Thursday, September 16, 2021

Arizona Cardinals Week 2 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2021 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: 9.6 (10th)
  • Best ranking: 5th (CBS Sports)
  • Worst ranking: 14th (NFL.com)

Below you will find a Week 2 roundup for the Cardinals in our consensus 2021 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 12

Top rookie: WR Rondale Moore

Moore proved the hype about his speed was real during his NFL debut on Sunday. He finished with four catches for 68 yards in the Cardinals' victory over the Titans and returned three kicks (two punts and one kickoff) for 46 yards. But every time Moore touched the ball, he gave the feeling that something big could happen. It felt like there was always a possibility that he'd break a big play. In future weeks, he very well might. -- Josh Weinfuss

NFL.com -- Rank: 14

Maybe the Cardinals heard all the talk this summer about how they were the only NFC West team we shouldn't expect to make a deep playoff run. Arizona came out on Sunday and played like one of the best teams in football, embarrassing the Titans in a 38-13 road victory that recalibrates expectations of what this team can be. Kyler Murray (five total TDs) looked like a QB ready for a run at MVP, while Chandler Jones delivered one of the best defensive performances in franchise history: five sacks and two forced fumbles, both of which led to Arizona touchdowns. Said wideout Christian Kirk: "I haven't seen this team with such a big chip on their shoulder before in years past of my three seasons of being here so far."

CBS Sports -- Rank: 5

If Kyler Murray plays like he did against the Titans this season, the Cardinals will be a Super Bowl contender. The defense also impressed.

USA Today -- Rank: 7

If we're crowning offensive and defensive players of the year after Week 1, good chance Arizona would have both given the opening day performances of QB Kyler Murray (5 TDs) and OLB Chandler Jones (5 sacks).

The Athletic -- Rank: 10

Overreaction: Kyler Murray is the MVP favorite. Did you watch him? Stop what you're doing and get to NFL Game Pass immediately. Murray was electric, throwing for four touchdowns and running for another, while the Cardinals' offense was explosive in a way we have not seen in the Kliff Kingsbury era. -- Jones

Reality check: So we had all four NFC West teams in the top 14 last week, and we still undersold them. The Cardinals could easily be 3-0 when they go to the Rams in Week 4. Since the dawn of the current divisional look in 2002, we've never had a 9-7 last-place team. Six have gone 8-8. Stay tuned. -- Auman

Previous updates:

More Arizona Cardinals pages:

More of our content:

Keep track of our site's updates: (1) follow us on Twitter, (2) like us on Facebook and/or (3) subscribe to our newsletter.

Posted by at
Labels: , ,