Credit: Brent Skeen-USA TODAY Sports
GLENDALE – There has to be plenty of factors to lose a football game while having a +4 turnover differential. For the Arizona Cardinals a majority of those came from the offense and the late-game decision making. Quarterback Jacoby Brissett’s fourth-and-four decision in overtime to go deep for a touchdown to win the game was the one to get the most flack. However, even before overtime, an even greater mistake was made after a 31-yard catch by Michael Wilson placed the inside the Jacksonville Jaguars 10-yard line.
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Arizona had just under 30 seconds to run up to the line of scrimmage and spike the ball to possible get two plays at the end zone. That isn’t what it did. The offense decided to run another play and waste more clock to call the play and throw a fade to Wilson that was incomplete. The play took away too much time to run another play for the endzone to win possibly win the game.
The consensus decision from experts and fans alike is that the Cardinals should’ve spiked the ball. Offensive coordinator Drew Petzing disagrees, even after the loss. Petzing spoke with the media on Tuesday and defended the decision to not spike the ball.
Offensive coordinator Drew Petzing during training camp at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on July 31, 2023. © Mark Henle / USA TODAY NETWORK
Petzing on liking the “Chaos” of not spiking the ball:
Cardinals OC Drew Petzing’s thought process on not spiking the ball late in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s loss to Jacksonville ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/H6mbfBZozy
— Tyler Drake (@Tdrake4sports) November 25, 2025
Trying to use the element of surprise to catch Jacksonville on its heels is logical. Petzing wanted to force the Jaguars into one-on-one opportunities by rushing to the line and not allowing them to settle or make substitutions. Despite the wrong result, Wilson did have a step on his fade that could’ve led to a touchdown if Brissett’s pass was more precise.
Sep 10, 2023; Landover, Maryland, USA; Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon (left) hugs Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing before the game against the Washington Commander at FedExField. Mandatory Credit: Brent Skeen-USA TODAY Sports
Petzing was disappointed by the wasted three or four seconds when the offense finally got to the line, but still liked the decision and read by Brissett and Wilson. The call was a risk that a 3-8 team need to make to start piling up wins. Arizona and its coaching staff are trying plenty of avenues during the game to jumpstart this lackluster offensive attack, including being aggressive in clutch situations. The franchise is still waiting to see some positive results from those risky maneuvers, but Petzing likes what he’s seeing.
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Reporter Tanner Tortorella covers general assignment for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @TannerTSports
