Arizona Cardinals: Ranking The NFC West Quarterbacks

Dec 7, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Drew Stanton (5) drops back to pass in the first quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

5. Drew Stanton, Arizona Cardinals

Stanton was pressed into service more often than I think most wanted in 2014.  However I don’t think the Cardinals make it to the playoffs and finish 11-5 without Stanton.  Some will doubt that, even some Cardinals fans.  I see it differently.  The man went 5-3 in his eight starts.  We saw what happened when Ryan Lindley went 0-2 in the regular season and what happened in the playoff game against the Carolina Panthers. Most will argue that the Cardinals would have least defeated the Panthers and made it to the next round had Stanton been the starter.

Pressed into service thanks to multiple injuries to starter Carson Palmer, Stanton led the Cardinals to their first victory over the 49ers in three years. Stanton himself was injured in the game at Denver but thankfully the bye week came after that and Palmer was able to return for several weeks before injuring his ACL. Stanton’s passing accuracy (132-240) was questioned by many but to me he was a winner.  It’s all about the result at the end and going 5-3 in relief in a tough NFC West was impressive to me.