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Week 7 NFL Power Rankings Recap: Cardinals continue their rise

Oct 19, 2016, 7:37 AM | Updated: 11:20 am

Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson (31) scores a touchdown against the New York Jets duri...

Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson (31) scores a touchdown against the New York Jets during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

It wasn’t anything you’d put in a time capsule to commemorate because of its beauty, but the Arizona Cardinals pretty much dominated the New York Jets 28-3 on Monday Night Football.

The win was the Cards’ second in a row — and the second to feature running back David Johnson as the focal point of the offense. The second-year star ran for 111 yards and three touchdowns in the victory, which got Arizona back up to .500 heading into a Sunday night showdown with NFC-leading Seattle at University of Phoenix Stadium.

Bruce Arians’ squad is also climbing most national NFL power rankings (except ESPN’s, which actually dropped them three spots after a 25-point win, but whatever) heading into Week 7.

Here’s a rundown of what some prominent national outlets (and ArizonaSports.com) are saying about the Cardinals:


CardinalsHelmet

Cardinals Average Power Ranking: 12.7

(up from 14.8 last week)

High Ranking: #8 (NFL.com)

Low Ranking: #18 (Bleacher Report)

 


arizonasports_lg_300Arizona Sports Week 7 NFL Power Rankings: Vikings still on top; Cardinals rise

Cardinals rank: #10 (▲ 1)

Climbing back up. Real clarity comes in the next two weeks.


espnWeek 7 NFL Power Rankings: Patriots slip past Vikings for No. 1

Cardinals rank: #13 (▼ 3)

833: Carson Palmer had a strong bounce-back game against the Jets, taking no sacks and throwing no picks. Palmer’s best work, however, was handing off or throwing to David Johnson, who leads the NFL with 833 yards from scrimmage this season.


nflnetworkNFL Power Rankings, Week 7: Cowboys soaring; AFC North falls

Cardinals rank: #8 (▲ 5)

Look out, NFL. The offense looked balanced behind phenom David Johnson. The defense? Made big plays all over the field, including a red-zone takeaway to thwart the Jets’ last real chance to get in the game. Agreed with Jon Gruden on the ESPN broadcast that Michael Floyd’s prospective reemergence could be the key to Arizona reemerging as an NFC contender. The lone downer: Seeing Jaron Brown, a solid contributor, get hurt on a meaningless completion late. Hate that kind of stuff.


SINFL Week 7 Power Rankings: The list of true contenders is a very short one

Cardinals rank: #12 (▲ 3)

The Cardinals’ offense is undergoing a transition akin to a dad teaching his son how to drive a car. It starts with the dad giving directions from the passenger seat while the son takes a spin in an empty parking lot, and ends with the son speeding off while the dad stands wistful in the driveway. So, hey Carson Palmer, just give David Johnson the keys already.


cbssportsNFL Power Rankings: Cowboys crack the top five, Raiders, Eagles plunge

Cardinals rank: #16 (▲ 1)

They looked good beating the Jets, but now they face a big division battle with the rival Seahawks. Are they ready for that?


Picture 3NFL power rankings 2016, Week 7: The Vikings and Patriots are neck-and-neck for No. 1

Cardinals rank: #12 (▲ 4)

No comment.


bleacherreportChris Simms’ NFL Power Rankings Ahead of Week 7

Cardinals rank: #18 (▲ 1)

Arizona’s offensive play-calling in one word? Brilliant.

Everyone and their sister expected a deep-ball-centric attack from Bruce Arians. He was a step ahead; pass-catchers from John Brown to Jaron Brown faked the long pattern only to cut back for easy completions. Carson Palmer could cruise with those throws and David Johnson’s heavy lifting.

Meanwhile, the Cardinals are recapturing their old defensive form. The sacks weren’t there in Week 6, but Tyrann Mathieu was. Teams are testing his lateral quickness on drag routes and pick plays; the Honey Badger is looking better every week. Only five teams field a better scoring defense than Arizona’s right now.


yahoosportsNFL Power Rankings: 49ers are league’s worst team and might be for a while

Cardinals rank: #12 (▲ 1)

David Johnson is amazing. He has quickly become one of the best players in the NFL.


usatodayUSA Today Power Rankings – Week 7

Cardinals rank: #15 (–)

RB David Johnson has five TDs over past two games, both Arizona wins. It appears Bruce Arians’ play-calling duties just got easier.


FoxsportsNFL Week 7 power rankings

Cardinals rank: #10 (▲ 2)

Are the Cardinals back? Was a game against the paltry Jets all they needed? There’s still a long way to go before we crown them an NFC powerhouse, but perhaps this was the spark Arizona needed. David Johnson is an absolute stud, and the secondary is playing as well as any in the NFL – mostly thanks to Tyrann Mathieu moving back to nickel corner.


profootballtalkPFT’s Week Seven Power Rankings

Cardinals rank: #14 (▲ 4)

David Johnson will soon be the best running back in the NFL. And by soon I mean right now.


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Week 7 NFL Power Rankings Recap: Cardinals continue their rise