ARIZONA CARDINALS

NFL.com: Four games in, Palmer the NFL’s third-best QB

Oct 8, 2015, 11:23 AM

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) looks to throw under pressure from St. Louis Rams s...

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) looks to throw under pressure from St. Louis Rams strong safety T.J. McDonald (25) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Carson Palmer has gotten off to a great start for the Arizona Cardinals this season, of that there is no debate.

The 35-year-old is fourth in the NFL in passing yards, with 1,155, second in touchdown passes, with 10, and is seventh in QB rating, at 106.4.

He is also completing 63.4 percent of his passes, averaging 8.62 yards per attempt, and has been picked off just three times while leading the Cardinals to a 3-1 record.

While he’s playing well, you’re not likely to find anyone ranking him ahead of elite passers Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady. However, as the NFL has reached its quarter point, NFL.com’s Gregg Rosenthal has the Cardinals’ QB just behind those two at No. 3.

It’s like the last decade never happened. Palmer, for a brief time, was considered the third best quarterback in the game in 2005 behind Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. Then Kimo Von Oelhoffen happened, a likable turn in Hard Knocks followed a few years later, a phony retirement threat to escape Bengals owner Mike Brown, and a brief moment when Palmer made the Raiders watchable. All roads led to Bruce Arians. Against all odds, Palmer is throwing the ball better than ever after another ACL surgery. Arians’ system and the talent around Palmer give him a real chance to make the Super Bowl for the first time at age 36.

If nothing else, Palmer’s run in the desert has certainly changed the national perception of him. He’s always been talented, but there has always been doubt about whether or not he was capable of leading a team deep into the postseason. Had he not suffered a torn ACL last season there’s a chance it would have happened then, but going forward the hope in Arizona is that he will stay healthy and get his chance this year.

 

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NFL.com: Four games in, Palmer the NFL’s third-best QB