The Consensus Week 11: Cardinals leap ahead after Hail Mary win
Nov 18, 2020, 6:06 AM
The Arizona Cardinals celebrate after their game winning touchdown against the Buffalo Bills during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020, in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals won 32-20. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
All it took was a Hail Mary to get the national attention back on the Arizona Cardinals.
Winning in dramatic fashion over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, the Cardinals got rid of the bad taste the Miami Dolphins loss left behind and moved to 6-3 on the season and first in the NFC West.
The impressive victory was reflected in this week’s NFL power rankings, as all but one outlet had the Cardinals moving up at least two spots.
It’s safe to say everyone got a good look at the Hail Murray in The Consensus, as the Cardinals averaged inside the top-10 for just the third time all season.
Next up is a date with the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday Night Football.
| Outlet | Rankings | Cardinals’ Rank | Movement | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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NFL Power Rankings Week 11: 1-32 poll, plus one thing each team wants to take back |
What would they take back: Any of Kyler Murray’s three interceptions against the Lions in Week 3. All three happened in Detroit territory. Combined, they led to 10 Lions points, as Arizona lost its first game of the season on a last-second field goal to a team it should have defeated. Had the Cardinals won that game, they’d be in sole possession of first place in the NFC West instead of the three-way tie in which they currently reside. | ||
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NFL Power Rankings, Week 11: Raiders, Cardinals rise; Seahawks, Titans exit top 10 |
Steve Keim owes Bill O’Brien a care package of immense generosity. There’s no way Kyler Murray and his Cardinals teammates were celebrating Sunday’s miracle win over the Bills if DeAndre Hopkins weren’t waiting on the other end of that rainbow pass. Murray’s athleticism — his ability to evade pressure, shake free of a near-certain sack, then uncork a perfect spiral as he was being chased out of bounds — was breathtaking. But Hopkins’ feat was equally incredible: He used his rare combination of size, strength and leaping ability to high-point Murray’s pass and bring it down while surrounded by the enemy. It was the play of the year in the NFL, and probably the greatest play in Cardinals history since Larry Fitzgerald’s go-ahead touchdown late in Super Bowl XLIII. Thanks, BOB. | ||
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NFL Power Rankings: Undefeated Steelers Take No. 1; Patriots Aren’t Dead Yet |
They’re certainly not perfect. But man, they are fun to watch. And that quarterback of theirs is electric. | ||
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NFL power rankings: Surging Arizona Cardinals, Miami Dolphins crack top 10 |
They must visit the Seahawks, Patriots and Giants over next four weeks. Time to see how well this top-ranked offense travels. | ||
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NFL Power Rankings: Can the Patriots salvage this season and make the playoffs? |
Based on the difficulty of the throw and catch, too, it might be fair to call the “Hail Murray” the greatest Hail Mary play of all time. It was two great athletes making a once-in-a-lifetime play. | ||
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NFL Week 11 Power Rankings: Raiders rise to No. 7 ahead of Chiefs rematch, Seahawks fall out of top 10 |
Winning on a Hail Mary to beat the Bills keeps them in the division race. They have a big one at Seattle Thursday. | ||
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PFT’s Week 11 2020 power rankings |
They may be the best team in the NFC West. They eventually could be the best team in the NFC. | ||
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NFL Power Rankings: B/R’s Expert Consensus Rank for Every Team Entering Week 11 |
In the span of just a few seconds Sunday, Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray shook up the race in the NFC West. And the AFC East. And the race to be named the NFL’s Most Valuable Player. The Hail Mary that Murray threw to DeAndre Hopkins to stun the Buffalo Bills in Week 10 may well be the defining play of the 2020 season. | ||
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NFL power rankings: Ravens, Seahawks in a free fall; Kyler Murray’s Cardinals enter top 10 for Week 11 |
Kliff Kingsbury also belongs on that list with Flores. Kyler Murray belongs on his own list with DeAndre Hopkins after his latest fantastic finish fueled by his diminutive dashing and fiery playmaking for the new first-place team in the NFC West. | ||
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NFL Power Rankings: The Steelers Are Finally Starting to Look Like an Unbeaten Team |
The Contenders; 6. Arizona Cardinals (6-3), 7. Buffalo Bills (7-3), 8. Miami Dolphins (6-3), 9. Baltimore Ravens (6-3), 10. Indianapolis Colts (6-3), 11. Los Angeles Rams (6-3), 12. Tennessee Titans (6-3), 13. Seattle Seahawks (6-3), 14. Las Vegas Raiders (6-3), 15. Cleveland Browns (6-3). | ||
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Arizona Sports NFL Power Rankings Week 11: Cardinals surge |
Kyler Murray has firmly planted himself in the MVP discussion. Hopkins is pretty good, too. |
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