Arizona Cardinals bench Jacoby Brissett and offense immediately takes off in win over Cowboys

On November 1, 2026, in Arlington, Texas, the Arizona Cardinals suffered an 17-3 defeat to the Dallas Cowboys. Quarterback Gardner Minshew II, who had been the team's starter, finished the game with a 10/23 completion rate, 119 yards, and one interception. However, the situation took a dramatic turn with 1:35 left in the third quarter when head coach searched for a fresh face, replacing Jacoby Brissett, the historically struggling starter, with Minshew.

The switch proved to be a game-changer. Minshew's arrival led to a transformation in the Cardinals' offense. In under two quarters, the new starting quarterback executed a dominant performance, throwing 17/23, accumulating 188 yards, and scoring three touchdowns. The change of pace in the offense brought the game to overtime, where the Cardinals ultimately triumphed 33-30 against the Cowboys. The key play in the overtime was a missed Chad Ryland extra point, which would have sealed the game for the Cowboys.

The Cardinals, now with a 3-5 record, displayed a glimmer of hope with Minshew's performance. However, analysts are divided on whether the offensive improvement was a result of desperation or Minshew's ability to drive the team forward. Regardless, this unexpected victory left a sense of rejuvenation for the Cardinals' fans, as they witnessed a promising resurgence on offense.