Before each game, the staff puts together an areas of emphasis list that'll guide them to a victory.

There's one constant each week: Special teams.

"It's one of the main reasons we're winning games right now," coach Jonathan Gannon said. "There's some guys that are playing big-time snaps for us on special teams."

The core group of specialists, kicker Chad Ryland, long snapper Aaron Brewer, and punter/holder Blake Gillikin (and kicker Matt Prater before his knee injury) have put together solid seasons in their own right.

Brewer has yet to have a bad snap. Since joining the team at the beginning of the month, Ryland has been clutch. His three game-winning kicks earned him NFC Special Teams Player of the Month. Six of Gillikin's last seven punts have been downed inside the 15.

"The field-position game is huge," Gannon said. "When you make them go 80, 85, 90 yards all day, it's an advantage for you and the defense. (Gillikin's) a weapon for us."

Last season, Gillikin set the franchise single-season record with a 50.6-yard average on 51 punts. The Cardinals offense hasn't been backed up nearly as often this year, so Gillikin's average is lower, but his ability to flip the field isn't a surprise.

"Once we get towards the 50, that's kind of a strong part of my game," Gillikin said. "We work on it every Thursday in practice with the gunners. Obviously it's working pretty well for us."

Saying special teams is important is not just a cliché for the Cardinals. Key offensive and defensive pieces play an important role for the unit. Defensive starters like cornerbacks Max Melton and Starling Thomas V are on field-goal block team while every offensive lineman is on the field for Ryland's field-goal attempts.

"We have guys with good attitudes and good work ethic," special teams coordinator Jeff Rodgers said. "They understand that for a guy to go and down a ball inside, that's a big play."

"Both offensive players and defensive players that are making an impact on the game that when you watch the tape, it's like, 'Holy cow, that was a really good play,'" Gannon said. "'If you're a starter on offense and defense, you don't play special teams.' That's not what it is here. We understand the impact that those plays have on a game."

It's one of the reasons why Melton was excited when he was drafted by the Cardinals. During his time at Rutgers, Melton was on every special-teams unit. He understood he was being drafted to play cornerback, but being an active participant on special teams would help him get on the field.

"It's 33 percent of the game," Melton said. "It's fun. I've been doing it for four years in college, but it's important to me. If you shank the punt, they get the ball at midfield and the chances of them scoring shoots up. You pin them inside the 15, the percentage shoots down."

The complementary football continues to make a difference for the Cardinals. In back-to-back weeks the Cardinals have pinned opposing offenses at the 1- and 5-yard line.

For Gillikin, knowing he has impact players by his side, makes moments like that turn into "pitch and catch with the gunners."

"To see the commitment (Melton) has towards special teams, it's exciting for me, because I know I have somebody I can count on," Gillikin said. "We really emphasize it. Every week, special teams is our first winning edge in team meetings. It's really at the forefront of everyone's mind and you've seen it in the last couple of weeks. Winning, it's on a razors edge, so we try to make an impact wherever we can."