The Consensus Week 5: Not a lot of movement for Cardinals after SF win
Oct 4, 2017, 8:33 AM
Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson (21) during an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Fact: The Arizona Cardinals are 2-2.
Fact: The Cardinals have had to come back to beat two bad teams — the Indianapolis Colts and San Francisco 49ers — in overtime.
Fact: Arizona just hasn’t looked that good in 2017.
All these facts are in play this week in NFL Power Rankings from around the country. In fact, only one outlet — Yahoo! Sports’ Shutdown Corner — even has Bruce Arians’ team in its top 20.
Each week in The Consensus, we’ll give you a look at where national outlets (and we here at ArizonaSports.com) are placing the Cardinals in their league pecking order.
Arizona Sports NFL Power Rankings Week 5: Chiefs far and away No. 1
Cardinals rank: #21 (▲2)
Markus Golden’s knee injury is another big blow for a team whose season has been defined by injuries. — Craig Morgan
Week 5 NFL Power Rankings: Your defense looks …
Cardinals rank: #21 (–)
The Cardinals allowed Total QBRs of 75 or better to Matthew Stafford and Dak Prescott, and QBRs of 25 or worse to Jacoby Brissett and Brian Hoyer. In other words, they’ve struggled against the good and thrived against the not-so-good. Carson Wentz, Jameis Winston and Jared Goff are up next for Arizona.
NFL Power Rankings, Week 5: Lions, Eagles soar into top three
Cardinals rank: #22 (▲2)
Sure, the Cardinals were facing the 49ers. Maybe this isn’t the year for Arizona, either. That remains to be seen. But what we saw Sunday was awesome. Even if you weren’t able to take in any of the game, the ending was beautiful. The Cardinals, trying to stay afloat in the NFC West and not wanting to tie, needed a touchdown deep into overtime to beat San Francisco. Carson Palmer called for the football with 38 seconds on the clock, took a glance over the middle, then lofted the ball for Larry Fitzgerald with a corner 1 yard back and a safety closing fast. Fitz leaped to snag the football, secured it, then hit the ground hard. As the future first-ballot Hall of Famer visibly winced in pain, the entire joint erupted … unbelievable. Watch it again. You’re welcome.
NFL Power Rankings Poll, Week 5: Texans Make Their Move, Rams and Bills Rising Fast
Cardinals rank: #22 (▲3)
No comment.
NFL Power Rankings: Rams on the rise; Vikings, Raiders biggest fallers in Week 4
Cardinals rank: #21 (▼1)
At 2-2, they should feel good to have that record. They just haven’t looked good.
NFL Power Rankings: Where Does Every Team Stand Heading into Week 5?
Cardinals rank: #24 (▲1)
The Arizona Cardinals, in typical fashion, looked great driving down the field at the beginning of the game. Then, in typical Cardinals fashion, Palmer threw an interception.
This is a talented team. However, it also repeatedly shoots itself in the foot. This is why Arizona is sitting at 2-2 instead of 3-1 or 4-0.
The Cardinals are all over the place in what they do to hurt themselves. There are too many penalties at times, Palmer is shaky under pressure, the offensive line isn’t good and the team struggles to run the ball with David Johnson sidelined.
Arizona’s defense does a great job of keeping the Cardinals in games. However, a defense can only carry a team for so long. Yes, the Cardinals got the win in Week 3, but this is a team that is going to beat itself too often to be a contender.
NFL Power Rankings: Five good reasons the Rams are for real this time
Cardinals rank: #20 (▼2)
We have seen teams just shed their skin and look entirely different from week to week, so maybe the Cardinals will do that. But aside from part of one half against the Cowboys, the Cardinals have looked bad this season. They should have lost at home Sunday to the 49ers. Perhaps it’s possible they stay in the hunt and then David Johnson returns and saves the day, but that seems like some wishful thinking.
USA Today Power Rankings – Week 5
Cardinals rank: #23 (▲1)
How much do they miss injured RB David Johnson? League’s worst run game is on pace to fall well short of 1,000 yards collectively.
Cardinals rank: #22 (▲3)
It always feels like Carson Palmer is one hit away from literally disintegrating.
NFL Power Rankings: Packers hang with Chiefs going into Week 5
Cardinals rank: #23 (–)
It was a drain with Carson Palmer and Arizona’s one-dimensional offense to come back against and outlast Indianapolis and San Francisco. Better overall teams are bound to cause the Cardinals problems.
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