Will Mike LaFleur Make A Major Quarterback Change After Arizona Cardinals’ Stunning Win?

Mike LaFleur's quarterback switch sparked a comeback win over the Dallas Cowboys.© Image via: X/@NFL_DovKleiman

Two touchdowns down, a red zone that kept stalling, and a coach out of patience. That was the picture in Arlington late in the third quarter, when the Arizona Cardinals made a bold call. Head coach Mike LaFleur sent Gardner Minshew in for starter Jacoby Brissett, and the game flipped. Arizona stormed back, forced overtime, and beat the Dallas Cowboys 33-30 on a 42-yard field goal by Chad Ryland. The Cardinals now sit at 3-5, but the bigger question is simple. Does Minshew keep the job when Arizona visits the Seattle Seahawks next Sunday?

Gardner Minshew Changes The Arizona Cardinals Offense Against The Dallas Cowboys

Brissett had gone 10-of-23 for 119 yards and an interception. Dallas led 17-3, and Arizona had scored a touchdown on just one of its last 12 red zone trips. LaFleur pulled the trigger with 95 seconds left in the third quarter.

The change worked fast. Minshew finished with 188 yards and three touchdowns, and the Cardinals scored three times inside the 20-yard line. His 13-yard strike to wide receiver Michael Wilson tied the game at 30 with six seconds left. Ryland missed the extra point, which sent the game to overtime, then made up for it with the winning kick.

????????????????????????????????: Cardinals HC Mike LaFleur is facing backlash for SMILING after his kicker Chad Ryland missed the extra point to beat the Cowboys. He should be upset. But is happy instead  https://t.co/pEMY2fOLop

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) November 1, 2026

LaFleur refused to hand all the credit to one player. "It was a collective deal," he said. That fits what the tape suggests. Minshew is quick with his decisions, and a quick release helps an offense that has struggled to finish drives.

Arizona Cardinals Quarterback Decision Looms Before The Seattle Seahawks Game

The Cardinals did this while their skill group fell apart. Running back Jeremiyah Love left with his third ankle injury of the year. Wide receiver Kendrick Bourne also hurt his ankle, and running back Bam Knight suffered a concussion. That left Tyler Allgeier as the only healthy back, and he ran for 147 yards on 11 carries.

Wilson may have shown the most grit. He played through two broken ribs and caught eight passes for 111 yards and a score.

Asked about next week's starter, LaFleur gave little away. "I'm just excited about this win right now," he said. Even so, a source told ESPN that Minshew is expected to keep the job.

The numbers help his case. Minshew signed a one-year, $5.75 million deal as a backup, and he earned Pro Bowl honors with the Indianapolis Colts in 2023. Brissett went 1-11 as a starter last season.

Arizona has won two of its last three games, so momentum is real. Health is the concern. If the receiving group stays thin, Seattle will tell us whether this was a spark or a one-day miracle.