Almost no one believed that the sitting at their bye week the Arizona Cardinals would be 5-2 and in second-place in the NFC West. That is less an indictment than an admission that the NFC West is a bloodbath with the potential to produce multiple playoffs teams.
Same as Seattle, Week 7 was the toughest matchup the Cardinals have faced thus far and the result speaks a lot about the grit and determination of a young team determined to make it mark not only in the division but in the NFL.
Strength
As good as the rushing numbers look for the Cardinals, 2nd in rushing yards and 1st in rushing touchdown, the strength of this team lies with the second-year quarterback Kyler Murray.
Not only has he thrown for over 1,800 yards and 13 touchdowns, he is the second-leading rusher on the team only 75 yards behind Kenyan Drake. His feet have accounted for 437 yards and 7 touchdowns, a pace that sets him to be the first quarterback to pass for 4,000 and rush for 1,000 in a single season.
His stats are great, but the main reason Murray is the strength of this Cardinals team is the growth of his leadership. Everyone knew this was someone who did not like to lose, but Murray has provided on-field and sideline leadership at a different level than last year. His confidence in his own abilities and his increasing vocal role in the organization speak to a player who is intent on making this his team and winning a lot of games.
Weakness
Offseason hype surrounded tight end Dan Arnold and he has not lived up to it. Not only him but the entire tight end group has been sorely disappointing this season for the Cardinals.
After including more and more tight end packages near the end of last season it was assumed Kliff Kingsbury would continue the trend. Dan Arnold is the leading receiving tight end with 154 yards and and third-stringer Jordan Thomas is the only one to record a touchdown.
Whether it comes from scheme or lack of talent, the tight end has been phased out of the Arizona offense. Kingsbury has shown a great willingness to adapt in the NFL and will utilize his offensive players in a way he feels is most conducive to winning; apparently the tight end does not figure in that equation this year.