Are the Arizona Cardinals the best team in the NFC?
Nov 17, 2015, 12:43 PM
(AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
At 7-2, the Arizona Cardinals have the second-best record in the NFC behind the undefeated Carolina Panthers.
But ESPN Analyst and former NFL head coach, Herm Edwards thinks otherwise when it comes to the Cardinals.
“They’re probably the most talented team as far as both sides of the football,” Edwards told Doug and Wolf on Arizona Sports 98.7 on Tuesday.
Through Week 10, the Cardinals lead the NFL in total offense, averaging 421.1 yards per game. On the other side of the ball, they rank third in total defense, allowing an average of 316.1 yards per game.
They also lead the league in interceptions alongside the Panthers and the Giants, with 14 so far this season.
“They have offensive talent at the skill positions as well as the running backs. They’ve got an outstanding defense as well. So I think when you look at their roster, compared to everyone else’s roster, I would say they’re probably the most talented team,” Edwards said.
However, Edwards said that there’s a difference between being the most talented team and being the best team. But he’s not counting the Cardinals out of the conversation.
“Whether they’re the best or not, we’ll find out because the best will actually be in the Super Bowl,” Edwards said. “Because you’re going to have to go through a gauntlet of games and I think they’re applying to do that with Carson Palmer being healthy.”
The Cardinals’ win at Seattle on Sunday was proof of how valuable Palmer is to Arizona. Edwards said that how Arizona head coach, Bruce Arians responded to Palmer’s two costly turnovers in back-to-back series in the fourth quarter was evidence of the confidence that the Cardinals have in their quarterback.
“Most quarterbacks would go in the tank and the coach wouldn’t allow him to continue to throw the ball,” Edwards said. “That wasn’t the mindset of Bruce at all. He trusted the quarterback.”
Palmer ranks second in the league in yards per attempt, passing touchdowns and passer rating in addition to having the top Total Quarterback Rating in the NFL.
So where do the rest of the Cardinals fall on the NFL Leaderboards?
Here are some of the standouts through Week 10.
Carson Palmer
QBR 82.3 (1st)
Passer Rating: 108 (2nd)
Total Yards: 2,749 (4th)
Yards/Attempt: 8.9 (2nd)
Touchdowns: 23 (2nd)
Chris Johnson
Rushing Yards: 734 (2nd)
Rushing Yards/Game: 81.6 (4th)
Larry Fitzgerald
Receptions 20+ Yards: 14 (3rd)
Receiving TDs: 7 (4th)
Receiving First Downs: 41 (5th)
Receiving Yards: 836 (5th)
Receiving Yards/Game: 92.9 (6th)
Chandler Catanzaro
Extra Points: 34 (1st)
Points/Game: 9 (3rd)
Total Points: 82 (4th)
David Johnson
Longest Kickoff Return: 108 (1st)
Yards on Kickoff Returns: 469 (4th)
Average Kickoff Return: 27.6 (4th)
Deone Bucannon
Tackles: 51 (12th)
Tyrann Mathieu
Passes Defended: 12 (7th)
Interceptions: 3 (9th)
Tackles: 47 (17th)
Rashad Johnson
Interceptions: 4 (3rd),
Justin Bethel
Forced Fumbles: 4 (1st)