2021 NFL Power Rankings: Arizona Cardinals
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: 8.8 (9th)
- Best ranking: 8 (Multiple)
- Worst ranking: 10 (USA Today)
Below you will find a Week 18 roundup for the Cardinals in our consensus 2021 NFL Power Rankings.
ESPN -- Rank: 8
New Year's resolution: Don't have second-half meltdowns
Even though Arizona won Sunday in Dallas, the Cardinals have lost five of their past nine, which gives Kliff Kingsbury a second-half slide in every season he has been a head coach. If this season's slide hadn't happened, the Cardinals would have likely won the NFC West by now and possibly been competing for or have captured the No. 1 seed in the entire conference. On top of all that, they could've been looking at 14 or 15 wins. It's something Kingsbury needs to work on because it lowers his ceiling, and with a quarterback like Kyler Murray, having a limit to what a team can do on the field isn't the way to win Super Bowls. -- Josh Weinfuss
Even though Arizona won Sunday in Dallas, the Cardinals have lost five of their past nine, which gives Kliff Kingsbury a second-half slide in every season he has been a head coach. If this season's slide hadn't happened, the Cardinals would have likely won the NFC West by now and possibly been competing for or have captured the No. 1 seed in the entire conference. On top of all that, they could've been looking at 14 or 15 wins. It's something Kingsbury needs to work on because it lowers his ceiling, and with a quarterback like Kyler Murray, having a limit to what a team can do on the field isn't the way to win Super Bowls. -- Josh Weinfuss
NFL.com -- Rank: 9
Boy, did the Cardinals need that. Arizona went to Dallas on Sunday and picked up the most important win of its season, a 25-22 conquest that breathed some much-needed confidence back into the team. Kyler Murray improved to 8-0 lifetime in games started at AT&T Stadium dating back to his high school hero days, while the beleaguered Cards defense held down a Cowboys attack that dropped 56 points on Washington seven days earlier. Arizona finished the regular season 8-1 away from State Farm Stadium -- good news for a team that could be on the road in the first week of the playoffs.
CBS Sports -- Rank: 9
Winning at Dallas to snap a three-game losing streak was impressive. The defense was outstanding.
USA Today -- Rank: 10
Given QB Kyler Murray is now 8-0 as a starter AT&T Stadium -- including high school and college -- Arizona might want to ensure its projected playoff rematch against Dallas holds.
The Athletic -- Rank: 8
Future MVP: Kyler Murray. A potential narrative flip is looming. Murray will either exit the playoffs as a thrilling talent the masses believe can lead a contending team all the way, or as a head-scratching quarterback still leaving onlookers wanting more. The good news is that Murray, now a two-time Pro Bowler, won't even turn 25 until August. He'll also never, ever lose again if he just plays every game in Jerry World.
Previous updates:
- Arizona Cardinals 2021 NFL Power Rankings Roundup: Week 17
- Arizona Cardinals 2021 NFL Power Rankings Roundup: Week 16
- Arizona Cardinals 2021 NFL Power Rankings Roundup: Week 15
- Arizona Cardinals 2021 NFL Power Rankings Roundup: Week 14
- Arizona Cardinals 2021 NFL Power Rankings Roundup: Week 13
- Arizona Cardinals 2021 NFL Power Rankings Roundup: Week 12
- Arizona Cardinals 2021 NFL Power Rankings Roundup: Week 11
- Arizona Cardinals 2021 NFL Power Rankings Roundup: Week 10
- Arizona Cardinals 2021 NFL Power Rankings Roundup: Week 9
- Arizona Cardinals 2021 NFL Power Rankings Roundup: Week 8
- Arizona Cardinals 2021 NFL Power Rankings Roundup: Week 7
- Arizona Cardinals 2021 NFL Power Rankings Roundup: Week 6
- Arizona Cardinals 2021 NFL Power Rankings Roundup: Week 5
- Arizona Cardinals 2021 NFL Power Rankings Roundup: Week 4
- Arizona Cardinals 2021 NFL Power Rankings Roundup: Week 3
- Arizona Cardinals 2021 NFL Power Rankings Roundup: Week 2
- Arizona Cardinals 2021 NFL Power Rankings Roundup: Week 1
- Arizona Cardinals 2021 NFL Power Rankings Roundup: Post-Draft
More Arizona Cardinals pages:
- Arizona Cardinals Mock Draft Roundup
- Arizona Cardinals Snap Counts
- Arizona Cardinals Franchise Leaders
- Arizona Cardinals Draft History
- Arizona Cardinals Schedule
- Arizona Cardinals Tickets
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