ARIZONA CARDINALS

Cardinals see mixed reviews among NFL power rankings ahead of Week 1

Sep 7, 2021, 10:28 AM
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)...
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

The Arizona Cardinals begin their regular season quest Sunday against the Tennessee Titans with their sights set on returning to the postseason for the first time since 2015.

After watching a promising start to 2020 turn into an 8-8 finish and a missed opportunity to cash their playoff ticket, the Cardinals retooled the roster with a handful of offseason additions both in free agency and through the 2021 NFL Draft.

But how does Arizona’s new-look roster stack up against the rest of the NFL?

A look at how the Cardinals rate across national power rankings ahead of Week 1:

NFL.com

Rank: 18

Malcolm Butler was placed on the reserve/retired list last week, a surprise move that leaves a worrisome void in the secondary. The Cardinals thought they had found their replacement for Patrick Peterson when they signed Butler to a one-year deal, but the team now might have to throw rookie Marco Wilson directly into the fire against the Titans in Week 1. The Cardinals have promise on defense — especially in the middle with linebackers Isaiah Simmons and Zaven Collins — but you get the feeling Kyler Murray might have to carry this team in some shootouts to make Arizona a playoff team.


Bleacher Report

Rank: 13

The Cardinals have the talent to make a run at a playoff spot. But given their circumstances and brutal division, it’s just as likely they lose double-digit games.


PFF

Rank: 15

Super-Bowl win probability: 2%
Highest-Graded Player: LT D.J. Humphries (88.3)


The Ringer

Rank: 21

I’m still waiting for the Kliff Kingsbury offense, at least the version I had imagined when he was hired, to show up. The additions of A.J. Green and rookie Rondale Moore should help to supercharge the team’s passing game, but this could be a make-or-break season for Kingsbury and Kyler Murray.


ESPN

Rank: 11

This is a make-or-break season for Kingsbury. Arizona has made steady improvement the past two seasons, going from three wins to five in 2019 — Kingsbury’s first season — and from five to eight last season. But Arizona didn’t make the playoffs last season for the fifth straight year, going into a tailspin after starting 5-2, thanks in part to an injury to quarterback Kyler Murray. If Arizona doesn’t make the playoffs in 2021 for any reason besides major injuries, it is hard to think that Kingsbury will be the coach in 2022.


Pro Football Talk

Rank: 25

It’s playoffs or back to college for Kliff Kingsbury. (Prediction: It’s back to college for Kliff.)


Sports Illustrated

Rank: 22

The Cardinals have a lot of talent but are stuck in the toughest division in football. But it’s now Year 3 for Kliff Kingsbury and Kyler Murray, so the expectations are higher.

Cardinals LB Chandler Jones looks on during practice Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Cardinals QB Kyler Murray looks on during practice Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Cardinals LB Isaiah Simmons looks on during practice Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Cardinals LB Jordan Hicks looks on during practice Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Cardinals LB Victor Dimukeje runs through drills during practice Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Cardinals LB Victor Dimukeje runs through drills during practice Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Cardinals wide receiver A.J. Green runs through drills during practice Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Cardinals wide receiver Andy Isabella runs through drills during practice Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Cardinals safety Deionte Thompson runs through drills during practice Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Cardinals cornerback Rasul Douglas runs through drills during practice Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Cardinals cornerback Robert Alford runs through drills during practice Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Cardinals cornerback Antonio Hamilton runs through drills during practice Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Cardinals OL Josh Jones looks on during practice Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2021, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Cardinals practice gets underway Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2021, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Cardinals OL Josh Jones looks on during practice Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2021, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Cardinals OL Josh Jones looks on during practice Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2021, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Cardinals DL Corey Peters looks on during practice Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2021, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Cardinals DL Michael Dogbe goes through drills during practice Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2021, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Cardinals DL Jonathan Ledbetter looks on during practice Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2021, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Cardinals DL Michael Dogbe looks on during practice Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2021, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Cardinals DL Michael Dogbe looks on during practice Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2021, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Cardinals DL Jeremiah Ledbetter (right) lines up next to J.J. Watt (left) during practice Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2021, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Cardinals DL Michael Dogbe looks on during practice Monday, Sept. 6, 2021, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Cardinals wide receiver Christian Kirk (left) and cornerback Robert Alford run through drills during practice Monday, Sept. 6, 2021, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury walks between position groups during practice Monday, Sept. 6, 2021, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Cardinals OL Justin Pugh jogs during practice Monday, Sept. 6, 2021, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Cardinals S Jalen Thompson jogs to the next drill during practice Monday, Sept. 6, 2021, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Cardinals S Charles Washington jogs to the next drill during practice Monday, Sept. 6, 2021, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Cardinals DL Zach Allen during practice Monday, Sept. 6, 2021, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Cardinals S James Wiggins runs through drills during practice Monday, Sept. 6, 2021, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Cardinals DL Leki Fotu runs through drills during practice Monday, Sept. 6, 2021, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Cardinals DL Leki Fotu runs through drills during practice Monday, Sept. 6, 2021, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Cardinals DL Leki Fotu runs through drills during practice Monday, Sept. 6, 2021, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Cardinals DL Rashard Lawrence runs through drills during practice Monday, Sept. 6, 2021, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Cardinals WR DeAndre Hopkins jogs during practice Monday, Aug. 30, 2021, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Cardinals TE Demetrius Harris runs through drills during practice Monday, Aug. 30, 2021, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Cardinals DL J.J. Watt runs through drills during practice Monday, Aug. 30, 2021, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Cardinals DL Zach Allen runs through drills during practice Monday, Aug. 30, 2021, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Cardinals WR Andy Isabella stiff arms WR Christian Kirk during practice Monday, Aug. 30, 2021, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Cardinals WR Andy Isabella runs through drills during practice Monday, Aug. 30, 2021, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Cardinals DL Leki Fotu runs through drills during practice Monday, Aug. 30, 2021, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Cardinals DL Leki Fotu runs through drills during practice Monday, Aug. 30, 2021, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Cardinals DL Rashard Lawrence runs through drills during practice Monday, Aug. 30, 2021, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Cardinals DL J.J. Watt runs through drills during practice Monday, Aug. 30, 2021, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Cardinals DL Corey Peters runs through drills during practice Monday, Aug. 30, 2021, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Cardinals DL Jordan Phillips looks on during practice Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2021, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Cardinals CB Luq Barcoo runs through drills during practice Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2021, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Cardinals CB Luq Barcoo runs through drills during practice Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2021, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Cardinals CB Tay Gowan runs through drills during practice Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2021, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Cardinals defensive coordinator Vance Joseph looks on during practice Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2021, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Cardinals WR Christian Kirk stretches out during practice Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Cardinals WR Rondale Moore gets some water during practice Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Cardinals CB Charles Washington throws his hands up in the air during practice Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Cardinals LBs Dennis Gardeck (left) and Jordan Hicks (right) chat during practice Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports)

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