Cardinals off to flying start
Despite a close loss to the Rams on Sunday, there is plenty of excitement in Glendale
University of Phoenix Stadium has served as the Cardinals’ home since 2006. It has also hosted Super Bowls and college football championship games, among other events.
October 7, 2015
In a division that most experts pegged as the Seahawks’ to lose coming into the season, the Arizona Cardinals have sure made some noise in the first four weeks.
The Cardinals currently have the best point differential in the NFL at +75. The closest team in terms of point differential is the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots at +49. One of the biggest reasons for the Cardinals’ early offensive success has been Carson Palmer’s return after a serious knee injury a year ago. The 13-year veteran has been a perfect fit for the very complex Bruce Arians offense.
Another reason for the Cardinals’ great start has been veteran and star wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald faced a lot of criticism this offseason after a lackluster 2014, which saw him catch a career-low two touchdown passes and only 784 receiving yards, some of which no doubt was due to Palmer’s injury.
Fitzgerald already has five touchdowns and 432 receiving yards through the first four weeks of the season. Fitzgerald’s move to slot receiver for the first time in his career and his chemistry with the now-healthy Palmer is a big reason for his return to dominance. Ask Fitzgerald about his early season success and you will get a typical humble response from the 12 year veteran.
“Because I have the best play caller in the business in Coach (Bruce) Arians and I’ve got, I feel, the best quarterback (Carson Palmer) playing at the highest level in the game,” Fitzgerald told Bob McManaman of the Arizona Republic. “Anybody with the opportunities I’ve had in these first three games would have gone through the same thing. I’m blessed to have some guys around me that can really play. Carson’s playing really great and Coach Arians is giving opportunities to guys.”
The Cardinals’ 3-1 start and the early success from veteran players like Fitzgerald and Palmer has some fans thinking about the Super Bowl already. But while it is okay for fans to get excited, head coach Bruce Arians wants his team to temper their excitement after only one month.
“You ain’t shit,” Arians told the team after their week two victory against Chicago.
