Cardinals Defend 2 Controversial Late-Game Decisions

ARIZONA -- As expected, discussions swirl around the Arizona Cardinals and what transpired in the late stages of their overtime defeat to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 12.

Such is life in the league when you lose and certain decisions get scrutinized, though clock/game management for Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon has been a consistent theme throughout his tenure in the desert.

That reared its ugly head on Sunday, as a handful of late-game decisions ultimately cost the Cardinals.

READ: Cardinals Loved Risky Play-Call in OT Loss

Final Drive Fiasco

The Cardinals did indeed get possession back and marched down the field, ultimately putting themselves in position to not only tie the game - but to win it in regulation.

Jacoby Brissett found Michael Wilson down the field with under 30 seconds remaining - and instead of spiking the ball to allow Arizona multiple shots at a touchdown, the Cardinals burned nearly 20 seconds off the clock and ultimately settled for a field goal.

#AZCardinals torched nearly 20 seconds of clock after the Michael Wilson reception at the end of the game.

Instead of spiking it, Cards opted to run a play. Pass falls incomplete and field goal unit comes out to send it to OT. pic.twitter.com/VZM5j17TjT
— Donnie Druin (@DonnieDruin) November 24, 2025

"So at that point where outside of the yard range where I feel comfortable like getting a play off to the end zone because you're out of timeouts. It can't be inbound, so you take a one-on-one shot," said Gannon.

"Typically we would do that with six seconds, but you're cutting it tight. If it was a little closer where the ball can get up and down a little bit quicker, yes. At that point I wanted to go to overtime.”

Brissett himself added:

“No. Just because it's the same thing. At least you get a chance to throw it. It's what we practice, (it’s) what we talk about all week. In that situation it's either him or nobody. Hopefully, you catch a defense sleeping or something like that, but I liked the decision.”

READ: The Good, Bad and Ugly From Arizona's Loss

4th Down Deep Shot

In overtime, the Cardinals faced a fourth-and-4 after holding the Jaguars to a field goal.

Out of all the plays they could have potentially dialed up, a deep shot to Xavier Weaver with a safety over top was the ultimate decision, one that nearly everybody outside of the Cardinals' locker room agreed was the wrong one.

THE PASS IS INCOMPLETE AND THE JAGUARS WIN pic.twitter.com/oNNj9dO4Z7
— NFL (@NFL) November 24, 2025

“Trying to go win a game. It was the coverage for him. I have to make a better throw," said Brissett.

Gannon added, "Yeah, they played double-double. So they threw it to the one-on-one. Loved the decision. Go win the game.”

People much rather would have seen the game end with a pass to Wilson or Trey McBride.