Week 3 Power Rankings Recap: Cardinals climb after blowout of Bucs

Now, that’s more like it.

The Arizona Cardinals bounced back from a season-opening loss to the New England Patriots by pasting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at University of Phoenix Stadium Sunday. Carson Palmer threw three touchdown passes and the Arizona defense forced five turnovers from reigning NFC Offensive Player of the Week Jameis Winston on the way to an easy 40-7 win.

The victory, if nothing else, quelled the seemingly growing sentiment that the Cardinals were not the same team that won 13 games a year ago before trudging through a playoff win against Green Bay and stinking up the joint against Carolina in the NFC Championship Game.

That’s the NFL for you — reactionary on a week-to-week basis.

Here’s a rundown of what some prominent national outlets are saying about the Cardinals:

Cardinals Average Power Ranking: 5.20

(up from 7.10 last week)

High Ranking: #3 (ESPN)

Low Ranking: #9 (CBS Sports)

Week 3 NFL Power Rankings: Patriots, Steelers power up to 1-2

Cardinals rank: #3 (▲ 2)

Even at 1-1, the Cardinals are the top-ranked team according to our NFL Football Power Index (FPI). Ball control (zero turnovers) is a major reason behind that. A reeling Bills team is up next for the Cards.

NFL Power Rankings, Week 3: Red-hot Steelers claim No. 1 spot

Cardinals rank: #5 (▲ 2)

Impressive response from the Cardinals, who took it to the upstart Buccaneers in the first half, then pumped the breaks in the second. Drew Stanton was running mop-up duty with a ton of game clock to burn. At the heart of Big Red’s win: Forcing five turnovers from a Bucs attack that put it on Atlanta’s D in Week 1. Offensively, Arizona kept running the same plays on the ground, while Carson Palmer was busy averaging 10 yards per throw. Tampa had no answers. You get the feeling the Cardinals had no smiles last week at practice following the disconcerting home loss to Jimmy G and the Patriots.

NFL Week 3 Power Rankings: Impressive Texans on the rise as Colts keep tumbling

Cardinals rank: #5 (▲ 4)

It has been just two weeks, of course, but Larry Fitzgerald currently sits on pace for 112 receptions and 24 touchdowns this season. Those retirement rumors that popped up prior to Week 1 should be tucked away for a long while. Fitzgerald looks like he could play another decade.

NFL Power Rankings: Go ahead and pile on the 0-2 Redskins, Colts and Jaguars

Cardinals rank: #9 (–)

They bounced back from their first loss with an impressive blowout of the Bucs. They now face a long road trip to Buffalo, but the Bills are reeling.

NFL power rankings 2016, Week 3: Broncos defense is as scary as it gets

Cardinals rank: #6 (▲ 4)

No comment.

NFL Power Rankings: Chris Simms’ Rankings Heading into Week 3

Cardinals rank: #5 (–)

BruceBall is back in the desert.

Head coach Bruce Arians put his foot on the gas pedal and didn’t take it off until his team sealed its first win. Then, he kept scoring just to show the league he could.

Tampa Bay couldn’t stop it. Late in the second quarter, the Cards launched a four-play drive that essentially sealed their win. Time of possession on that scoring march? Forty-five seconds.

NFL Power Rankings: Packers offense looks as average as it did in 2015

Cardinals rank: #4 (▲ 2)

Again, it was funny how many people tried telling me last week that the Cardinals were actually not very good.

USA Today Power Rankings – Week 2

Cardinals rank: #5 (▲ 1)

You knew they weren’t going to open 0-2 at home, especially considering they have to spend four of their first six road games on the East Coast.

NFL Week 3 power rankings

Cardinals rank: #5 (▲ 3)

After a disappointing loss to the Patriots in Week 1, the Cardinals blew the Buccaneers out of the water. The offense was firing on all cylinders, while the defense forced five turnovers in the 40-7 win. It’s not as if the Bucs are a terrible team, either. The Cardinals are just that good.

PFT’s Week Three Power Rankings

Cardinals rank: #5 (▲ 1)

Maybe every coach should call out multiple players in the media by name.

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