Sweet 16.

That's the number of Cardinals that have a sack this season, the most in the league for one team. They do not have that one guy, that Chandler Jones, I'm-gonna-get-15-sacks-in-a-season guy. The question becomes, will they? Do they need to?

Former Pro Bowl defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch had an interesting point on this week's Red Sea Report on the subject – notable (to me, at least) given KVB's experience in the league.

"Nick Rallis does a fantastic job of dialing up some exotic blitzes, some regular blitzes that take advantage of protections," Vanden Bosch said. "I will tell you this – an offensive coordinator and an offense in general, an offensive line, would prefer to face one guy that is the closer. Because you can game plan for that. You can chip, you can double team, you can do things to a team that has a double-digit sack guy. When you face a team that has 16 guys capable of getting to the quarterback, there is no way to prepare for that."

This will be a topic in the offseason – what do the Cardinals do to bolster their edge group? They will have BJ Ojulari coming back, but at this point, Ojulari remains unproven. Beyond that? I have no doubt if there is a good edge in the draft, even in the first round, he would be seriously considered. But do the Cardinals comb the free agents-to-be, guys that are scheduled to be available, like a Josh Sweat or a Kahlil Mack?

I know what the prevailing wish would be from the fans. I get it. But you look at what Rallis and Jonathan Gannon have done at edge (and the defensive line) since they have arrived. They like their rotating pieces. Would that change if they got a game-changer?

"It helps guys stay fresh," said outside linebacker Baron Browning, who became sack guy No. 16 when he notched his first since his trade against the Patriots. "You don't want your guys getting 60, 70 snaps and burning out before the season is over. It's a long season, especially if you make the playoffs, which we want to do."

The debate will go on, and again, the draft will play a role. But it'll be a fascinating topic when free agency arrives in March.

"We do a good job disguising," Browning said. "You can never really identify where things might be coming pre-snap. Our DC does a good job including everyone and make sure everyone is eating."

-- So the Cardinals won't have left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. with the left knee injury he suffered against the Patriots. Johnson wasn't happy when it happened, on the last James Conner TD run, when Johnson – engaged in a block – was accidentally clipped by Patriots linebacker Anfernee Jennings as Jennings tried to come off the edge and catch Conner from the backside. Johnson knew something was wrong right away, he threw his helmet down on the sideline once he arrived there.

Kelvin Beachum would take up his spot on the left side, Jonah Williams will stay on the right side, and then the next question becomes whether Johnson can get healthy in time for the Rams game next week.

-- Kyler Murray went viral this week (thanks to what I thought was my innocuous question about weather) for his intentionally funny response about how the temperature – assuming there is no wind or precipitation – might impact the game. As of now, the temperature isn't expected to get above 40 degrees and likely will be chillier, especially in the second half.

Here's the thing: Murray does just fine in those games. In his career, he has played four times in temperatures that are 45 degrees or colder at kickoff. He has a 3-1 record in those games, with eight touchdown passes and only two turnovers.

-- I can't help, when thinking about a trip to Carolina, about how the last time the Cardinals went there (and won, actually) that Dennis Gardeck had a sack and an interception and that led to a touching story about a player, his equipment guy, and two Doodlebob tattoos.

-- The Cardinals picked up safety Jammie (pronounced "Jay-mee") Robinson off waivers this week from the Panthers. The 2023 fifth-round pick, who is under contract through 2026, was a topic for Panthers coach Dave Canales now that he flipped teams – by coincidence – this week.

"We're not going to change what we do," Canales said. "The communication happens so fast, but it's an advantage for them. They've got a player that's been with us, who was into what we were doing, worked hard, poured his heart and soul into it. That's something that we're aware of."

Robinson smiled when he heard of his former coach's comment. He is trying to learn the playbook in Arizona – "I'm all the way out here in Arizona, far away where I'm from, so it feel like that's all I'm going to be on, is football every day" – but if he needs to provide some intel, so be it.

"If coaches here need me to give them some inside scoop, I'm gonna do it, you feel me?" Robinson said. "I'm on a different team now, new beginning, new chapter in my life. I'm ready to be here and help however. If we weren't playing the Carolina Panthers, I'd still be doing the same thing."

-- Trey McBride is having a heck of a season (OK, we're not going to talk right now about the zero receiving touchdowns, although Murray did promise on Tik Tok he was gonna get McBride that TD catch.) He has 89 receptions for 938 yards, and he's going to go 100-1,000 at some point. Maybe even Sunday.

But he's also up to 199 career catches with three games left in his third season. In franchise history, only three players have better numbers in their first three seasons: David Boston, Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin. Boston, who was a hell of a receiver during his short peak, had 209. McBride will sail past that. Fitz was 230 and Anquan 259. Considering McBride was a non-factor as a pass catcher for his first season-and-a-half, it's impressive company.

-- This one caught me off guard a bit. After surpassing 3,000 yards passing for the season during last week's game, Kyler Murray got his fourth season of at least 3,000 yards. The only other QB to do that in franchise history? Neil Lomax.

Not Carson Palmer? Not Kurt Warner? Nope. Those guys each did it three times. (Kurt would have easily done it in 2005, but two different injuries meant he only played 10 games. Still had 2,713 yards passing.)

-- The contract numbers for Budda Baker were reported. According to overthecap.com, Baker got a $12.2 million signing bonus and raised his current cap hit by a little more than $3M, taking advantage of some of the room they gave now. If Baker is on the roster the fifth day of the 2025 league year in March (which he will be barring something crazy), he'll have his 2024 salary of $7M and $7.7M of his 2026 salary of $14.4M guaranteed. His cap number next season is only $10.8M.

-- Reminder that voting for the Pro Bowl runs until Monday. To vote, just visit here.

-- Big game Sunday, regardless of the records, because Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing is meeting up against his brother, Panthers offensive quality control coach Dean Petzing. Dean Petzing is in his first NFL season after coaching in college for 12 years.

"Lot of pride," Drew Petzing said. "Similar to video games growing up. Not a game you want to lose."

-- The last word goes to Murray, when I asked him – with such a potentially big game looming in L.A. next week, if this could be a trap game. (Murray kind of chuckled when I asked, which made sense with his answer.)

"I'm very confident that it's not a trap game because, mentally, that could never be a thing because of where we are. Our back is against the wall, we understand that. I think in order for it to be a trap game, our record would have to be better. We'd have to be feeling not humble. We understand what's at stake and we understand it's each week for us."

See you Sunday.