Week 12 Power Rankings Round Up: A reality check

Are the Cardinals who we thought they were?

Personally, I have no idea what to make of this team. And yet I do...?

At their height, they’ve performed well enough to garner top ten spots on the national media’s rankings. They’ve also hung around the bottom tier. But mostly, they’ve hovered around the precipice of the middle tier. Just good enough to look like they belong above that, but not consistent enough to hold on.

At the end of the day, they’re just not quite there yet. And that’s fine.

A loss isn’t quite what some had in mind coming off the heels of Hail Murray and preceding that - some very explosive offensive performances. Instead, they fell flat against one of the lesser defenses in the league.

Sure, there were some issues not going in their favor. Additional injuries to an already depleted defensive unit, a shoulder injury to Kyler Murray, and the oh so ever present personnel deficiencies.

All that said does little to sooth those frustrated as the Cardinals let slip a big chance at taking the top of the division in a very tight race.

But I’ll continue to reiterate... this team has shown a lot more than what I expected to be a team hovering around .500 by the end of the season. Joseph continues to frustrate some but has also shown capable of getting the most out of a banged up defense. The offense at it’s peak is something I’d have expected no sooner than next season.

It is imperative they quickly capitalize on the shrinking window that is Kyler Murray’s rookie deal.