There’s one big NFL surprise every year and the Arizona Cardinals fit the bill for 2020.
In a 2020 NFL season that is full of the unexpected, leave it to the Arizona Cardinals to jump out to a hot start and surprise everyone. No one seemed to expect much out of Kliff Kingsbury’s squad in general, especially ESPN’s Stephen A Smith, who believed that the Cardinals made a mistake hiring the former Texas Tech head coach.
Instead, the Cardinals are fun to watch and look like they are only going to get better under Kingsbury provided they continue to right path of drafting well and playing well.
Though they came up short against Adrian Peterson and the Detroit Lions, the team in the desert is not only running hot but playing an edge as those as they look to make a statement for both this season and beyond.
The Arizona Cardinals look like a surefire playoff team already.
No one should be going overboard and say the Cardinals are a Super Bowl contender — that would be delusional. But is it fair to say that they are competitive and fun to root for? Absolutely.
It starts quarterback Kyler Murray, who has defied all doubts about his game and ability since he was drafted No. 1 overall. And who could forget DeAndre Hopkins, whose impact on the team has not only helped the team this season but is only going to be better for the future once the great Larry Fitzgerald hangs up his cleats.
While the offensive line isn’t the top of the charts, they are serviceable and helping Murray maintain his composure. The running game is rid of David Johnson and instead, has enough speed to keep defenses guessing.
We would be remiss to not talk about the defense which has been playing at a high-level thanks to pass rusher Chandler Jones and defensive backs Patrick Peterson and Budda Baker, all of whom are playing with a sense of fresh energy and motivation. In addition, the emergence of rookie Isaiah Simmons has been a welcome sight.
All and all, the Cardinals probably will not hoist any championship trophies this season, but their team is fun to watch and great to root for. The only thing hotter in the desert right now is the temperature of excitement from their fans, which is growing higher.