NFL Power Rankings Roundup Week 14: Cardinals still moving up
Dec 9, 2015, 3:05 PM | Updated: 4:23 pm
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer throws during the first quarter of an NFL football game against the St. Louis Rams on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2015, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
(AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
Not too long ago, the road was a scary place for the Arizona Cardinals.
From 2010 to 2012, under head coach Ken Whisenhunt, the Cardinals went 4-20 away from University of Phoenix Stadium. In that span, there were four blowouts of 30 points or more, including the infamous 58-0 shellacking in Seattle in 2012.
Times have changed.
The Cardinals notched their sixth road win of the season Sunday in St. Louis, beating the Rams 27-3 in one of their most complete games thus far. It was Arizona’s third road win of 20 points or more. At 10-2, the Cardinals still enjoy a three-game lead in the NFC West over the Seattle Seahawks with just four regular season games remaining.
Here’s a look at where the Cards stand in various power rankings heading into their Week 14 Thursday-night showdown with the Minnesota Vikings in Glendale.
NFL Power Rankings, Week 14: Seahawks climb; Patriots drop
#2 (up 1 spot)
Arizona rolls on, playing Cardinal football in St. Louis while the Rams played, well, Rams football. The only issue for Bruce Arians’ club is maintaining the health of a running back who doesn’t fumble. That man might be Kerwynn Williams. Just ask him. You’re welcome.
2015 NFL Power Rankings: Week 14
#2 (up 2 spots)
Don’t sleep on the Cardinals. They’ve scored the most points this season, allowed the fourth-fewest points and have won 23 of Carson Palmer’s past 27 starts.
Week 14 NFL Power Rankings: Gronk-less Patriots tumble three spots
#4 (holding steady)
The St. Louis Cardinals won 10 or more games for three straight seasons from 1974 to ’76, under coach Don Coryell. The franchise never pulled off the trick during its time in Chicago, nor had it accomplished the feat after moving to Arizona. That is, until last Sunday. One more win in 2015 would make this the best three-year stretch in franchise history.
2015 NFL Power Rankings: Week 14
#2 (up 1 spot)
Carson Palmer might have a difficult time beating out Newton for MVP, but with his fifth 350-plus-yard passing game in Week 13, he is now on pace for 4,924 yards and 39 touchdown passes.
NFL Power Rankings: Where Does Every Team Rank Heading into Week 14?
#2 (up 2 spots)
Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson became the first rookie at his position since Gale Sayers to record four-plus rushing and receiving touchdowns in a season, along with a kick-return TD, according to NFL director of NFC communications Randall Liu.
That may be a somewhat quirky bit of trivia, though if “running back” is your job title, being in any sentence that has Sayers’ name feels like a crowning achievement.
Johnson provided exactly what the Cardinals needed after Chris Johnson was placed on injured reserve with a broken leg. At 6’1″ and 224 pounds, he has the frame to be a power runner, and the open-field quickness to excel as a pass-catcher out of the backfield. Those qualities led to his 120 yards from scrimmage during a win over the Rams.
NFL power rankings 2015, Week 14: Bengals, Cardinals rise; Patriots, Vikings drop
#4 (up 1 spot)
Similarly, the Cardinals are firing on all cylinders and have won six games in a row on the arm of Carson Palmer and on the back of an aggressive, attacking defense. Arizona will throw a combination of haymakers at you and very few teams can counter or defend that, and this makes them one of the most dangerous in the NFL right now.
NFL Power Rankings: Panthers the only constant in this crazy season
#2 (up 1 spot)
They are the highest scoring team in the league. It’s hard to imagine that offense being stopped.
NFL Power Rankings: Steelers could beat any playoff team … if they get in
#2 (up 1 spot)
Chris Johnson’s injury might end up helping the offense. Rookie David Johnson’s legs look a lot fresher.
#4 (up 1 spot)
With another set of back-to-back prime-time games coming up, America may be on the verge of having a new team.
#2 (up 2 spots)
Larry Fitzgerald, 32, became youngest player with 1,000 career catches, latest accolade for best Cardinal of all time.
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