Three consecutive victories have catapulted the Arizona Cardinals back into the limelight of the National Football League
For three straight seasons, the Arizona Cardinals had become an afterthought in the minds of NFL enthusiasts. The last two years of former head coach Bruce Arians’ tenure were non-winning campaigns. With Steve Wilks at the helm in 2018, the Cards ended up with the worst record in professional football.
Arizona’s new on-field leader, however, has helped the franchise become interesting again. After a winless September, Kliff Kingsbury‘s squad has gone undefeated thus far in October. What appeared to have the makings of a disastrous 2019 for the Cardinals has suddenly taken an exciting turn for the better.
Leading the revitalized team is a 22-year old quarterback. Kyler Murray has brought a youthful exuberance to a club that has more than it’s fair share of experienced players. The Cards first-round draft pick has displayed the coolness of a veteran, and has kept the rookie mistakes to a minimum.
One of the most pleasant surprises of Arizona’s current three-game winning streak has been the offensive line. Sean Kugler, the group’s position coach, has proven to be one of the offseason’s most brilliant hires. The blocking unit has allowed just three sacks over the past three weeks, and has been the muscle behind the Cardinals 11th-ranked rushing attack.
After a shaky start, the Cards defense seemed to find itself during last weekend’s 27-21 victory over the New York Giants. The return of Patrick Peterson, the Pro Bowl cornerback who was suspended for the first six games, has apparently invigorated his teammates. With Chandler Jones providing a lethal pass rush, the tide has quite possibly turned for coordinator Vance Joseph‘s beleaguered defenders.
With those three uneventful years now behind them, Arizona is now ready for better things. Kingsbury certainly appears to have the organization headed in the right direction. Don’t look now, but here come the Cardinals.