The Green Bay Packers are set to face a backup quarterback for the second straight week, as Jacoby Brissett looks in line to lead the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, with Kyler Murray still nursing a foot injury.

Brissett steered the ship well a week ago versus Indianapolis, as the offense put up 27 points, but what should Green Bay expect from him and the rest of the Arizona offense?

Starting with the quarterback, 32-year-old Brissett is a savvy, solid veteran, and is pretty much the polar opposite of Murray stylistically, in that he severely lacks mobility.

As a passer, he took care of the ball last week, with his lone interception not being charged to him as a turnover-worthy play, as it was more the fault of his intended receiver. He only ranks 34th out of 40 qualified QBs in big-time throw rate, but that does not mean he is a checkdown merchant.

In fact, he ranks first in average depth of target. The Cardinals coaching staff did a good job of dialling up some effective play action plays which bought him time, and he took it. Brissett has the longest time to throw in the league at 3.23 seconds.

He was on something of a heater, making several key throws for chunk plays to keep the chains moving. The veteran QB ranks 10th in adjusted completion percentage entering this week’s game. Despite his physical limitations, Brissett did manage to evade pressure effectively last week, and has the fourth best pressure to sack rate. 

However, from watching the game, it felt like he was walking a bit of a tightrope, both in terms of the number of throws he had to make to keep drives alive, and in how he at times miraculously escaped negative plays. It did not look like a controlled, sustainable recipe for success.

The Cardinals changed up their offense some, going to more under center than they usually do, and with tape now out there for the Packers coaches to look at, it will be harder to catch them by surprise.

It feels very unlikely Brissett will average over 3 seconds to throw on Sunday. Holding the ball has not worked out too well for quarterbacks against this Packers defense, and in particular the front led by Micah Parsons.

Joe Flacco averaged 2.35 seconds to throw last week, and getting the ball out quick has been the only way opposing teams have managed to somewhat move the ball. Can Brissett and the Cardinals live in that world?

Arizona’s offensive line is not an easy out, ranking ninth in PFF’s pass protection grades as a unit so far in 2025, and Paris Johnson is one of the better offensive tackles the Packers will have faced this year.

Keeping Brissett clean will be crucial, as he ranks 11th in PFF grade when that happens, compared to 27th when he is under pressure.

In terms of skill players, tight end Trey McBride is undoubtedly the biggest threat for the Packers to deal with. He had a strong game in last year’s game at Lambeau Field, catching all eight of his targets for 96 yards. McBride got behind Green Bay’s linebackers for chunk gains several times, which means Edgerrin Cooper and Quay Walker, as well as primary slot corner Javon Bullard need to be aware of where he is at all times.

It looks like Marvin Harrison Jr. will play this week as he works back from a concussion, and despite not quite living up to the hype of a top five pick so far, he has been used effectively as a downfield, jump-ball receiver early this season. He is not Ja’Marr Chase or Tee Higgins, but after the Packers’ cornerbacks, particularly Keisean Nixon and Nate Hobbs, struggled to win in contested situations a week ago, they will face another test in that regard against McBride and Harrison this Sunday.

Injuries have ravaged the Cardinals’ backfield, with first and second string running backs James Conner and Trey Benson both out injured. With those two available, Arizona only rushed for 89 yards with a 3.9 yard average against Green Bay last year.

Emari Demercardo is also out, leaving Michael Carter and Bam Knight as the one-two punch. That duo averaged only 3.4 yards per carry last week. If the Packers do not need to respect the run, it could be more difficult for the Cardinals to use play action to put Brissett in advantageous positions.

Overall, the Cardinals offense does not seem especially dynamic, fast or explosive in any sense, especially with Murray likely out.

They put up points against the Colts mostly because Brissett found himself with time in the pocket quite often, and if that happens again, he is more than capable of making enough throws to keep them in the game, and McBride and Harrison have shown they can make plays downfield.

But that recipe is less likely to come together this week, and if it doesn’t, the Cardinals do not have the type of run game or the weapons who can make things happen after the catch to paper cut the Packers to death.

Truly unsettling Brissett, and doing it quickly, is the key to the game for Green Bay’s defense this week.