The Arizona Cardinals, a team most folks expect to be scraping the bottom with the fewest wins this season, just got a bump up to No. 25 overall in the latest NFL.com power rankings. Yeah, you read that right. After an offseason that definitely had some bad vibes, there’s a flicker of mild optimism now, mostly because their offense looked pretty productive in preseason.
Don’t Look Now, Their Offense Might Actually Be Legit
This rising ranking is all about the offense. It looked genuinely good in the preseason, and that’s huge for a franchise that’s been down. Even with Jeremiyah Love’s ankle injury putting a damper on things, there’s still hope the No. 3 overall pick could play in Week 1. And seriously, they’ve got other weapons. Think about it: a potentially good duo at running back with Love and Tyler Allgeier. Then there’s tight end Trey McBride, who was second in the entire NFL in receptions last season. Add in receivers Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson, and if Jacoby Brissett can just produce like he did last year, this team could actually score some points and be dangerous.
But Seriously, That Defense Is Still Ugh
Now for the flip side, and it’s a big one. The problem is simple: their defense. It was awful last season, absolutely terrible, and guess what? It’s largely the same personnel heading into this year. That’s a brutal reality check. On top of that, the Cardinals’ schedule is an absolute beast. Rookie coach Mike LaFleur is gonna have to prove himself from the jump, kicking off the season with an opener in Los Angeles against the Chargers. They might be ranked ahead of the New York Giants, Atlanta Falcons, New York Jets, Las Vegas Raiders, Cleveland Browns, Washington Commanders, and Miami Dolphins, but that defense is still a massive question mark.
So, while a bump to No. 25 is refreshing after those bad offseason vibes, the big test is coming fast. Rookie coach LaFleur needs his promising offense to be dangerous and score points right away against the Chargers in Week 1. Can they overcome that defensive mess? We’re about to find out.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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