Tuesday, September 12, 2023

Arizona Cardinals Week 2 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2023 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Below you will find a Week 2 roundup for the Arizona Cardinals in our consensus 2023 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 32

Best debut performance: DC Nick Rallis
Week 1 stats: The defense has 6 sacks, 6 QB hits, INT, 7 passes defensed, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries

The Cardinals have a new defensive coordinator and his unit showed out Sunday against the Commanders with a solid performance, but it ultimately ran out of gas by the end of the game after six sacks by five different players. Arizona's defense, which has four new faces, didn't seem to have any issue dealing with the transition to a new defensive coordinator. Its front seven was impressive, running five or more defensive backs on 48 of its 65 defensive plays. -- Josh Weinfuss

NFL.com -- Rank: 32

Defensively, the Cardinals did everything one could have hoped for in the loss to Washington, holding the Commanders to 248 yards and a 4-of-12 conversion rate on third downs, forcing three turnovers and sacking Sam Howell six times. But it wasn't enough, as the offense -- creative as it might have been -- just couldn't sustain drives with placeholder QB Joshua Dobbs. Arizona tried throwing the kitchen sink at Washington with a Hollywood Brown end-around, a Rondale Moore wheel route and a flurry of formations and personnel groupings. And the offense totaled 210 yards and 13 first downs. Penalties also killed the Cardinals in all three phases. If Arizona wants to try to win games with good defense and not much offense, it can't be flagged nine times for 122 yards next week -- or any week.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 32

They competed against Washington, which is a good sign. They had their chances to win, which might mean the tank talk is a bit premature.

USA Today -- Rank: 32

Jonathan Gannon told his team he wanted "killers" prior to the season. Interpret that as you will, but what the rookie HC got was a few dirty hits at Washington — part and parcel of showing that earned nine flags (for 122 yards) in Arizona's four-point loss.

The Athletic -- Rank: 31

Maybe monotone Jonathan Gannon is a better motivator than we thought. After being ridiculed for an odd motivational speech before his team, the first-year head coach kept the league's worst roster competitive in Week 1. Even if it was competitive against the Commanders.

FOX -- Rank: 32

Credit where it's due, the Cardinals pushed the Commanders a lot harder than most expected. But it's not as if things get easier. Starting next week with the Giants, their next four games are against 2022 playoff squads.

Yahoo! -- Rank: 32

The Cardinals were feisty. They had a real chance to win a road game at the Commanders. I don't know exactly how they'll win games, but it's at least possible they won't be the worst team in football. Or, almost beating a mediocre Washington team will end up being one of their best performances of the season.

PFT -- Rank: 32

They almost threw an early wrench in their low-key tank.

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