Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett pitches the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Kelley L. Cox)
October 01, 2026 - 12:44 PM
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Jacoby Brissett and Jameis Winston go way back to their college days more than a decade ago.
Brissett's best friend, Nick O'Leary, played tight end at Florida State with Winston, and the two have stayed in touch over the years.
“Somebody like that I always root for — besides this weekend — and have a ton of respect for him,” Brissett said.
Not long ago, they were journeyman backup quarterbacks closer to the end of their respective NFL careers than the beginning. On Sunday, they’ll meet as starters when Brissett and the Arizona Cardinals visit Winston and the New York Giants.
Brissett has been No. 1 on the depth chart since training camp opened, while Winston assumed his spot after Jaxson Dart went down with a season-ending knee injury in Week 2. It has been a mixed bag for each of them, and the difference in their next matchup may come down to who does not turn the ball over.
Winston expressed pride in avoiding that mistake while beating Tennessee to get the Giants to 2-1. They have yet to score a touchdown in the seven-plus quarters since he stepped in for Dart.
“Everyone’s so used to me throwing for 500 yards and throwing interceptions,” Winston said. “If we were having a conversation about me throwing interceptions and throwing for 300 yards, y’all wouldn’t be asking me a question. But when God allows me to manage a football game, now it’s, ‘Does he still have it?’”
The questions are there in large part because New York made a move Monday to add another QB, acquiring J.J. McCarthy in a trade with Minnesota. Coach John Harbaugh said Winston is the starter for now.
Brissett appears ensconced in that role for the 1-2 Cardinals, backed up by Gardner Minshew and with rookie Carson Beck waiting in the wings. The 33-year-old through three games has completed 70.1% of his passes for 652 yards, four TDs and one interception.
“You’ve got to change the picture on him,” Giants edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux said. “You’ve got to get him to hold the ball. I think we’ve got to run, we’ve got to play fast, we’ve got to hit and we’ve got to defend MetLife.”
Need to know
Arizona (1-2) at N.Y. Giants (2-1)
When/where to watch: Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT, CBS.
Latest odds: Cardinals by 2 1/2.
Against the spread: Cardinals 2-1; Giants 2-1.
Last week: Cardinals lost to the 49ers 36-30; Giants beat the Titans 12-7.
Last meeting: Giants beat the Cardinals 31-28 on Sept. 17, 2023, at Arizona.
Series record: Giants lead 81-46-2.
Matchup to watch
Cardinals rookie running back Jeremiyah Love vs. the Giants' run defense. Love, the No. 3 pick in the draft, is coming off running for 90 yards and making five catches for 19 yards and a touchdown at San Francisco. After ranking fourth worst in the league against the run last season, the Giants are in the middle of the pack so far, allowing 104.3 yards a game on the ground. Containing Love is key for New York, and the job got harder after linebacker Brian Burns was lost for the season with a knee injury.
Stats and stuff
— First-year Cardinals coach Mike LaFleur is facing each of the Harbaugh brothers over the first four games of his NFL head coaching career. Arizona beat Jim's Los Angeles Chargers in LaFleur's debut.
— Brissett has thrown for 4,018 yards and 27 TDs in his first 15 starts for the franchise, team records over that span.
— The Cardinals have won four straight road games against the Giants, a streak that goes back to 2009. The Giants have won four of the past five meetings.
— Giants running back Cam Skattebo had 20 carries for 60 yards against the Titans. Najee Harris ran the ball nine times for 52 yards.
— New York has just one sack, by Abdul Carter. Only winless Miami with zero has less.
— Rookie kicker Dominic Zvada is 6 of 6 on field-goal attempts, including four to provide all of his team's points in the Tennessee game.
— Safety Jevon Holland has an interception in each of the first three games of the season. He picked off Cam Ward in the end zone in the final minute to seal the victory last weekend.
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AP Sports Writer David Brandt in Tempe, Arizona, contributed to this report.
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News from © The Associated Press, 2026