Saturday, November 14, 2020

Arizona Cardinals Week 10 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: 10th (ESPN)
  • Worst ranking: 14th (The Athletic)

Below you will find a Week 10 roundup for the Cardinals in our consensus 2020 NFL Power Rankings.

The Athletic -- Rank: 14

Facing a fourth-and-1 from the Miami 31, Kliff Kingsbury opted to try to tie the game with a 49-yard field goal rather than go for it. The kick looked perfect but missed short; since when do kicks in climate-controlled stadiums from 49 yards out fall short? On the previous play (third-and-1), the Cardinals threw the ball. This on a day when Kyler Murray ran 11 times for 106 yards. If Arizona misses out on the postseason or finishes one game out of first place in the NFC West, this might be the game that haunts them.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 13

We know the offense can score. But the defense has to be better. Losing to Miami at home is not a good look, even if Miami is improved.

USA Today -- Rank: 11

WR Larry Fitzgerald isn't used to this kind of touchdown famine. It's been nearly 11 months since his last visit to the end zone.

ESPN -- Rank: 10

Recalibrated expectation: Make the playoffs

As of now, the Cardinals are the sixth seed in the NFC, which means they're not just in the playoffs but ahead of one other playoff team with the additional spot added this season. All they have to do is make sure they stay there. A win over the Dolphins on Sunday would have put the Cardinals in a more comfortable position, but Arizona has to win the games it's supposed to win from here on out and steal a game or two it's not supposed to win. Then the Cardinals will be playing at least two games in January instead of one in Week 17. -- Josh Weinfuss

NFL.com -- Rank: 11

Kyler Murray is the best player on the Cardinals. Why not keep the ball in his hands with the game on the line, Kliff Kingsbury? On fourth-and-inches with 5:20 to play in a tie contest, Kingsbury asked running back Chase Edmonds to convert the first down. No dice. On fourth-and-1 in the final two minutes, Kingsbury pulled Murray and the offense off the field in favor of a 49-yard field-goal attempt. Zane Gonzalez shorted the kick (c'mon, man!), and the Dolphins escaped the desert with a 34-31 win. Murray accounted for four touchdowns on the day and set a career high with 106 rushing yards. When you need to make your best play, ask your best player to make it.

Previous update: Arizona Cardinals Week 9 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

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