Week 4 Power Rankings Recap: Ugly loss in Buffalo sinks Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals went to Buffalo last Sunday looking for the franchise’s first win in Western New York since Halloween of 1971.

They didn’t find it.

The Bills dominated the Cardinals in every phase of the game en route to a 33-18 win at New Era Field that temporarily quiets Rex Ryan’s critics and turns the spotlight on the defending NFC West champs.

What is wrong with the Cardinals?

They’re 1-2 heading into a Week 4 matchup against the Rams at University of Phoenix Stadium Sunday, and there are plenty of areas to be concerned about: passing game communication, quarterback play, offensive line, special teams.

Not surprisingly, the Cardinals sunk like a stone in the latest NFL Power Rankings from around the country.

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

Cardinals Average Power Ranking: 11.60

(down from 5.20 last week)

High Ranking: #5 (ESPN)

Low Ranking: #16 (Pro Football Talk)

Week 4 NFL Power Rankings: Broncos leap Patriots for No. 1

Cardinals rank: #5 (▼ 2)

Should we start worrying about Arizona? Including playoffs, the Cardinals are 2-4 in their past six games and have lost by 15-plus points three times. Seems unlikely to happen again this week at home against the Rams, but who knows how QB Carson Palmer and the Cardinals will bounce back?

NFL Power Rankings, Week 4: New England Patriots back on top

Cardinals rank: #12 (▼ 7)

Cardinals fans have permission to be worried. Carson Palmer = shaky. The defense? Not consistent. Or inconsistent. Or let the Bills banged-up offensive line have their way with them in the run game (208 yards on 32 carries.) You know when your hear announcers say, “They look flat,” and you wonder what that means? Go watch Arizona’s first-half performance in Buffalo. Next up: The pesky Rams, who beat the Cardinals at their place last year. Remember who showed up that day?

NFL Power Rankings, Week 4: The NFC’s hottest teams storm the top five

Cardinals rank: #15 (▼ 10)

The Cardinals are one or two more no-shows away from testing Bruce Arians’s likeability quotient—coaches with engaging personalities tend to receive more benefit of the doubt from the public and the media. Complete duds like Sunday’s loss in Buffalo should not happen for a team with Arizona’s talent level.

NFL Power Rankings: The Vikings, Eagles crack top five and the AFC South is terrible

Cardinals rank: #14 (▼ 5)

They have to be concerned with their start. At 1-2, they are one of the early disappointments.

2016 NFL power rankings, Week 4: Broncos and Patriots prove they’re the NFL’s elite

Cardinals rank: #14 (▼ 8)

Early starts for West Coast teams in the Eastern Time Zone are difficult. But it’s tough to look past the fact that the Arizona Cardinals have looked remarkably mediocre in 2016 after dominating most of 2015.

The Buffalo Bills jumped on the Cardinals early, and it was never a close game as the Cardinals dropped to 1-2 with a 33-18 loss. Carson Palmer had five touchdowns and no interceptions in the first two weeks but finished with four interceptions on Sunday.

Chris Simms’ NFL Power Rankings Ahead of Week 4

Cardinals rank: #12 (▼ 7)

Way too little, much too late.

Bruce Arians’ team needed about three quarters to wake up. By then, the Cardinals were facing a three-score deficit with a defense that couldn’t stop the run and an offense that couldn’t run it.

Carson Palmer was no help at all. His four interceptions can’t be tolerated. His all-over-the-place decision-making makes me question if he’s lost a step or three.

Playing from behind doesn’t suit this team well. Don’t blame the time-zone change.

NFL Power Rankings: How high can the Philadelphia Eagles fly?

Cardinals rank: #7 (▼ 3)

I’m not really worried about them, though Sunday wasn’t a good look. The talent is clear. As long as Carson Palmer hasn’t hit the wall, they’ll be fine (Palmer hasn’t hit the wall … right?).

USA Today Power Rankings – Week 4

Cardinals rank: #12 (▼ 7)

Carson Palmer should send thank you to ex-Bengals teammate Ryan Fitzpatrick for overshadowing his zero-TD, four-INT stinker at Buffalo.

NFL Week 3 power rankings

Cardinals rank: #9 (▼ 4)

Welp, Arizona is undoubtedly the biggest mystery in the NFL. The Cardinals are impressive one week and get blown out by the Bills the next, so it’s hard to put your finger on what exactly they are. At the very least, the Cardinals have a great defense and an outstanding running back in David Johnson, but their reliance on deep passes is concerning.

PFT’s Week Four Power Rankings

Cardinals rank: #16 (▼ 11)

Jake Delhomme says, “Wow, that playoff meltdown has really affected Carson Palmer.”

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