The Arizona Cardinals' Week 4 loss to the New York Giants seemed to be their season. Not that they had realistic playoff expectations heading into it, but the nature of the loss signaled a shift in the fanbase.
Jacoby Brissett's struggles and poor late-game execution had fans looking ahead to when third-round rookie Carson Beck will get his opportunity to start.
Head coach Mike LaFleur has already shot down talks heading into Week 5, saying Brissett will remain this team's starter. But with each loss, the Cardinals get further out of the playoff conversation, and talks for Beck grow louder.
Cardinals must see what they have in rookie Carson Beck
It's one thing if Brissett is proving to be that veteran stopgap, justifying his reworked deal this offseason and executing to win these types of games for Arizona. But that couldn't have been further from the case on Sunday, as Brissett threw for 166 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions.
That last interception was a pick-six by Giants cornerback Deonte Banks, sealing the game for New York and now putting the Cardinals at three straight losses.
It's games like these where Beck would've been better off getting the reps.
Best-case scenario, he's an upgrade over the replacement-level Brissett, turning this season around and giving Arizona reason for optimism that they have the quarterback situation figured out once and for all.
Even in a worst-case scenario, a 0- 4 start isn't drastically different than 1-3 in the scheme of things. The Cardinals would then know that Beck isn't the answer, which would also put them in a better position to draft that potential answer in the 2027 NFL Draft.
At least Brissett's struggles also put Arizona in a position to land a top-ten pick in this upcoming draft. But if he's not unlocking these offensive playmakers and aiding their development, then what's this all for?
Mike LaFleur should turn to Carson Beck soon
It's only a matter of time before the Cardinals turn to Beck, giving them more opportunity to evaluate someone who was promising early on in preseason before being shut down due to injury.
LaFleur won't make the switch Week 5 against the Detroit Lions. But if Brissett can't produce in a home game against one of the worst defenses in the league, the 1-4 Cardinals at that point would be running out of reasons to justify having him as this team's starter.
A Week 1 upset over the Los Angeles Chargers doesn't look so impressive in retrospect as they're still winless. And not only is Brissett failing to justify his reworked deal, but he's also running out of room in the quarterback battle with Beck.
The fact that Arizona is already having Beck split practice reps with Gardner Minshew II is encouraging, as it suggests they know it's in their best long-term interest to prioritize their rookie.
That should also include a shift at starting quarterback, especially if these losses continue to pile up. LaFleur may be committed to Brissett for Week 5, but hopefully that leash doesn't extend very far behind on that. Factor in Arizona's difficult upcoming matchups against the Lions, Rams, and Broncos, and this team will fall out of the playoff conversation sooner rather than later.
When that time comes, it's in their best interest to continue prioritizing that future by seeing what they have in their rookie. Continuing to lose games with a replacement-level Brissett clearly isn't getting them anywhere this season.
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