The Brissett Bridge: How NFL Backup QBs Are Redefining Team Resilience

The Arizona Cardinals’ quarterback situation – Kyler Murray’s foot injury and Jacoby Brissett’s subsequent performance – isn’t an isolated incident. It’s a microcosm of a growing trend in the NFL: the increasing importance of reliable, capable backup quarterbacks. A recent study by Pro Football Focus revealed a 35% increase in games started by backup quarterbacks over the last five seasons, a figure that’s poised to climb as the league grapples with the physical demands of the game and the evolving strategies of defensive play.

The Rising Tide of QB Injuries & the Backup Premium

The NFL is, fundamentally, a collision sport. Injuries are inevitable. But the frequency and severity of quarterback injuries are escalating, driven by factors like increased defensive pressure, the athleticism of modern quarterbacks exposing them to more hits, and the sheer complexity of the position. This isn’t just about avoiding the catastrophic injury; it’s about weathering the inevitable bumps and bruises that accumulate over a 17-game season. Teams are realizing that a drop-off from a star quarterback to an unprepared backup can be the difference between a playoff run and a rebuilding year. This has led to a significant shift in how teams evaluate and invest in the second and third string positions.

Beyond Game Management: The Evolution of the Modern Backup

Historically, the backup quarterback was often a young player being developed or a veteran “game manager” whose primary role was to avoid mistakes. That paradigm is shifting. Today’s successful backups are often experienced players with starting-caliber talent, capable of not just executing the offense but also making reads, extending plays, and even improvising. Jacoby Brissett’s performance against the Indianapolis Colts – 27 of 44 passes for 320 yards with two touchdowns and one interception – is a prime example. He didn’t just hand the ball off; he demonstrated the ability to make critical throws under pressure, keeping the Cardinals competitive. This trend is forcing teams to prioritize not just arm talent, but also football IQ and leadership qualities when scouting backups.

The Strategic Implications: Bye Weeks & Mid-Season Adjustments

The timing of Kyler Murray’s expected return after the Cardinals’ bye week is no accident. Bye weeks are increasingly being used as strategic reset points, not just for physical recovery but also for integrating backups into the game plan. Coaches are dedicating more practice time to ensuring that backups are comfortable with the playbook and have built rapport with the receiving corps. This proactive approach minimizes disruption when a starter inevitably goes down. Furthermore, the rise of analytically-driven coaching staffs is leading to more nuanced game planning based on backup quarterback strengths. We’re likely to see offenses tailored to maximize the skills of the available quarterback, rather than rigidly adhering to a single scheme.

The Dallas Cowboys game on November 3rd will be a crucial test. Not just for Murray’s recovery, but for the Cardinals’ ability to navigate a potentially turbulent season. A strong performance from Murray will solidify confidence, but a quick return to injury could highlight the fragility of relying solely on a single player.

The Future of Quarterback Depth: Data, Training & the “QB Factory”

Looking ahead, we can expect to see even greater investment in quarterback development and injury prevention. Teams are leveraging data analytics to identify players with a lower risk of injury and to optimize training regimens. The concept of a “QB factory” – a team consistently developing and producing high-quality backup quarterbacks – is gaining traction. This involves not just scouting and drafting, but also implementing specialized coaching programs and creating a culture that values quarterback depth. The success of teams like the San Francisco 49ers, who have consistently found capable backups, will serve as a blueprint for others. The ability to seamlessly transition between quarterbacks will become a defining characteristic of championship contenders.

The NFL is evolving, and the role of the backup quarterback is at the forefront of that evolution. It’s no longer enough to simply have a body to fill a roster spot; teams need to have a player who can step in and win games. The Cardinals’ situation is a stark reminder of this reality, and a harbinger of things to come.

What are your predictions for the impact of backup quarterbacks on the 2026 NFL season? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Pro Football Focus

The Rise of Distributed Innovation: How Serverless and Edge Computing are Redefining the Startup Landscape

Nearly 90% of companies are already using or actively experimenting with cloud-native technologies, but the next wave of innovation isn’t just about *being* in the cloud – it’s about distributing compute power to where the data lives. This shift, driven by serverless architectures, event-driven programming, and edge computing, is fundamentally changing how startups and established enterprises alike approach building and scaling applications.

The Serverless Revolution: From Lambda to Limitless Potential

The foundation of this distributed future is serverless computing. Pioneered by services like AWS Lambda – and expertly detailed in Danilo Poccia’s book, AWS Lambda in Action – serverless allows developers to focus solely on code, abstracting away the complexities of server management. This isn’t merely a cost-saving measure (though it is significant); it’s a force multiplier for innovation. Startups can iterate faster, deploy more frequently, and scale effortlessly, freeing up valuable resources to concentrate on core product development.

However, serverless isn’t without its challenges. Debugging distributed systems can be complex, and vendor lock-in remains a concern. The emerging trend of “portable serverless” – frameworks like Knative that allow serverless functions to run on multiple platforms – is addressing this, offering greater flexibility and resilience.

Event-Driven Architectures: The Nervous System of Modern Applications

Serverless thrives on event-driven programming. Instead of traditional request-response models, applications react to events – a file upload, a database update, a sensor reading. This decoupling of services creates highly scalable, resilient, and adaptable systems. Think of it as building a nervous system for your application, where each component reacts intelligently to stimuli.

This paradigm is particularly powerful for real-time applications, IoT deployments, and data processing pipelines. As the volume of data generated by connected devices continues to explode, event-driven architectures will become increasingly crucial for extracting meaningful insights.

The Impact on Machine Learning at the Edge

The combination of event-driven architectures and machine learning is fueling the growth of edge computing. Processing data closer to the source – on devices like smartphones, sensors, or local servers – reduces latency, conserves bandwidth, and enhances privacy. Imagine a smart factory where machine learning algorithms analyze sensor data in real-time to predict equipment failures, preventing costly downtime. This is the promise of edge ML.

Danilo Poccia’s work at AWS highlights the growing importance of this trend. The ability to deploy and manage ML models at the edge requires specialized tools and expertise, creating a significant opportunity for developers and service providers. Gartner predicts the edge computing market will reach nearly $188 billion by 2027, demonstrating the massive potential of this space.

Beyond the Hype: Practical Considerations for Implementation

While the benefits are clear, adopting these technologies requires careful planning. Security is paramount, especially in distributed environments. Implementing robust authentication, authorization, and data encryption mechanisms is essential. Monitoring and observability are also critical for identifying and resolving issues in complex, distributed systems. Tools like Prometheus and Grafana are becoming increasingly popular for this purpose.

Furthermore, a shift in organizational culture is often necessary. DevOps practices, emphasizing collaboration and automation, are crucial for successfully deploying and managing serverless and edge applications. Teams need to embrace a “fail fast” mentality and be comfortable with continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD).

The Future is Distributed: A New Era of Innovation

The convergence of serverless, event-driven programming, and edge computing isn’t just a technological trend; it’s a fundamental shift in how innovation happens. By removing the operational burden of infrastructure management, these technologies empower developers to focus on what they do best: building amazing products. The next generation of disruptive startups will be built on these principles, and established enterprises that embrace this distributed future will be best positioned to compete.

What are your biggest challenges when considering serverless or edge computing for your projects? Share your thoughts in the comments below!