Week 10 NFL Power Rankings Recap: Cardinals lose ground in bye week
Nov 9, 2016, 8:12 AM | Updated: 11:30 am
Arizona Cardinals' Larry Fitzgerald (11) controls a pass and makes his turn against the Carolina Panthers during the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Oct. 30, 2016. The Panthers won 30-20. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
(AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
Apparently the Arizona Cardinals didn’t have a good bye week?
Despite not playing a game and being part of a giant, gelatinous glob of NFL mediocrity, Bruce Arians’ team lost ground — in some cases, a substantial amount — in this week’s national NFL Power Rankings.
Pete Prisco of CBS Sports and Chris Simms of Bleacher Report each dropped the Cardinals five spots in their Week 10 rankings. Prisco also dropped idle Cincinnati five spots while elevating the Texans, who had a Week 9 bye, four spots.
Hmm…
Here’s a rundown of what some prominent national outlets (and ArizonaSports.com) are saying about the Cardinals:
Cardinals Average Power Ranking: 19.0
(down from 16.9 last week)
High Ranking: #13 (NFL.com)
Low Ranking: #26 (USA Today)
Arizona Sports Week 10 NFL Power Rankings: Little movement at the top
Cardinals rank: #15 (▲ 1)
The Veldheer injury is going to be tough to overcome.
Week 10 NFL Power Rankings: Raiders join Patriots, Cowboys in top five
Cardinals rank: #16 (▼ 4)
37 percent: Running back David Johnson has accounted for 37 percent of the team’s yards from scrimmage — by far the highest total in the NFL.
54.2: If the Cardinals want to get back above .500, they’ll need QB Carson Palmer to return to form. His 54.2 Total QBR this season is 24.4 points lower than his mark for all of last season.
NFL Power Rankings, Week 10: Red-hot Raiders hit the top five
Cardinals rank: #13 (▼ 1)
Before their Week 9 bye, the Cardinals got an opportunity in Carolina to see why they stink. Something they’ve been able to do twice in a calendar year! #samesies
Arizona does not enjoy a cupcake schedule going forward. Sure, the Cards get the 49ers at home this week, but then it’s on the road to Minnesota and Atlanta. Also, Bruce Arians’ Kangol will find itself in Seattle and Los Angeles (a team Arizona already lost to) to close out the season. At the very least, the Cardinals need to beat San Francisco and split against the Vikings and Falcons to stay in both the division and wild-card races.
NFL Week 10 Power Rankings: Big movers within the middle of the pack
Cardinals rank: #25 (▼ 2)
The way the Cardinals play in East Coast games, you’d think they had been dropped on the moon. It’s still the same game, guys. You’re still in America. Whatever the issue, Bruce Arians better figure it out in a hurry—the Cardinals still travel to Atlanta and Miami this season, with a Central Time Zone road trip to Minnesota to boot.
NFL Power Rankings: Raiders swoop into top five after ransacking Broncos
Cardinals rank: #21 (▼ 5)
They just haven’t looked right so far. Maybe the bye was good for them last week. Can they get that offense back on track?
NFL power rankings: The Raiders erased doubts and arrived as a contender
Cardinals rank: #14 (▼ 1)
No comment.
Chris Simms’ NFL Power Rankings Ahead of Week 10
Cardinals rank: #25 (▼ 5)
Carson Palmer and Co. now face a schedule packed with must-win games. Arizona has no room for error off the bye. It’ll take on the 49ers in Week 10 before back-to-back road games in Minnesota (still a tough one) and Atlanta (yikes!). David Johnson’s legs better be well-rested.
NFL Power Rankings: The Denver Broncos might be in some trouble
Cardinals rank: #16 (▼ 2)
J.J. Nelson is being given a shot to start at receiver. He has 163 yards and two touchdowns his last two games, and could provide some of the big plays that have been sorely lacking in the offense all season.
USA Today Power Rankings – Week 10
Cardinals rank: #26 (▼ 1)
They should ease out of bye week with home date against lowly Niners. But Cards won’t see another sub-.500 team after that until Week 17.
Cardinals rank: #17 (▼ 3)
With the Cardinals getting the week off, several other teams surpassed them. Take into account that Tyrann Mathieu and their starting left tackle are out and the Cardinals could be in some trouble.
Cardinals rank: #21 (–)
Making Carson Palmer Kevin Kolb Again.
