona’s starter until further notice.
It’s been far from a one-off showing for the journeyman, with Brissett completing 65.7% of his throws for 860 yards and six touchdowns to one interception in three games. He’s added another 14 carries for 49 yards and a touchdown.
Brissett is making a once lethargic offense under Murray suddenly look efficient. He’s hanging in and letting plays develop, regardless of the hits (33 through three games) that have come his way.
He’s pushing the rock down the field, something that felt foreign in the first five games of the season. Three games in, and Brissett has dialed up 13 plays of at least 20 passing yards. Across the first five weeks of the season, Arizona had seven such plays.
The offense’s ability to convert on third down, no matter the distance, has also been a key ingredient to Brissett’s success.
With Brissett under center, the Cardinals have converted at least 50% of their third downs. In the five games prior, that number never reached more than 46% (Week 1).
Brissett’s passer rating (102.5) ranks 10th in the NFL at this point, while Murray’s (88.6) ranks 22nd.
And have you seen how he’s getting Arizona’s playmakers involved?
Marvin Harrison Jr. set a new career high for catches in a game with seven on Monday.
Tight end Trey McBride now has four touchdowns in the three games Brissett has called the shots. McBride has just seven touchdowns across the other 54 games he’s played with quarterbacks Murray, Joshua Dobbs, Colt McCoy, Trace McSorley and David Blough.
Michael Wilson just turned in a season high in receiving yards with 61 and had posted at least 40 yards in each of the two games prior after reaching no more than 16 in a game before that.
There’s clearly chemistry brewing with Brissett and Arizona’s top pass catchers with every start.
The sample size is growing, but the results are mighty for the Cardinals offense led by Brissett.
Murray may be the highest-paid quarterback on the roster and can do things others can’t with the ball in his hands, but does he currently give the Cardinals their best shot at winning?
