What went into Mike LaFleur’s end-of-game playcalling and Jeremiyah Love’s usage?

TEMPE — The Arizona Cardinals came just four yards short of pulling off a road win over the New York Giants on Sunday.

Despite being in prime real estate with 22 seconds left, a fresh set of downs and a timeout remaining after Marvin Harrison Jr. drew a defensive pass interference call, Arizona failed to make the most of the situation.

Instead, Arizona’s final drive ended in disappointing fashion:

– Incompletion
– Incompletion
– Incompletion
– Pick-6

So, what went wrong?

“The biggest thing where I’m bummed out is just not providing the clarity to our guys to be able to go out and execute. That’s what I told them today,” LaFleur told Arizona Sports’ Burns & Gambo on Monday. “We had our opportunities within those plays.

“Clearly I didn’t provide enough clarity to these guys to go out there and execute at a high level. It is what it is. … We got to live with that and my main focus is moving forward and when we’re in that situation again, not letting that happen.”

Cardinals’ end-of-game offense raises eyebrows

Among the biggest issues surrounding Arizona’s final drive was the inability to mix it up from the offense.

Instead of looking Marvin Harrison Jr.’s way once, Brissett fired three targets Michael Wilson’s way and another to tight end Trey McBride. We all know who Brissett’s favorite pass catchers are. So does every NFL defense!

Variety was greatly needed there. Why not take a chance with the 2024 No. 4 overall pick that was likened to red-zone demon Davante Adams not all that long ago? Seems like a missed opportunity there, especially given the fact Brissett never even looked his way on the final three plays.

There’s a similar feeling at running back, too.

Mike LaFleur explains Jeremiyah Love’s decreased usage late

Nothing against Tyler Allgeier, but he does not possess the type of game-breaking speed or abilities as rookie Jeremiyah Love.

In a must-have situation, not giving the 2026 No. 3 overall pick an opportunity with the game on the line and a timeout in the pocket is an odd choice. Even when he goes off script (see his first career NFL TD), there’s still a chance at finding pay dirt.

Ask LaFleur, though, and he has no regrets about how the snaps were divided late.

“I got so much confidence in TA in those situations, particularly inside the five-yard line. I’d love to have all those guys out there, but in that moment, we didn’t,” LaFleur said. “I’m not going to sit here and regret because that would make it feel like I don’t have confidence in Tyler Allgeier. I do and so do all his teammates. That’s where I’d stand on that.”

A big reason for Allgeier’s involvement late came down to his abilities as Arizona’s third-down back and his pass protection, LaFleur told reporters postgame.

Love, however, has more than showed his worth in that realm early on in his career. A.Q. Shipley isn’t shouting him out for his blocking ability for nothing.

Maybe there’s more to Love’s lingering ankle issue than what LaFleur is letting on. He said Monday the issue isn’t extreme — and isn’t on the same ankle he sprained in the preseason — but there is some injury management with it.

When it comes to Jeremiyah Love’s ankle issue that popped up Sunday, Mike LaFleur said it’s not the same ankle he sprained in the preseason but that he’s been dealing with it for a little bit.

“It’s a management type thing. It’s like he tweaks and then feels fine. We’re just trying to manage that. He’s doing a good job with it, too.”

— Tyler Drake (@Tdrake4sports) October 5, 2026

Love also spoke about his body being tired at times as he continues to the gauntlet of going from college to the pros with little downtime in between.

As LaFleur told Burns & Gambo, Love felt the issue pop up on Sunday and that was a big reason why he and Allgeier had a more even split in touches.

Still, not seeing the running back with the most guaranteed money at his position during the most critical juncture of the game doesn’t give off the best optics, especially when the end result is an L.

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