Saturday, January 1, 2022

Arizona Cardinals Week 17 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: 10.8 (11th)
  • Best ranking: 10 (NFL.com)
  • Worst ranking: 11 (Multiple)

Below you will find a Week 17 roundup for the Cardinals in our consensus 2021 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 11

Non-QB MVP: C Rodney Hudson

Hudson is Kyler Murray's eyes and ears on the line of scrimmage, helps set the protection, alerts Murray and the rest of the offense to formations and takes care of the rest of the lineman on seemingly a play-by-play basis. Whenever Hudson is out, the Cardinals struggle in some way. He has missed five games thus far this season, and Arizona has lost three of them. Hudson has been the veteran presence at center that Arizona had been lacking for years, and he provided the type of stability and comfort that allowed the Cardinals to get off to a great start. -- Josh Weinfuss

NFL.com -- Rank: 10

Frustration is mounting in the desert. The Cardinals were beaten by the surging Colts on Christmas night, the fourth consecutive home loss for the one-time NFC leaders. The Cardinals have lost five of eight games after their 7-0 start and now welcome another red-hot team into their building on Sunday in the Cowboys. Arizona managed to clinch a playoff spot with some outside help in Week 16, but it's fair to wonder if this is a fading team that's already peaked. A superstar quarterback has the ability to quell even the nastiest momentum, making the next few weeks a critical test for Kyler Murray.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 11

They are in the playoffs, but they haven't looked like a playoff team the past three weeks. They have to get it going against Dallas this week.

USA Today -- Rank: 11

Who cares that they've fallen off their NFC West perch? A team that's lost four straight at home is better off hitting postseason road.

The Athletic -- Rank: 11

Is he The Guy? Yes. Kyler Murray has quickly fallen out of MVP contention during the Cardinals' three-game losing streak, but there should be no doubt that he's still the right quarterback for them. He will be exciting to watch in his first playoff appearance next month, but whether the Cardinals can make a deep run might be predicated on how well the rest of the team, particularly the defense, plays around him.

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