The Consensus Week 15: Cardinals leap ahead after win over Giants
Dec 16, 2020, 9:40 AM | Updated: 9:40 am
Arizona Cardinals' Kenyan Drake (41), top right, leaps over New York Giants defenders to score a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
(AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
The Arizona Cardinals ended their three-game losing streak in impressive fashion on Sunday.
A destructive defense led the way for the Cardinals in a 26-7 win over the Giants in Week 14, snapping New York’s four-game winning streak in the process.
Linebacker Haason Reddick was a walking highlight reel, recording a franchise-record 5.0 sacks and three forced fumbles. Outside linebackers Dennis Gardeck (2) and Markus Golden (1) also added to the team’s sack totals.
Offensively, quarterback Kyler Murray looked to have found his legs once again, running the rock at least 10 times for the first game since Week 10’s matchup against the Buffalo Bills. He finished with 47 yards on the ground and threw for 244 more and two touchdowns on 68.6% passing (24-of-35).
The victory moves Arizona back into the playoff picture as it now holds the final NFC Wild Card spot entering Week 15.
The all-around performance from the Cardinals was reflected across national power rankings. All but one outlet improved Arizona’s standing this week, with none having the Cardinals lower than 14th.
| Outlet | Rankings | Cardinals’ Rank | Movement | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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NFL Power Rankings Week 15: 1-32 poll, plus each team’s offense, defense, special-teams rankings |
The Cardinals’ defense has been underrated all season, as is evident by its FPI ranking. Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph was given the personnel he needed to be successful, and for the most part, he has been. Injuries have impacted the defense at times, but it has kept the Cardinals in games as the offense continues to figure itself out. Losing All-Pro Chandler Jones in Week 5 was a major blow, but the Cardinals’ defense has continued to be the backbone of Arizona’s success this season. — Josh Weinfuss | ||
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NFL Power Rankings, Week 15: Packers jump to No. 2; Saints, Steelers fall |
The Cardinals really had their way with the Giants on Sunday. With less than nine minutes to play in the third quarter, Arizona had built a 20-0 lead over New York, running 30 plays in Giants territory before Big Blue had crossed into Cardinals territory once. The defensive star was linebacker Haason Reddick, who had five of Arizona’s eight sacks in the game. “This is the first time I’ve ever had a game like this where everything was just working for me,” Reddick said. “I hit on all cylinders.” The win, combined with a Vikings loss to the Bucs, moves the Cardinals back into the seventh and final playoff position in the NFC. | ||
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NFL Power Rankings: Chiefs Keep Top Spot; Bills Closing in on AFC East Title |
Haason Reddick said he cried after his breakthrough five-sack performance against the Giants, in his home state of New Jersey. As the Cardinals ended their three-game skid to move into the conference’s 7-seed slot, it was the defense that led the way. | ||
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NFL power rankings: Packers, Bills continue ascent as Saints, Steelers drop |
Haason Reddick has finally found a home on the edge, racking up 10 sacks this year after tallying 7½ in his first three combined. He and Chandler Jones might make quite a tandem … if Reddick returns after having his fifth-year option declined. | ||
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NFL Power Rankings: There might be one home-field advantage left, and that’s Green Bay in January |
Haason Reddick had 12.5 sacks and three forced fumbles in his first 60 NFL games. He had five sacks and three forced fumbles on Sunday. Was that the sign of a breakout or a fluke performance? | ||
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NFL Week 15 Power Rankings: Steelers keep sinking as Packers and Bills rise into top three, Ravens rebound |
That was a big road victory against the Giants. The defense was dominant as the pass rush came alive. | ||
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PFT’s Week 15 2020 power rankings |
Once they develop more consistency, they’ll become an elite team. | ||
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NFL Power Rankings: B/R’s Expert Consensus Rank for Every Team Entering Week 15 |
No team in the NFL needed a win more in Week 14 than the Arizona Cardinals. Since beating the Seattle Seahawks in overtime in Week 7, the Cardinals had dropped four of five to fall out of the NFC playoff picture. The only thing standing between them and a five-game skid was a Hail Mary against the Buffalo Bills. On Sunday, the Redbirds got that much-needed win in emphatic fashion. | ||
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NFL power rankings: Bills, Packers unseat stumbling Steelers, Saints as top contenders for Week 15 |
The Cardinals’ defense needed that strong effort on the road to stop their winning streak. Kyler Murray looked much healthier for the offense, which went back to operating the spread at a high level. | ||
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NFL Power Rankings: The Bills Just Made a Statement |
The Muddled Middle; 14. Arizona Cardinals (7-6), 15. Washington Football Team (6-7), 16. New England Patriots (6-7), 17. Minnesota Vikings (6-7), 18. Las Vegas Raiders (7-6), 19. Chicago Bears (6-7), 20. San Francisco 49ers (5-8), 21. New York Giants (5-8), 22. Detroit Lions (5-8), 23. Philadelphia Eagles (4-8-1), 24. Denver Broncos (5-8). | ||
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Arizona Sports NFL Power Rankings Week 15: How about them Bills? |
Their most complete effort of the season breaks Giants’ four-game winning streak. |
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