Cornerback Deonte Banks turned Jacoby Brissett's final pass of the afternoon into a 98-yard interception return for a touchdown, sealing a 36-24 New York Giants victory over the Arizona Cardinals on the last play at MetLife Stadium. Arizona had possession at the New York 4-yard line with 22 seconds remaining and the score 30-24 against them, following a pass interference call drawn by Marvin Harrison Jr.
On fourth down, Banks stepped in front of a pass to record the interception, capping a sequence in which the offense had misfired on three consecutive attempts beforehand.
Three straight defeats have followed for the Cardinals (1-3) after coach Mike LaFleur opened his tenure with a road win against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1. When a reporter asked LaFleur after the final whistle whether a quarterback change was under consideration, the coach's reply was a single syllable: "No."
Brissett completed 21 of 35 pass attempts for 166 yards, threw two touchdown passes, and surrendered three interceptions. His passer rating fell to 55.2 — his lowest mark as a starter since 2022, according to Arizona Cardinals On SI. Brissett told reporters his path forward was straightforward: study the film, identify what went wrong, and get back to work.
Following the defeat, a number of journalists covering the NFL draft and college football took to social media to argue that the Cardinals should bring in rookie quarterback Carson Beck. LaFleur, when asked about a potential quarterback change, gave no indication one was forthcoming.
On Arizona Sports' postgame show, Burns & Gambo co-host John Gambadoro took issue with the offensive decision-making behind four consecutive pass plays run from the 4-yard line, arguing that running back Trey Love — the third overall pick in the draft — needed to receive the ball at least once during that possession, given that Arizona still held a timeout. LaFleur, speaking after the game, pointed to Tyler Allgeier as his preferred option down the stretch, citing the running back's work on third downs and his reliability in pass protection.
Love carried the ball 14 times for 63 yards. He was seen leaving the field with a limp following one of Brissett's second-quarter interceptions and received attention from the training staff on the sideline. According to Arizona Sports, Love was not part of Arizona's offensive unit when the team advanced into the red zone on the final possession of the game. In a post-game conversation with reporters, Love noted that the compressed timeline between his college career and the NFL — with minimal downtime separating the two — had worn on his body as the season progressed. He stated that he had not sustained an injury during the game.
Two tipped passes turned into interceptions during the second quarter, flipping Arizona's 14-3 advantage into a 19-17 deficit at halftime. LaFleur noted that multiple factors contributed to the turnaround and that the final one in particular required attention going forward. Brissett, who handles his own contract negotiations, had sat out voluntary offseason sessions before signing a revised deal dated July 26 that added $10 million to his compensation. According to one outlet's reporting, his contract for the current season carries a value of $15.5 million, with unrestricted free agency on the horizon once it concludes.
Brissett's record as Arizona's starting quarterback stands at 2-14, a stretch that carries over from the previous season, per Arizona Sports. The Cardinals' roster moves this offseason included signing Gardner Minshew II on a veteran deal and directing a third-round pick toward Beck out of the University of Miami.
LaFleur addressed his players directly after the defeat, telling them the result would take time to come to terms with and pointing to his own preparation and in-game decisions as areas where he believed he had fallen short. Any shift at quarterback, he noted, would also need to take shape behind an offensive line already managing an injury situation.
Two offensive linemen were sidelined during the game: Paris Johnson Jr. dealt with a biceps problem that developed late in the contest, while Isaiah Adams was carried off the field on a cart after sustaining an ankle injury. The team's website lists rookie Jayden Williams as the likely replacement should Johnson be unavailable. Safety Wingard also required a cart to leave the field after sustaining a knee injury.
Arizona's next three opponents are the Detroit Lions at home on Sunday, followed by the Los Angeles Rams and the Denver Broncos. LaFleur acknowledged the loss would take time to process while stressing that, regardless of the team's 1-3 record, the roster would need to refocus by Wednesday, as no outside sympathy was forthcoming.
