Saturday, September 19, 2020

Arizona Cardinals Week 2 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2020 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Here is where the Arizona Cardinals rank in terms of average, best and worst:

  • Average ranking: 11.8 (12th)
  • Best ranking: 8th (Multiple)
  • Worst ranking: 15th (ESPN)

Below you will find a Week 2 roundup for the Cardinals in our consensus 2020 NFL Power Rankings.

The Athletic -- Rank: 14

What we learned: Kyler Murray can gash really good defenses with his scrambling. There are the raw numbers. Murray ran 13 times for 91 yards in the Cardinals win over the 49ers. And then there are the advanced stats. No quarterback in the last five years has produced a higher single-game EPA on scrambles than Murray did Sunday, according to TruMedia. Murray had a 25-yard scramble on a 3rd-and-17 and a 22-yard touchdown run. When the offense wasnt operating smoothly, he put the team on his back. In his second season, Murray is on the short list of most fun players to watch.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 8

Winning at San Francisco to open the season is a message to the rest of the division. Kyler Murray is going to be in the MVP mix.

USA Today -- Rank: 8

Yes, QB Kyler Murray could be on track for big sophomore year. But Arizona's defense deserves ample credit for knocking off Niners.

ESPN -- Rank: 15

Best rookie debut: LB Isaiah Simmons
None of the Cardinals' rookies had an impressive showing in Week 1, but Simmons, who played in just 18 snaps, showed glimpses of what he could be despite looking a lot like a rookie who didn't get preseason work. He had a horse-collar penalty on the game's first play while defending tight end George Kittle, then running back Raheem Mostert crossed up Simmons en route to a 76-yard touchdown. It'll take time for Simmons to figure out the NFL game while getting used to being on the field playing at NFL speed. -- Josh Weinfuss

NFL.com -- Rank: 14

So much for Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins not getting enough reps this summer. The league's hottest new QB/WR combo hooked up an absurd 14 times for 151 yards on 16 targets in a huge season-opening win against the defending conference champion 49ers. Hopkins didn't reach the end zone, but his 33-yard catch-and-run got Arizona to the one-foot line and set up the go-ahead score with five minutes to play. In other words, Hopkins delivered exactly the kind of game-changing performance the Cardinals were expecting when they traded for the superstar wide receiver in March. It's great to see a plan come together.

Previous update: Arizona Cardinals Week 1 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

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