Trey McBride smiled when reminded that his two- touchdown performance on Sunday matched his receiving total from all of last season.
If you ask the tight end, no drastic changes have caused his touchdown total to rise.
"Each play is designed based on coverage to go to a certain spot and coincidentally, the Packers gave me two opportunities today to get open," McBride said. "I'm happy Jacoby was able to find me."
Brissett, the Cardinals quarterback on Sunday, heavily relied on McBride in the 27-23 loss to Green Bay, targeting him 13 times. McBride finished the game with ten receptions for 74 yards and two trips to the end zone.
Jonathan Gannon said that even with defenses paying closer attention to McBride, he's done a good job at getting open.
"He's a premium player," the coach said.
The growth in chemistry between McBride and Kyler Murray was a factor in the tight end's emergence as one of the league's elite players at the position. Even with Murray out, McBride has produced. With Brissett under center last weekend against the Colts, McBride also scored a touchdown and had double-digit targets.
McBride would only credit the scheme.
"No matter who is back there, I feel like I can be successful, so I don't think it has anything to do with Jacoby (and) doesn't have anything to do with who is back there," McBride said. "I think coaches do a great job of getting guys open, and I just try to execute the play that's called. Today, it just wasn't enough."
Sunday's game checked off a few milestones in McBride's four-year career. His four touchdown receptions are a single-season high. The second touchdown of the afternoon was the 10th of his career. He's nine touchdowns behind Doug Marsh for the second-most touchdowns by a tight end in franchise history behind Jackie Smith.
"That's who he has been all year, his whole career," Brissett said. "That's the reason why we put so much faith in him and give him so much attention on offense. He is one of if not the best tight end in this league for a reason. Other teams know it and try their hardest to stop him, but it's very hard to do it."
McBride had a hard time finding a TD-silver lining. His team enters the bye week on a five-game losing streak before they return to action against the Cowboys in Week 9.
In each of the Cardinals' five losses, it has come down to the final drive. Such defeats have become a frustrating dilemma.
McBride said it comes down to scoring "more points to win the game, and right now, we're not scoring enough points." However, he was one of the many players who doubled down on just how close they feel to turning it around.
Finding that answer is how they can win the bye week.
"I think the offense just needs to be better," McBride said. "We got to look ourselves in the mirror and figure out a way to get better and find a way to win a game."
