Cardinals move up a spot in USA TODAY power rankings after bye week

The NFC West has two top-five teams and three top-15 teams.

The Arizona Cardinals did not play on Sunday because it was their bye week. However, even without playing, they managed to move up in USA TODAY’s latest power rankings.

They moved up one place, from No. 25 to No. 24 overall.

This week, Chandler Jones’ production is brought up.

Chandler Jones on track to lead league in sacks for second time in three seasons, yet does anybody give him acclaim he clearly deserves?

No, Jones does not get the praise he deserves but the Cardinals haven’t played well enough for him to get attention. And because he normally is consistent about getting one sack a game, that isn’t super flashy. It is consistent but it isn’t flashy.

As for the team, their ranking is fair. They are behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who beat the Cardinals and has won four games this season. The Cardinals are still ahead of the three teams they have beaten and the one they tied with.

What about the rest of the NFC West?

With their loss to the Baltimore Ravens, the 6-5 Los Angeles Rams fell from 11th to 14th overall. Meanwhile, the Seattle Seahawks are No. 5 and the San Francisco 49ers are No 3.

No other division has two top-five teams or three top-15 teams.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.

[protected-iframe id=”dc9401a9946bd6d695c8bc6452e2c715-112738498-106269283″ info=”https://api.spreaker.com/v2/episodes/20138538/download.mp3″ ]