Cardinals climb two spots in new power rankings

If you are an Arizona Cardinals fan, this was the kind of game you were waiting for.

Sure, wins against the San Francisco 49ers, the Washington Football Team and even the New York Jets were nice, but Monday night offered a prime-time game in front of a national audience. A chance to show the world that the offseason hype was with merit, that the offense could be explosive, and the defense could be game-changing.

If that sounds like you, then largely, the night probably delivered what you were looking for. After a slow start on offense, Kyler Murray and company put together three-straight touchdown drives, including this deep shot from Murray to wide receiver Christian Kirk:

 

What might also please Cardinals fans is what they saw from the defensive side of the ball. To be sure, the Cowboys entered Monday night dealing with injuries and having to start Andy Dalton. But the Arizona defense was solid all night, forcing mistakes from a number of different Dallas offensive players. A particular standout was safety Budda Baker. There were questions when Arizona gave him a huge deal this off-season, but plays like this might ease fears:

 

The safety times his blitz perfectly, driving into Dalton for the sack. Baker’s ability to be a game-changer down in the box, and frankly at all levels of the field, makes him perhaps a prototype modern safety.

Sure there are areas to clean up, including Murray’s efficiency as a passer. He started out just eight of 21 passing for 128 yards and a pair of touchdowns, so that will be something that Kliff Kingsbury will want to focus on during the week ahead. But this was the kind of night that Cardinals fans were hoping for on a big stage.