We continue to discuss and dissect the Cardinals' victory over the Eagles last week, naming all of the players that had a big impact on the win. One of the players that sometimes can be overlooked because of how amazing he always is is Larry Fitzgerald. Fitz's nine catches, 114 yards and one touchdown paid huge dividends for the Cardinals, let alone all of the things he does that don't show up in the box score (attracting defenders, leadership, etc.). The more and more we continue to watch him, the more it becomes obvious that he was worth the eight year contract he received.
And we aren't the only ones noticing, either. Fitz was awarded NFC Offensive Player of the Week for his contributions in week three, the first Cardinal to be bestowed with an honor like that in 2012. While this is a big accomplishment for Fitz (one that he will likely shrug off), it is an even bigger win for the team.
Fans, players and opposing coaches are beginning to recognize the Cardinals for what they truly are. They have one of the best defenses in the league, their offense becomes more fluid by the week and their special teams play can rarely be questioned. They put a tremendous product onto the field, which is why they currently sit at 3-0.
What Fitzgerald's award does is bring it all into light. The team would like to always fly under the radar, but that can't always be the case. They are just playing too good and teams see that. When they see these types of things, their players begin gunning for you, hoping to knock off the top dog.
Either way, it is all good news. The Cardinals are winning, Fitzgerald is racking up awards on his way to the Hall of Fame and the team is finally getting some recognition. Let's see what this all leads to a few weeks from now.
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