Arizona Cardinals earning respect with top spot in USA Today’s NFL Power Rankings

USA Today released their power rankings before the NFL season kicks off on Thursday night, and placed the Arizona Cardinals at No. 11, which is a surprisingly high slot for a team coming off a 8-9 record last season. It’s a nod to improvement, and a sign of growing belief in what’s being built in Arizona. One of the predictions made by USA Today’s Nate Davis was that the Cardinals were to get out to a strong start. “A 5-2 start coming out of a Week 8 bye seems quite reasonable for a team that struggled to get out of the blocks during its first two seasons under coach Jonathan Gannon.” (Credit: Nate Davis | USA Today)

The changes surrounding the Arizona Cardinals are being recognized. Kyler Murray is healthy and focused. Marvin Harrison Jr. could be a franchise-altering talent, and is looking to make a jump entering his second year. Head coach Jonathan Gannon has turned what was once an unstable roster into a fast, physical, and disciplined group. The No. 11 ranking puts Arizona ahead of teams like the Buccaneers, 49ers, Seahawks, and Vikings, which are all playoff hopefuls that have proven NFL talent. It’s a major narrative shift for Arizona as they look to take advantage of an NFC West that doesn’t have one dominant team that is likely to run away with the divisional title.

Cardinals fans realize that the bump is more than just preseason hype, it’s validation. The rebuild isn’t just theoretical anymore. The league is paying attention, and the expectations are starting to shift. Of course, power rankings don’t win games. Though for a franchise trying to reestablish its identity and build a new culture, cracking the top 15 before the first week of the NFL season feels like a warning shot.