The Cardinals have won four straight and sit in first place in the NFC West as they head into their bye 10 games into the season.
The break still comes at a good time. There is no other way to approach it.
"Whoever thinks it's an advantage, it'll be an advantage," coach Jonathan Gannon said. "Whoever thinks it's a disadvantage, it'll be a disadvantage.
"I think it's an advantage."
The off time does allow for a reset of what comes next. The Cardinals have seven games left, including four within the division. Both matchups with the Seahawks are within the next three games, with a trip to a good Vikings team in between. A push for the playoffs – and a division title – gets real quickly.
Yet Gannon will hold to his tenets – one-week-only thoughts, one opponent only thoughts. It wouldn't be for the same reasons, but you can imagine Gannon giving the Jim Mora "Playoffs?!?" reaction at this point in the season.
"I always have confidence in if we keep doing the right things, keep your head down, keep working, stick to your process and improve your process along the way, you should be able to do it to a pretty good standard," Gannon said.
That doesn't mean, 10 games in, the Cardinals – and the rest of us – are a mystery. So 10 games in, here are 10 things we've learned about this team at the bye:
Kyler Is Surging
In a year when the Cardinals – and Murray himself – counted on the quarterback becoming the best version of his NFL self, he sure seems to be getting there. His comfort level is at an all-time high, his poise in the pocket is trending up, and his legs game looks like his knee injury never happened. He is all in with Jonathan Gannon, and vice versa, and it is apparent.
The Learning Curve For MHJ
Assuming instant stardom for a rookie is not a fair expectation, although it was inevitable. Marvin Harrison Jr. has needed time to grow, to learn how to play with Murray in real time, to understand that infamous cliché of "the speed of the game." He's getting there. He is already an important part of the offense. Is he the weapon he will be? Not yet. Patience is a virtue. He's working on it.
Conner, McBride Were Made For Beastmode
OK, maybe this hasn't necessarily been learned over these 10 games because both James Conner and Trey McBride showed this plenty last season. But the running back and the tight end have managed to take the idea of what Gannon wants this team to be and make it look tangible in their play. When they have success, the emotion that flows out of them seeps into the entire team.
In Contract Year, Excellent Budda
To be clear, Budda Baker has been to many Pro Bowls. His talent level has always shown. But whether the Cardinals have started using the safety a little differently – possible – or teams have been unable to avoid him as much, Baker has been a menace as he reaches the end of his contract. He is already at 100 tackles, and while having a safety with high tackle numbers isn't usually good, the way Baker plays – rangy, often near the line of scrimmage – finds him blowing up plays without much gain many times. He will be deserving of a Pro Bowl nod once again.
The O-Line Overcomes
The Cardinals lost right tackle Jonah Williams one quarter into the season, cycled through three others in a two-game span and then lost right guard Will Hernandez for the season. Yet the line has been really good. The Cardinals had a three-game sack streak, the unit has combined with Kyler to have Murray as the least-hit QB in the league so far, and the running game continues to be the backbone of the offense. And now Williams is close to returning too.
A Defense Greater Than Sum Of Its Parts
It may not be possible for a segment of the team to more tangibly show Gannon's Team Over Me mantra than the defense, which has had the defensive line ravaged with injuries, a secondary full of inexperience, and a general absence of names other teams' fanbases recognize. There are standouts – Budda is Budda, Kyzir White fits this team so well, Jalen Thompson is proven and Mack Wilson Sr. has been an excellent free-agent signing – but they work so well as a group and are getting better. Nick Rallis loves his rotations on the line and on the edge, and so there are a ton of guys making an impact.
Waiting On Darius
After his calf injury in a practice before the start of the regular season, first-round pick Darius Robinson still has not had a full practice. The soonest that can happen is next week, with the Cardinals off the field all bye week. Gannon has preached patience with the rookie defensive lineman's return, only saying he expects Robinson to play at some point. Robinson has a good situation now – the Cardinals are winning, and anything he can add will be a bonus. Like Harrison, Robinson will face a learning curve.
Youth Is Served
Left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. is trending toward stardom. There's Harrison, cornerback Max Melton, cornerback Garrett Williams, defensive lineman Dante Stills, wide receiver Michael Wilson, tight end Tip Reiman and cornerback Starling Thomas V. Safety Rabbit Taylor-Demerson has shined in his brief chances, and if you want, include second-year kicker Chad Ryland. GM Monti Ossenfort has rebuilt the roster nearly from scratch, and the youth picked up the last two seasons are proving worthy.
A Very Special Special Teams
Special teams coordinator Jeff Rodgers has a unit that has dominated at times and has played great football from the time DeeJay Dallas became the first player in the NFL to return one of the new dynamic kickoffs for a touchdown. Punter Blake Gillkin has been excellent, as has a punt coverage team led by Joey Blount. Greg Dortch has sparked the offense at times with punt returns. Matt Prater was perfect until he hurt his knee; so the Cardinals brought in Chad Ryland and he has been nearly as flawless. The group has also taken up the mantle of hype-men for the other two units, an important part of the equation.
Down The Stretch, Cardinals Win
The season-opening loss at Buffalo was difficult, not only because the Cardinals couldn't hold on to an early big lead, but because they had the ball at the end of the game but couldn't come up with the final drive to pull out a win. That's far in the past. Because since then, Murray has directed three exquisite end-of-game drives for game-winning field goals, including two that were so well done the Cards could run clock so Ryland's kick came on the game's final play. Winning easily, like against the Jets and Bears, in preferred, of course. But the knowledge the Cardinals can come from behind at the end when needed is priceless as they head into a playoff drive.
