Arizona Cardinals get highest mark in USA Today’s midseason grades
Oct 31, 2014, 1:30 AM | Updated: 1:30 am
The Arizona Cardinals may be tied with the Denver Broncos atop the NFL standings, but they stand alone with the best midseason grade in the league.
The letter grades are courtesy of USA Today, which rated all 32 NFL teams based on their play at the halfway point in the season. Five teams received marks in the A-range, but the Cardinals were the only unit to earn a perfect A+.
A+
Cardinals (6-1): Remarkable results considering the number of key bodies not in uniform defensively and fact QB Carson Palmer had to sit for a month. Bruce Arians is first half’s coach of the year.
Arizona’s NFC West opponents were awarded significantly less promising grades for their play.
The San Francisco 49ers were given the second-highest grade in the division, using their 4-3 start to earn a B-. The defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks were far less fortunate, receiving a C-, despite possessing the same record as the 49ers. Much like in the divisional standings, the St. Louis Rams ranked far below their counterparts, receiving a D+.
The Cardinals’ next game is Sunday at 11:00 a.m., when they travel to Dallas to play the Cowboys. If the grades are any indication it should be a great matchup, with the Cowboys earning an A- after a 6-2 start.
