As we enter the seventh week of the season, it’s that time of year where you slowly start realizing a lot of things: who’s in the playoff hunt and who’s doing mock drafts, who’s a Super Bowl contender and who’s a pretender, and so forth. Today we sit down and review how the Arizona Cardinals shape up after seven weeks of football.
After an unexpected takeover by A-list actor Brad Pitt, many fans were questioning if this meant the Cardinals would crash and burn harder than they already had. But early signs show that the takeover may not have been a bad idea after all, as new owner Brad Pitt and head coach Jonathan Gannon have worked together to build a well-oiled machine. The Cardinals currently sit at a 5-2 record and second in their division at the midseason point. Let’s see how they got to this point as we review some of their matchups along with key stats and players.
It hasn’t been easy for the Cardinals, as they’ve found themselves in three overtime matchups, and every game but one (decided by nine points) has come down to a single score. It hasn’t been easy on the Cardinals faithful’s blood pressure, but they’ve managed to get it done when needed for the most part—finishing drives, getting stops, and putting points on the board when it mattered most.
So far, they’ve had two divisional matchups: one where they beat the 49ers in overtime, and another in a tough loss against their division-leading rival, the Seattle Seahawks. The Cardinals have managed to put up over thirty points in all seven of their games this season. On the flip side, they’ve also allowed over thirty in every outing except one.
Team offense stats:
- Points Per Game: 39 (5th)
- Total Yards Per Game: 460.9 (3rd)
- Passing Yards Per Game: 366.9 (3rd)
- Rushing Yards Per Game: 94 (17th)
Team defense stats:
- Points Allowed Per Game: 39 (26th)
- Total Yards Allowed Per Game: 468.6 (30th)
- Passing Yards Allowed Per Game: 364.4 (30th)
- Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game: 104.1 (17th)
It’s evident that their success has come through the offensive side of the ball, and the reason these games have been so close is that the defense hasn’t been able to string together stops when needed. However, most in the Cardinals organization know better than to set off the panic alarms just yet. A few key defensive pieces are set to return after the bye week, and the entire defense is still young. The belief inside the building is that, in the long run, they can build something special on both sides of the ball.
Key players to the Cardinals’ success so far:
- Kyler Murray: A man who was in consideration to be traded, released, or even benched. However, under coach Jonathan Gannon and with support from Brad Pitt, he seems to have found his footing. Murray currently leads the league in passing touchdowns and yards after seven weeks of football. He’s done a solid job of protecting the football while also producing on the ground. With this career revival, he has slowly worked his way into the MVP conversation as well.
Kyler Murray
- 2,632 Passing Yards
- 28 Passing Touchdowns
- 11 Interceptions
- 143 Rushing Yards
- 1 Rushing Touchdown
- 2 Fumbles
Trey McBride
After a successful rookie season — one highlighted by plenty of yards but minimal touchdowns — McBride has taken his game to the next level. He has arguably become the most valuable member of this offensive core, whether it’s blocking in the run game or getting open against corners, linebackers, and safeties in the passing attack.
- 38 Receptions
- 854 Receiving Yards
- 11 Receiving Touchdowns
Marvin Harrison Jr.
It took a little time for Harrison Jr. to get going in Arizona, but over the last few weeks he has shown exactly why he is this team’s No. 1 wide receiver. Whether it’s a short route to move the chains or a deep shot downfield, he consistently provides Kyler Murray with a reliable option.
- 38 Receptions
- 821 Receiving Yards
- 6 Receiving Touchdowns
Honorable Mentions: Second-year players Trey Benson and Xavier Weaver have also played impactful roles in the Cardinals’ offense. Both have stepped up in key games when Harrison Jr. or McBride were unavailable, proving to be valuable depth pieces in Arizona’s attack.
With that being said, this concludes the midseason report and team analysis for the Arizona Cardinals. Join us at the end of the season to see how far they’ve come and where they stand. Most importantly, stay tuned for more analysis and coverage of teams across the league.
