Chiefs’ 3rd title in 5 years is reminder of Cardinals’ ‘what ifs’

The Cardinals should have had Andy Reid, could have had Chris Jones and thought they were going to have Mahomes.

The Kansas City Chiefs are the NFL’s most recent dynasty. They have been to the playoffs for nine straight years and 10 of 11 seasons. They have made the AFC Championship Game in six straight seasons, been to four Super Bowls in five years and won three of them.

In that time, the Arizona Cardinals have had just four winning seasons and three postseason appearances.

But the Chiefs’ success is related to the Cardinals. There are three notable “what ifs” where the Chiefs and Cardinals cross paths and the Chiefs took advantage.

The top 5 CBs in the 2024 draft, per Draft Wire

See who could be cornerback targets for the Cardinals.

The first phase of NFL draft season is over with the Senior bowl having been played. Next up is the NFL combine and then workouts, visits and pro days.

But we now can begin to start looking at player rankings.

The Arizona Cardinals have a very young and unproven cornerback room and probably will look to address the position in the draft.

With six selections in the first rounds and three in the top 35, a cornerback could be targeted early, but who are the top corners?

Below are the top five cornerbacks in the 2024 draft class, according to Draft Wire’s Natalie Miller. Read the full article for the reasons why they are the top five.

Cardinals-Bengals history: A look back at the last few meetings

Take a look at how the last 4 meetings between the Cardinals and Bengals have gone.

The Arizona Cardinals host the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday in Week 5. Both teams are 1-3.

The two teams have only faced one another 12 times dating back to 1973.

They have split the 12 games, both teams winning and losing six games.

However, the Cardinals have won 2 meetings in a row and 4 of the last 5.

The Bengals have never won a road game against the Cardinals.

Let’s look back at the last few meetings between the two teams.

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

 

Rams’ Puka Nacua breaks former Cardinal Anquan Boldin’s rookie marks

The Rams’ rookie receiver has 39 catches for 501 yards through only four games so far this season.

One of the biggest surprises from the 2023 rookie class in the NFL has been Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua, drafted in the fifth round out of BYU this year.

Nacua has set rookie records to start a career, records that had stood since 2003 and set by former Arizona Cardinals receiver Anquan Boldin.

With nine receptions for 163 yards and his first NFL touchdown on Sunday (a game-winner in overtime), Nacua now has 39 catches for 501 yards through only four games. Even before his fifth game, he has more than the five-game record of 34 receptions by Reggis Bush in 2006.

As Schefter noted in his tweet from Sunday, Nacua broke the NFL rookie record of 30 receptions through four games that Boldin set 20 years ago in his rookie season. His 501 yards surpasses Boldin’s 464 yards in his first four games.

Boldin finished his rookie season with 101 receptions for 1,377 yards and eight touchdowns.

Nacua is on pace for 166 receptions and more than 2,000 receiving yards. That pace will assuredly slow as Cooper Kupp is expected back from injured reserve soon.

Until then, though, it appears the Rams have gotten themselves a steal, perhaps the biggest steal of the entire 2023 draft.

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

11 days till the Cardinals’ season opener: Stats for No. 11

With 11 days until the season opener, here are 11 Cardinals stats for No. 11.

We are in countdown mode to the start of the season. The Arizona Cardinals will kick off the 2023 regular season in 11 days on September 10 on the road against the Washington Commanders.

It will be the official beginning of the Jonathan Gannon era as head coach.

In our countdown until the start of the season, we will give you notable stats in Cardinals history related to the number of the day.

Below are some notable stats with the No. 11.

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

Former Cardinals coach Don Coryell enshrined into Hall of Fame

He coached the St. Louis Cardinals from 1973-1977, went 42-29-1 and is third in franchise history in wins.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame held their enshrinement ceremony for the 2023 Hall of Fame class. Among those honored was former Chargers and Cardinals head coach Don Coryell.

Coryell’s career was most known for his time with the Chargers and the revolutionary passing scheme he started.

However, he was one of the Cardinals’ most successful coaches in history.

He coached the St. Louis Cardinals from 1973-1977, went 42-29-1 and is third in franchise history in wins.

He led the Cardinals to three consecutive 10-win seasons and two straight division titles. He was the NFL Coach of the Year in 1974.

He now has a bronze bust in Canton.

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

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

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1362]

Cardinals’ all-time rushing leader a semifinalist in senior category for Hall of Fame

Ottis Anderson, the Cardinals’ all-time leading rusher, is a semifinalist for the 2024 Hall of Fame class in the senior category.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced 60 total semifinalists for the 2024 Hall of Fame class in the two categories of seniors and coach/contributor. It includes an all-time great in Arizona Cardinals franchise history, although he never played while the team has been in Arizona.

Running back Ottis Anderson, the team’s all-time leader in rushing, was named one of the 31 senior semifinalists.

From 1979-1986, he played for the St. Louis Cardinals before going to the New York Giants, where he played until 1992.

Anderson is No. 1 in Cardinals franchise history all-time with 7,999 rushing yards, 46 rushing touchdowns and 80.8 rushing yards per game. He set the single-season franchise record for rushing as a rookie in 1979 when he ran for 1,605 yards.

In addition to the single-season records, he has the franchise’s four highest single-season rushing totals and five of the top seven.

He finished his 15-year career with 10,723 total rushing yards and 81 rushing touchdowns.

Of the 31 seniors and 29 coach/contributors, Anderson is the only one with any real connections to the Cardinals.

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

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

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1362]

Kyler Murray and the Cardinals’ top per-attempt runners

A look at the top 10 in Cardinals franchise history in rushing yards per attempt. Kyler Murray is No. 1.

With no actual football happening, we can take time in the offseason to pore through some stats in Arizona Cardinals history.

Did you know that quarterback Kyler Murray is the most productive player in franchise history in terms of rushing yards per attempt?

Of all players all-time with at least 300 rushing attempts, he sits at the top.

Let’s see the top 10 rushing averages per attempt, again with at least 3– rushing attempts.

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

 

Kenyan Drake was one of Cardinals’ most productive RBs

His per-game average both in his entire time and in 2019 were among the best in franchise history.

The Arizona Cardinals had running back Kenyan Drake for only a season and a half. In that time, he was one of the franchise’s most productive backs historically.

His per-game average for rushing yards of 69.5 is higher than any other player (minimum 20 games) other than the franchise’s all-time rushing leader, Ottis Anderson, who averaged 80.8 yards per game in his time with the Cardinals.

He averaged 80.4 yards per game in eight games in 2019. That is the sixth-highest per-game average in a single season in franchise history. Of the other five high averages, Anderson owns four of them. The other is John David Crow, who averaged 89.3 yards per game in 1960.

His time was relatively short in Arizona, but it was productive.

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

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

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1362]

5 Cardinals named best to wear their uniform number in NFL history

Larry Fitzgerald headlines five former Cardinals who were the best to wear their uniform number in history

The NFL offseason brings innumerable lists and rankings. It is just what happens when there are no NFL happenings.

Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar put together a list of the player in NFL history that was the best for each uniform number.

Several players who played for the Arizona or St. Louis Cardinals made the cut. Check them out below.

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

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