The Consensus Week 7: Cardinals make significant jump
Oct 18, 2017, 8:15 AM | Updated: 9:39 am
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) celebrates his touchdown catch against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with running back Adrian Peterson (23)during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals defeated the Buccaneers 38-33. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso)
(AP Photo/Ralph Freso)
Tonight, we’re gonna party like it’s 2015!
The Arizona Cardinals played their best game of the season Sunday — a 38-33 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Bolstered by the acquisition of running back Adrian Peterson and getting D.J. Humphries and Alex Boone back on the offensive line, the Cardinals (at least for two-and-a-half quarters) looked like the Bruce Arians-coached team that advanced to the NFC Championship Game just two short years ago.
Of course, there was that little matter of the Bucs scoring 33 points over the game’s final 23 minutes, but let’s not totally rain on the Redbirds’ parade.
As a result of their third (and most complete) win of the season, the Cardinals rose on every one of the 10 power rankings we track.
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 7: Fly Eagles, fly!
Cardinals rank: #18 (▲7)
On the flight to AZ, Adrian Peterson said the Cardinals’ terminology sounded like Chinese. At game time, he spoke fluent Mandarin. — Craig Morgan
Week 7 NFL Power Rankings: Your schedule is about to get …
Cardinals rank: #17 (▲7)
The Cardinals are right in the thick of things, and in the coming weeks, they’ll have a chance to make some big moves. Their next three games are all against division foes, though two of them are on the road.
NFL Power Rankings, Week 7: Los Angeles Rams enter top three
Cardinals rank: #26 (▲2)
Tremendous bounceback win for the Cardinals, one week after Philadlephia blew their doors off. Most notable: The effort from the new guy, Adrian Peterson, who proved he’s not running on bald tires. The dude proved it on the first drive, tallying 54 yards and a touchdown. On Arizona’s second possession, Peterson chugged for 22 more yards to help set up a Carson Palmer touchdown pass. Bruce Arians quipped in the postgame presser, “I know how to coach old guys.” Sure does.
NFL Power Rankings Poll, Week 7: The Race for the Top Spot Is Wide Open
Cardinals rank: #22 (▲3)
No comment.
NFL Power Rankings: Chiefs lose but stay No. 1 in a league lacking a true villain
Cardinals rank: #21 (▲6)
At 3-3, they have had a lot of issues so far. Adding Adrian Peterson paid off for them against Tampa. Now they play the Rams in London.
NFL Power Rankings: Where Does Every Team Stand Heading into Week 7?
Cardinals rank: #24 (▲1)
Adding Adrian Peterson was a great move for the Cardinals because it prevents the offense from being one-dimensional. Peterson may not be the back he once was, but he runs hard and he’s going to keep opposing defenses from solely keying in on Carson Palmer and the passing game.
The addition of Peterson also opens things up in the play-action game.
It will be interesting to see how Peterson and the offense perform in the coming weeks because the Buccaneers have a defense that is merely average. What we saw against Tampa was encouraging, though.
Defensively, the Cardinals have a little bit of everything. They can rush the passer; they have athletic, rangy linebackers; and they have playmakers on the back end. Arizona smothered the Tampa Bay offense early in Week 6, consistently getting the ball back to Palmer and Co.
Arizona can stay in the NFC West race if it keeps performing like it did Sunday.
NFL Power Rankings: Amid the chaos, does any team deserve to be No. 1?
Cardinals rank: #25 (▲2)
Everyone forgot that Adrian Peterson was the NFL’s rushing champ in 2015. That wasn’t too long ago. Just when we thought Peterson was finished, he looks like his vintage self on Sunday. This could end up being one of the best stories of this NFL season if it continues.
USA Today Power Rankings – Week 7
Cardinals rank: #20 (▲8)
Adrian Peterson ran for 134 yards Sunday. He’d managed 153 in previous seven games combined. Arizona hadn’t exceeded 134 in last eight games.
Cardinals rank: #22 (▲4)
Yo. Adrian.
NFL Power Rankings: Patriots, Steelers, Seahawks surge for Week 7
NFL
Cardinals rank: #21 (▲5)
Adrian Peterson gave the offense a lift while power running on a mission, setting up the deep shots for Carson Palmer a lot better. But Palmer’s passing issues and some back-end defensive problems will keep making it hard for the Cards to put teams away.
