The Cardinals’ 33-30 win in Dallas gave Arizona plenty to celebrate, but it didn’t erase the bigger questions hovering over Monti Ossenfort’s roster-building. Before Week 9 begins in Seattle, the Cardinals are sitting on a result that showed off some of their best moments of the season and, at the same time, exposed how shaky some of the front office’s biggest calls have been.
The clearest example starts with the third overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft. Arizona used that selection on Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, a move that drew plenty of skepticism at the time. Running backs simply do not carry the same value they once did, and the Cardinals had already signed Tyler Allgeier in free agency.
Allgeier’s background made the decision look even harder to justify. In four seasons with the Falcons, he piled up 2,876 rushing yards and averaged 4.2 yards per carry.
On Sunday, he looked every bit like the kind of back Arizona could have leaned on all along. Against Dallas, Allgeier ripped off 147 yards and averaged 13.4 yards per carry, including a 63-yard touchdown run that helped pull the Cardinals back into the game.
Meanwhile, Love has been stuck on the sideline with his third ankle injury of the season. When he has been available, the rookie has averaged just 2.6 yards per carry and has had trouble finishing drives in the end zone.
That doesn’t make him a bust, but it does make the pick look like a missed opportunity. Arizona could have gone another direction at No. 3, whether that meant adding edge/linebacker Arvell Reese to the defense or wideout Carnell Tate to the offense.
The quarterback situation has also been a messier bet than the Cardinals probably wanted. After Arizona moved on from Kyler Murray, who signed with Minnesota in March, the team had to figure out who would take over under center. Jacoby Brissett got the job, but he came in with a résumé that was solid only in the most generous sense.
Among quarterbacks who played at least double-digit games in 2025, Brissett ranked 14th in quarterback rating and touchdown passes. After last season, he pushed for a raise in the final year of his deal, skipped voluntary OTAs and mandatory minicamp, and still ended up staying when the Cardinals and Brissett agreed to a restructured contract. The alternative was Gardner Minshew, and Arizona passed on that route.
Last week, Brissett was finally pulled in the third quarter. Minshew came off the bench and led a comeback win, and in just two quarters he looked better than Brissett had in any full game this season. If Minshew had started from the beginning, Arizona might have stolen one of the close losses it already owns, including the New York Giants game.
That’s the part of this season that keeps mattering. The Cardinals may be in a competitive NFC West, and plenty of people expected this to be more of a development year than a true push. Turning three wins into five wins does not change the franchise overnight.
But the small misses keep stacking up. Ossenfort has had some good moments, yet the pattern has been hard to ignore: one step forward, two steps back. Arizona should have a strong draft position next year in what looks like a loaded class, and if owner Michael Bidwill decides the mistakes are piling too high, a change at general manager could be on the table.
For now, the Cardinals’ front office still has plenty to answer for, even after a win that looked far better on the scoreboard than it did underneath. Ownership has a lot to sort through before deciding what comes next.
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Cardinals Face A Josh Sweat Decision That Still Isnt Simple
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The wrinkle is that a trade is not as simple as checking the market and taking the best offer. Sweats contract situation gives the Cardinals leverage, and multiple reports point to him staying put beyond the deadline, which is why the speculation has never quite matched the expectation. Unless something unexpected develops, this feels more like a name to monitor than a deal that is actually gaining traction. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Head To Seattle Already Facing A Costly Lineup Problem
The Cardinals are heading to Seattle with their depth already under strain, and the injury list keeps growing at the wrong time. Head coach Mike LaFleur said running back Bam Knight, tackle Jayden Williams and guard Jon Gaines did not practice during the week, and all three have been ruled out for the Week 9 matchup with the Seahawks as Arizona waits on the official injury report after practice.
That leaves the Cardinals trying to patch together a lineup before facing a division opponent that is dealing with its own quarterback change, with Drew Lock set to start for Seattle in place of the injured Sam Darnold. Arizona is also still monitoring other injured players, so the final shape of the roster could matter just as much as the matchup itself when the teams kick off. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Face A Seahawks Game That Could Reshape Their Deadline Plans
Arizonas trade season has already been busy, but the next step may come down to Sundays matchup with Seattle. The Cardinals are still in the NFC West mix, and with a relatively favorable schedule ahead, the front office has a real decision to make as the deadline approaches. Sitting 11th in the draft order also adds another layer to the calculus, because the line between staying aggressive and looking ahead can change quickly.
A win over the Seahawks would help keep the season pointed toward contention and make it easier to hold onto veterans the team might otherwise listen on. A loss, though, could sharpen the questions around Arizonas direction and bring more attention to the players other clubs would love to pry away. For a team that has already shown a willingness to deal, this game may end up shaping whether the next move is about pushing in or pulling back. [Read more 🡒]