NFL Power Rankings, Week 14: Ravens perched atop AFC, Packers bounce back

29. Arizona Cardinals (26)

The Arizona Cardinals received a major wake-up call on Sunday during their 34-7 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in regards to being a team that still has plenty to work on both sides of the football before they’re ready to become contenders again in the NFC.

After looking at how close the Cardinals kept things over the last month during some of their losses, Week 13 seemed to have the potential to be the perfect trap game for the Rams.

Instead, Los Angeles came out firing against Arizona, and never looked back, as this quickly turned into one of those games the Cardinals would love to forget as soon as possible.

Whether it happens to be Kyler Murray having plenty of areas in need of improvement or simply the defense needing to play better, the Cardinals are clearly a work in progress, but also this was sort of expected in 2019.

As much excitement as there was surrounding Arizona earlier in the year when they put together a surprise three-game winning streak, most football fans knew the magic would eventually settle down.

But at least in the long, this early experience by Murray in the NFL will help the Cardinals quarterback develop to the necessary level Arizona needs him on down the road.