Cardinals not buying their own hype as season comes to a close

While the hype and success may be the culmination of a rebuilding process that began in 2013, Bruce Arians said he doesn't put any stock into it.

BY ADAM GREEN

Jan 2, 2016, 1:30 PM Updated: Jan 3, 2016, 4:08 pm

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Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson (31) celebrates his touchdown with teammate Mike Iupati during the second half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

TEMPE, Ariz. — In 2008, the Arizona Cardinals entered the playoffs as a 9-7 team that was given little shot to do any damage.

The following season, in 2009 they won 10 games but still were not considered much of a threat in the NFC.

It was another five years before they would reach the postseason again, and with an injury-ravaged roster that left the Cardinals without their top two quarterbacks in 2014, few saw much in the way of a contender when they looked at the team.

That’s not the case now.

Not only are the Cardinals viewed as a good team, but many — including the folks over at FiveThirtyEight.com and FootballOutsiders.com (via ESPN) — see them as the favorite to win Super Bowl 50, and a look at power rankings from across the web have them consistently ranked No. 1.

To anyone who has followed the Cardinals for the last two decades or so, that concept is probably confusing, exciting and scary. But it’s funny what a 13-2 record along with a nine-game winning streak will do for you.

While it may be the culmination of a rebuilding process that began when Steve Keim and Bruce Arians took charge in 2013, the head coach said he doesn’t put any stock into it.

“It doesn’t mean crap,” Arians said. “It’s just somebody’s power ranking; still have got to play on Sunday. Like I’ve said, it’s always a short elevator ride back down.”

It is, but at the same time, it’s probably better to be thought of as a good team than not. As the 2008 Cardinals proved, it’s not a requirement for postseason success, however, there’s a reason people are so high on Arizona this season.

The Cardinals lead the NFL in total offense, averaging 420.1 yards per game, and are pacing the league with 32.2 points per outing, too. They do it through the air (294.1 yards per game) and on the ground (126 yards per game), and have proven to be nearly impossible to stop for four quarters.

On the other side of the ball, Arizona is ranked fifth in total defense, and are also fifth in the league in points allowed with 18.5 per game. They are among the league leaders in interceptions, and following last Sunday’s nine-sack effort against the Green Bay Packers, have climbed into the top half of the NFL in that category, too.

The Cardinals are very much worthy of the praise they have received, yes, but for a team that has traditionally flown under the radar and played with a bit of an edge due to a perceived lack of respect, it is quite a departure from the norm.

In theory, that could be an issue. But it’s only in theory, and only a problem if the team lets it become one.

“It’s just business as usual because we’ve got a goal,” tackle Bobby Massie said. “So everybody in this locker room wants to get that ring. Don’t buy into the hype.”

“I haven’t read it, I haven’t heard of it,” safety Tony Jefferson said. “I try to stay away from the TV and all that other stuff because they love you one day, hate you the next day. We lose one, then we suck; we win a few in a row, now we’re the best team.

“I just try to stay away from all that. I just listen to my girlfriend and son and mom.”

It’s probably the safe way to approach it, because in some ways, that kind of talk could turn into a negative for a team. Super Bowl favorites? You have to get to the game, first.

“I can’t even talk about that yet,” quarterback Carson Palmer said. “We’re so focused on Seattle and not about resting next week or who we’re going to play in two weeks. The Super Bowl favorite talk is for everybody else, other than the guys in our room.”

As Arians said and Jefferson alluded to, it does not take much for a team to go from the top to the bottom. Besides, being regular season champions, if there was such a thing, would not mean much anyway. There will be a new banner in University of Phoenix Stadium next season to signify the 2015 NFC West title, yes, but that is not and never was the ultimate goal.

In some ways, what the Cardinals have done this year is take another step forward from last season’s campaign, when they got off to a great start but were derailed by injuries and bowed out meekly in the Wild Card round. The experience provided lessons that have been applied to this season, helping to grant some perspective through what has been a historic run.

“It’s great to play really good football through 16 weeks of the NFL season, but we still have another week of the regular season and playoffs,” defensive lineman Calais Campbell said. “Anybody knows, you get to the playoffs it’s one-game seasons. No matter how well you played during the regular season, it doesn’t matter. That team plays better than you that day, your season’s over.

“A lot to play for and a lot to look forward to, but I definitely feel good about where we’re at right now.”

As for whether or not the Cardinals are the best team in the NFL right now, Campbell said that’s a question for the first Sunday in February.

“That’s when you get to decide who the best team in the NFL is,” he said. “Right now it doesn’t really matter. We’re out here just trying to set ourselves in position to make a run for it and hopefully at the end of the year we can answer that question properly.”

Some stories for pre-game reading

With something to play for, the Cardinals have no plan nor desire to rest vs. the Seahawks.

The best offense in the NFL? The Cardinals can certainly make the claim.

Carson Palmer was named the Arizona Sports Athlete of the Year.

Dave Burns wrote on how the Cardinals have the Valley in rare air.

Dwight Freeney was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week.

The Power Rankings are fond of the Arizona Cardinals these days.

Kurt Warner says the 2015 Cardinals are better than the 2008 team he led to the Super Bowl.

Carson Palmer can’t worry about injury, says, “You’ve got to go out and play.”

Craig Grialou wrote on how Arizona’s defense is shining under first-year coordinator James Bettcher.

Rashad Johnson expects to play Sunday and other notes.

Miscellany

-Larry Fitzgerald is one catch away from establishing a new franchise record for receptions in a season. The current record of 103 was set by Fitz in 2005.

-Carson Palmer is 73 yards away from setting a new franchise record for passing yards in a season. Neil Lomax previously set the record of 4,614 yards in 1984.

-John Brown is 42 yards away from 1,000. Should he reach the mark, he would join Larry Fitzgerald in quadruple digits and form the first Arizona duo to achieve that mark since Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin in 2009.

-Chandler Catanzaro is four points shy of establishing a franchise record for points in a season. The 140 Neil Rackers posted in 2005 is the current high.

-With one sack, Calais Campbell would notch his seventh consecutive season with at least 50 tackles and six sacks.

-A win would improve Arizona’s winning streak to 10 games, which would tie the 1948 Cards for the longest in franchise history.

-The Cardinals need 45 yards of offense to set a new franchise record for total yards in a season.