Arizona Cardinals: The Fountain of Youth is in Arizona

Five weeks into the NFL season, Carson Palmer leads the league in touchdown passes, Chris Johnson is third in the league in rushing yards, and Larry Fitzgerald is fifth in the league in receiving yards and first in touchdown receptions.

Wait…what year is it again?

Somehow head coach Bruce Arians and the Arizona Cardinals have managed to revive the careers of these aging stars, and are now one of the best teams in the league.

More from Arizona Cardinals

Palmer, at age 35, is playing possibly the best football of career. Through five games he’s thrown for 1,316 yards and 13 touchdowns, and most surprisingly only three interceptions. In his career, in any season where he has played in more than six games, Palmer has never thrown less than 12 interceptions. He’s currently on pace to throw nine in 2015.

ALSO ON SPINZONE: 30 Greatest QBs of All-Time

He’s also on pace to throw 42 touchdowns which would be good for top-10 all time among NFL quarterbacks. Clearly Palmer has revived a career that is highlighted by a 74-74 record and a 2.6:1 touchdown/interception ratio. In this last two season in Arizona Carson Palmer has a 10-1 record as a starter and a 4:1 touchdown/interception ratio. Palmer has found new life in Arizona. He’s even feeling so great, he forgot to take his knee brace on the team’s last road trip to play the Detroit Lions (via Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com):

"“I always forget something packing,” Palmer said. “But the knee brace — that’s a big one. It’s not like forgetting your belt. Or your toothbrush. The problem with those knee braces is you can’t just replace them, It’s not like there is an extra one lying around.”"

We’d all prefer it if Palmer (who’s torn his ACL twice in his career) remembered to wear his brace in the future, but the fact that he was able to play so well without it (11/14 for 161 yards, 3 touchdowns and 0 interceptions) is just a sign of how reinvigorated he is.

Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of Palmer’s excellence, as he has revived a career many thought to be on the decline. Fitz entered the league one year after Palmer, in 2004, and has been a star ever since. He lead the league in receptions in 2005 and in touchdowns in both 2008 and 2009. He hasn’t reached 1,000 receiving yards since 2011 though, averaging less than 60 yards per game over the last three seasons. Through five games in 2015 Fitz is averaging 98 yards per game, on pace for a career high 1,568 yards and a franchise record 19 touchdowns.

Oct 11, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) completes a pass while being pressured by Detroit Lions defensive back Josh Wilson (30) during the third quarter at Ford Field. The Cardinals won 42-17. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

Running back Chris Johnson may be the biggest surprise of all, as he was signed in the offseason as a bit of an insurance policy, but has been one of the NFL’s most productive backs so far this season. This has us all reminiscing of his 2,000 yard season in 2009 which made him one of only seven running backs to accomplish this feat. Johnson’s production has decline since then, and he managed only 663 yards and one touchdown last season with the Jets. Now he’s on pace for 1,300 yards, a number he hasn’t reached since 2010. Clearly Chris Johnson has avoided the curse of age 30 that has plagued many running backs over the years.

Something has sparked these three players to return to their former glory, and in the case of Palmer and Fitzgerald, to exceed even their best career performances. These guys have lead the Cardinals to a 4-1 record, and have them ranked sixth in ESPN’s latest Power Rankings. It could be that the Cardinals have found the Fountain of Youth, or it could simply be that they’ve discovered the key to getting the best out of their players.

These three players have been able to be so successful because finally they haven’t had to carry the team all by themselves. Not only do they all have each other to play alongside, they also have a well balanced team across the board, including a very talented defense.

Only three times in his long career (2006, 2007, 2011) has Larry Fitzgerald had the opportunity to play alongside a 1,000 yard rusher. Chris Johnson, on pace for 1,300 yards, would be the most productive rusher that Fitz has ever played with. Before Carson Palmer took over as quarterback, the guys throwing the ball Larry’s way had combined for a 1.06:1 touchdown/interception ratio. Palmer’s 4:1 TD/INT ratio and Chris Johnson’s elite production surely has Larry Fitzgerald salivating.

Only once in his career (Matt Hasslebeck in 2011) has Chris Johnson played alongside a quarterback that started all 16 games in a season. Every other season in his career has seen at least two or three quarterbacks start a game due to injuries or poor performance. He’s also only had two seasons (2011 and 2013) in which a receiver on his team managed at least 1,000 receiving yards. Carson Palmer’s consistency and Larry Fitzgerald’s elite production are new but exciting things to Chris Johnson.

Sep 13, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals running back Chris Johnson (23) against the New Orleans Saints at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Saints 31-19. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Of the three, Carson Palmer probably has the most experience playing with elite teammates, having played several seasons throughout his career with the likes of Rudi Johnson, Cedric Benson, Chad Johnson, and T.J. Houshmandzadeh. The biggest difference for Palmer is the fact that he now has a top defense at his back.

Before coming to Arizona, Carson Palmer’s teams had been outgained offensively in all but two seasons. So far this season the Cardinals are 13th in total defense and ninth in scoring defense, and have outscored opposing teams by 20 points per game. With a stout defense at his back, Palmer isn’t having to start every possession with poor field position, and has played with a tie or lead in all but five quarters this season.

Johnson (30), Fitzgerald (32), and Palmer (35) are all certainly in the second half of their career, but they are playing like they’re right in the middle of their primes. Head coach Bruce Arians and general manager Steve Keim have put together a team that is ready to contend for a championship, the first one Arizona has had since their devastating Super Bowl loss to the Steelers in Super Bowl XLIII.

Arizona’s Fountain of Youth is simply a balanced offense, efficient players, and a solid defense, but it may have the team set up to win it’s first championship in 68 years.

Next: Arizona Cardinals: Dwight Freeny a Potential Game Changer

More from NFL Spin Zone

Home/Arizona Cardinals