The Consensus Week 8: Cardinals shoot up the rankings after SNF win
Oct 28, 2020, 10:31 AM
Zane Gonzales #5 of the Arizona Cardinals celebrates with teammates after kicking a game winning 48-yard field goal in overtime against the Seattle Seahawks at State Farm Stadium on October 25, 2020 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
(Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
Moving on up, thanks to primetime.
The Arizona Cardinals continue their ascent up national power rankings with their impressive Sunday Night Football win over the Seattle Seahawks. And rightfully so.
Cardinals signal caller Kyler Murray aired it and ran the rock for four total touchdowns, while the defense rose to the occasion, picking off Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson three times in the overtime victory.
The nation is clearly taking notice, with all but two outlets ranking the Cardinals at least three spots higher than a week prior. That’ll happen when you knock off the undefeated NFC West leaders.
| Outlet | Rankings | Cardinals’ Rank | Movement | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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NFL Power Rankings Week 8 – 1-32 poll, plus players who need to step up in 2020 |
Who needs to step up: RB Chase Edmonds. Even if Kenyan Drake’s ankle injury isn’t serious, Edmonds will still need to keep playing like he did during Sunday night’s win over the Seahawks. Edmonds gained 145 total yards, had a major impact in overtime and helped kick-start the Cardinals’ run game. He showed, yet again, that he can handle whatever is thrown at him. If the Cardinals want to make a run to the playoffs, Edmonds will need to play a significant role. | ||
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NFL Power Rankings, Week 8: Buccaneers hit top three; Cowboys’ fall continues |
An incredible comeback win for Kyler Murray and the Cardinals, who rolled up 519 yards on the Seahawks and became the first team this season to put a dent in Seattle’s previously impervious Let Russ Cook campaign. The Cardinals were gashed for 572 total yards — including 300 yards of total offense by Russell Wilson in the first half alone — but they also forced the star QB into three interceptions, including the Isiah Simmons pick in overtime that set up Zane Gonzalez’s game-winner. The defense also forced Seattle into two punts in the drives preceding the Simmons interception, a stand that allowed Arizona to wipe out a 34-24 deficit with less than seven minutes to play in regulation. A thrilling win that raises the bar in the desert. | ||
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NFL Power Rankings: Steelers Claim Top Spot as Last Remaining Undefeated Team; Rams Are Cooking |
If the Cardinals are able to land another receiver at the trade deadline, they might become the polar opposite of the Ravens — a team that presents an impossible matchup each week when considering the personnel employed by almost every other team. | ||
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NFL power rankings: Seahawks’ loss elevates Steelers as latest No. 1 team |
Not often that you rack up 519 yards … and still get outgained by 53. Also not often you see a young QB as fiery and gifted as Kyler Murray. | ||
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NFL Power Rankings: Bucs might be screwing up a promising season by signing Antonio Brown |
The Cardinals were being very stubborn in using Kenyan Drake over Chase Edmonds even though everyone can see Edmonds is playing better. Drake’s injury will force the Cardinals to play the better back. | ||
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NFL Week 8 Power Rankings: Steelers, Ravens in top three ahead of showdown, Tom Brady’s Bucs keep rising |
They are a legit playoff contender. The offense is dynamic, but the defense still has some issues that need to be fixed. | ||
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PFT’s Week 8 2020 Power Rankings |
Can we please have Kyler Murray in prime time every week? | ||
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NFL Power Rankings: B/R’s Expert Consensus Rank for Every Team Entering Week 8 |
Sunday night’s matchup between the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks was a litmus test in the truest sense of the term—a chance for the upstart Redbirds to show that they belong with the big bad Seahawks. Running back Chase Edmonds said as much. “You know Seattle is going to be playing in January,” Edmonds told reporters. “Everyone knows they are going to be in the playoff hunt. This is that type of games where you really find out, ‘How real are we?'” Apparently, pretty real. | ||
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NFL power rankings: Chiefs unseat Seahawks; Cowboys, Patriots in crisis entering Week 8 |
The Cardinals now have two huge division wins over the Seahawks and 49ers. Their defense, led by Budda Baker, is starting to make timely impact plays. Their offense, with Kyler Murray in complete control, seems to get more dangerous with every week. Kliff Kingsbury for coach of the year? | ||
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NFL Power Rankings: The Buccaneers Are the League’s Most Balanced Team |
The Contenders: 8. Los Angeles Rams (5-2), 9. Buffalo Bills (5-2), 10. Indianapolis Colts (4-2), 11. Cleveland Browns (5-2), 12. New Orleans Saints (4-2), 13. San Francisco 49ers (4-3), 14. Chicago Bears (5-2), 15. Arizona Cardinals (5-2). | ||
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Arizona Sports NFL Power Rankings Week 8: Steelers on top |
Still not sure how they beat Seattle, all things considered, but they’ll take it. |
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