The Arizona Cardinals aren’t going to the playoffs this year. Too many “what-ifs” and “why-not’s” and “because” have done them in. Double-digit loss NFL teams don’t get invited to the dance.
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The Cardinals are currently 3-11-0, in last place in the talented NFC West Division, and have the #6 slot in next April’s NFL draft as of this moment. They conceivably could get the first overall pick, or at the very least a Top-4 pick.
Everything about this year’s roster screams “help me.”
Just don’t tell that to the passing attack of the offense. It is kicking some serious ass in the process. These players are the orchestra players on the USS Titanic who are still playing music as the ship is starting to sink.
Yes, an 11-loss season is a lost season. This squad was supposed to be much better this year. This group gave away too many games they had already won. Their defense could not finish games, and there are numerous problems around every corner.
The run game is nonexistent after losing their top two running backs. The offensive line hasn’t played well at all, with a strong emphasis on the guard positions. Quarterback was up and down for a while. Dropped passes. Missed assignments. Pass coverage has been spotty. Defense will quit at times.
Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
However, with all the flaws, with all the failure to be able to establish any running game, without knowing how the OC and the new QB Jacoby Brissett would meld together, with the WR1 hurt with missed games, this offense is cranking it out on gamedays via the pass.
The entire offensive unit knows the ship is sinking. They see the water rising. They know no matter what happens, there won’t be a life protector, much less a lifeboat, waiting for them.
Yet, they play on. They play to win.
There aren’t any season bonuses for adding “L’s” to the standings. At this point, there are no bonuses for more wins either. But a four-win finish to the season, now it would be three, might become a catalyst to grow on. Something to build on beginning in next year’s training camp, right? A positive outlook during the offseason, while running or lifting weights, or not eating the wrong things, which might upset the team nutritionist. There is no such thing as kale pizza.
The Cardinals have the league’s #4 passing attack.
This tops some of the league’s best passing teams, such as the Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos, Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles Chargers, Green Bay Packers, and Chicago Bears. And by the way, all of these clubs are headed to the playoffs.
Let’s start with the quarterback position. Brissett’s stats are for nine starts, not 14 games like most starting NFL quarterbacks. Remember that. In all league statistics, he is missing five games’ worth of numbers.
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Passing yards: ranked #16 – 2,708
Average passing yards per game: 300.9
Average yards per attempt: ranked #16 – 7.0
Completion percentage: ranked #13 – 66.3%
Touchdowns: ranked #18 – 18
Fewest interceptions: ranked #3 – 6
Pass completions 20+ yards: ranked #18 – 31
If you add the average passing yards of 300.9 yards per game times five more games, that 1,504.5 yards would give Brissett a new grand total of 4,212.5 yards. The league leader, Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys, has 3,931 yards. Yes, Brissett would become the 2025 league leader.
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Receptions: ranked #1 – 105
Total yards: ranked #6 – 1,071
Touchdowns: ranked #3 – 10
Receiving first downs: ranked #4 – 57
Most targets: ranked #2 – 140
(Photo by Mike Christy/Getty Images) Getty Images
Receptions: ranked #22 – 66
Total yards: ranked #26 – 766
Touchdowns: ranked (tied) #48 – 4
Receiving first downs: ranked #16 – 41
Most targets: ranked #14 – 105
Getty Images
Receptions: ranked #73 – 40
Total yards: ranked #48 – 594
Touchdowns: ranked (tied) #48 – 4
Receiving first downs: ranked #43 – 29
Most targets: ranked #87 – 69
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Total yards: ranked #4 – 3,668
Attempts: ranked #1 – 549
Completions: ranked #1 – 367
Yards per attempt: ranked #21 – 6.7
Completion percentage: ranked #8 – 66.8%
Touchdown passes: ranked #7 – 24
Fewest interceptions: ranked #11 – 9
Most first down conversions: ranked #4 – 185
Pass completions of 20+ yards: ranked #18 – 38
Sacks allowed: ranked #26 – 47
The team’s offensive passing since Brissett took over has responded well. OC Drew Petzing and Brissett get along great, and they are on the same page for most of each game. Timing has been an issue if the pass rush is just too much for the Cardinals’ offensive line to handle.
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
In all nine starts, Brissett has passed for over 249 yards. He has three 300-yard passing games (301, 317, 320) and one in which he almost hit 500-yards (452). In each game, except for one, he has tossed a minimum of two touchdowns and has just six picks total.
McBride and Wilson have proven to be a deadly combination, and if Harrison can remain healthy, that is three viable options for Brissett in the passing attack.
Late in each game, the offense is still throwing the ball, no matter the score, and trying to get into the end zone. Better late than never? Well, the late part is pretty moot. But so far, the Cardinals’ offense just keeps plugging along no matter what the score.
Just think what this offense would be like if starting RB James Conner had not gone down for the year, eh? The threat of the run on every single down would slow down this pass rush, which the offensive line has been taxed with solving.
The Cardinals have the league’s #4 passing attack. Yes, being ranked this high is usually reserved for teams with double-digit wins, not losses.
This offense doesn’t care. Who’s next?