The 2024 season has gone better than expected.
I will be the first to admit I did not expect the Cardinals to reach their bye week with a winning record.
Being 6-4 and top of the NFC West is streets ahead of what anybody in Arizona could have imagined before the season began.
Jonathan Gannon has done an outstanding job on both sides of the ball and after early criticism, Drew Petzing has shown he can make the right calls on offense as well.
They are running teams into the ground on a weekly basis at the minute. A combination of James Connor’s strength and Kyler Murray’s athleticism has paired well to make a mean run game.
First round pick Marvin Harrison Jr. was questioned in the first few games after a lack of involvement. Recently, however, he has started to show why he was number four off the board in this year’s draft.
Trey McBride has been hurdling his way to near the top of the tight end rankings as well, with George Kittle and Brock Bowers having elite seasons in that position as well.
The offensive line is doing a stellar job at protecting Kyler and giving him time in the pocket to make the correct decision. Murray has been hit the least amount of times in the league.
Cardinals defense showing up as well
On the defensive side of the ball, Budda Baker has shown his veteran experience, making 100 tackles and helping himself to his first sack against none other than Aaron Rodgers on Sunday night.
That was Baker’s first sack since the 2021 season. The already elite safety is playing some of his best football.
Kyzir White has 72 tackles and Dante Stills has helped himself to 3.5 sacks.
This defense was under scrutiny in the off season, with many people questioning their ability to stop the opponents run game and how good their pass-rush would be.
Over the last three games against the Chargers, Bears and Jets, Arizona have allowed zero touchdowns.
The last time they stopped an opponent scoring a touchdown in three consecutive games was nearly 100 years ago in 1926!
Overall I would score the Bird Gang a solid 9/10 going into the bye week. They have surpassed most people expectation and can start dreaming of the postseason.
