The Consensus Week 9: Only one way for the Cardinals to go
Nov 1, 2017, 7:48 AM | Updated: 11:22 am
Arizona Cardinals free safety Tyrann Mathieu (32) walks on the field during the second half of an NFL football game against Los Angeles Rams at Twickenham Stadium in London, Sunday Oct. 22, 2017. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
(AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
It’s hard to get much movement in NFL Power Rankings when you have the week off, so the results of this week’s pecking orders are pretty close to what they were heading into Week 8 for the Arizona Cardinals.
The good news, I guess, is the Cardinals don’t have much farther to fall in the rankings — and they have a good post-bye week starting point: Santa Clara. Bruce Arians’ team will face the winless San Francisco 49ers Sunday at Levi’s Stadium in hopes of reaching .500 and staying somewhat in contention in the NFC West.
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 9: No change at the top
Cardinals rank: #26 (▼2)
No mystery here. Lose this week and they’re done. — Dave Burns
Week 9 NFL Power Rankings: Scariest trends for all 32 teams
Cardinals rank: #28 (–)
No Carson Palmer and no David Johnson. The Cardinals already boast the NFL’s worst rush attack (63.4 yards per game), so it could be interesting to see what happens to the offense with Drew Stanton starting at quarterback going forward.
NFL Power Rankings, Week 9: Houston Texans rise despite loss
Cardinals rank: #26 (–)
Drew Stanton is the man, for now. Will Stanton play the no-holds-barred, throw-it-deep-twice-per-half style that Bruce Arians likes? He should. Make the opposing defense play the whole field, even if it results in an incomplete pass. That will give Adrian Peterson a little room in which to operate and speed the game up. Stanton will start against the 49ers at the Big Blue Jean this week, which was the site of his last start (and win). In fact, the dude has won his last three starts. Arians doesn’t give two squirrels’ farts what you think of his quarterback. He’s won with Stanton.
NFL Power Rankings Poll, Week 9: Eagles Finally Soar to the Top Spot
Cardinals rank: #29 (▼2)
No comment.
NFL Power Rankings: Surprising Rams, Bills, Vikings, Saints in top 10 after Week 8
Cardinals rank: #27 (▼2)
They come out of the bye with Drew Stanton as their starting quarterback with Carson Palmer out. That will be a challenge for this team.
NFL Power Rankings: Where Does Every Team Stand Heading into Week 9?
Cardinals rank: #28 (–)
It’s hard to know what to think of the Arizona Cardinals. They’re all over the place on a week-to-week basis. One thing I can tell you is that the Cardinals aren’t one of the better teams in the NFL.
Is Arizona going to fall apart with Drew Stanton under center instead of Carson Palmer? No. What we’re going to see, though, is more of what we’ve been seeing—an inconsistent offense.
There are some playmakers on offense and defense, so that makes Arizona dangerous. However, this isn’t a playoff team. There are too many holes on the roster, and the Cardinals don’t play disciplined football. The Cardinals are what they are. They’re a 3-4 team, and at the end of the year, they’ll probably be hovering right around .500.
NFL Power Rankings: How high can surprising Saints climb?
Cardinals rank: #27 (▲1)
The Cardinals have to find some pass rushers in the offseason. Chandler Jones has eight sacks. The rest of the team combined has five, and no player besides Jones has more than one.
USA Today Power Rankings – Week 9
Cardinals rank: #27 (–)
Focus will be on QB Drew Stanton’s ability to keep them alive. It should be on defense given Arizona allowed 100 points in its last three games.
Cardinals rank: #29 (–)
The good news is they won’t have to face Jimmy Garoppolo this week. The better news is they’re playing the 49ers.
NFL Power Rankings: Eagles, Vikings, Saints lead eerie surprises at midseason
NFL
Cardinals rank: #22 (▲3)
The oldest team in the league probably has heard its share of cryptkeeper jokes. It will be hard to keep up any playoff contention with Drew Stanton at quarterback.
