Cardinals rank 16th in The Ringer’s 1st 2021 NFL power rankings
Feb 9, 2021, 11:24 AM | Updated: 12:35 pm
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) runs after the catch as Philadelphia Eagles safety K'Von Wallace (42) pursues during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
As quickly as Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers put away the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV, previews and predictions for the 2021 season were just as fast to come out.
The Ringer’s Danny Kelly released his first power rankings for the 2021 season and has the Arizona Cardinals ranked 16th.
The Kyler Murray–to–DeAndre Hopkins connection is an exciting one, but head coach and play-caller Kliff Kingsbury needs to figure out some ways to get this team to be more consistently explosive on offense.
In Kliff Kingsbury’s second year, the Cardinals were sixth in the league in total offense, ranking one spot ahead of the Super Bowl champion Buccaneers.
Despite a solid ranking in total offense, Kingsbury’s passing attack was very middle of the pack. The Cardinals ranked in the back half of the league in total passing, finishing 17th.
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While Kelly said the Cardinals had a solid year defensively, general manager Steve Keim has some decisions to make as cornerbacks Patrick Peterson and Dre Kirkpatrick, linebacker De’Vondre Campbell, and pass rushers Haason Reddick and Markus Golden are all set to hit the open market.
The Cardinals finished 10th against the pass, 22nd against the run, and 23rd in giving up total opponent first downs. Overall, the Cardinals ranked no. 13 in total defense.
The Cardinals are the lowest-ranked NFC West team in Kelly’s rankings as the Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers all cracked the top-10.
The Rams are ranked fifth, the Seahawks seventh and the 49ers 10th.
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