Power Rankings: Cardinals climbing up in pecking order

Updated Oct. 14

Don't shake your head to try and clear your eyes. It is as real as the financial crisis. We're talking about the Arizona Cardinals sitting in the top 10 of the CBSSports.com Power Rankings.

Believe it.

That includes you, Mark Swanson (my skeptical boss who is a long-suffering Cardinals fan).

The Cardinals are for real, which is why they are No. 9 in the rankings. The past two weeks showed us that they are the team to beat in the NFC West. Two Sundays ago they dominated the Bills, Buffalo's only loss, and then beat the Dallas Cowboys this past Sunday in a wacky and wild game which actually wasn't as close as it looked.

The Cardinals have a two-game lead in the NFC West. They haven't had a two-game lead in a division since they moved to Arizona in 1988.

For the past three years, four if you count this one, I've picked the Cardinals to win the NFC West. I've been wrong. And it has led to an endless stream of ripping from my co-workers.

"They're the same old Cardinals," they tell me.

No, they are not.

This Cardinals team can score with a high-octane passing game. Kurt Warner can make all the throws and receivers Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin make the best duo in football. The offensive line has developed into a quality five.

But the biggest difference is with the defense. They can pressure the quarterback. The Cowboys have one of the best offensive lines in football, but on Sunday the Cardinals got after Tony Romo, eventually breaking his pinkie in overtime.

Young talent is fun to watch as it grows. It can be so unpredictable at times, like when the New York Jets lit up the Arizona secondary in that blowout loss three weeks ago, jumping to a 34-0 lead. But when it comes together, which it appears to be doing, look out.

That Cardinals defense has young, fast, aggressive players in their fourth, fifth and sixth seasons that need to start getting some much-deserved attention. I pimped Adrian Wilson as a star long before he made it to Hawaii, and he has continued playing at a high level when he's not being bothered by injuries.

Poll Are the Cardinals for real?   33%  No: They are the CARDINALS     67%  Yes: They will win the NFC West     Total Votes: 29546

Defensive tackle Darnell Dockett, who can also play end, is another young player moving up on the star pecking order. The defense is deep, too. They can run a bunch of players at you in their front seven, which keeps them fresh and keeps the opposing quarterback jumping.

They will stay in the top 10 for another week, too since they are off this week. That takes us to two Sundays from now. That's when they hit the road to play the Carolina Panthers, giving Cardinals fans another chance for doubt.

Arizona is 3-8 on the road under second-year coach Ken Whisenhunt, including two road losses this season. The last time they played in somebody else's stadium, the Jets embarrassed them in that first half.

Same old Cardinals, they said.

They're not. Even my boss has to believe that now.

The Power Rankings through Week 6:

Power Rankings
Current		Team	Previous
	1	Colts · Trends	1
	They make it interesting, but they still find a way. The amazing thing is that they are winning yet not healthy. That's what a good quarterback does for a team.
	2	Saints · Trends	2
	Can anybody stop that offense? If they get to play their playoff games inside the Superdome, it's hard not imagining them in the Super Bowl.
	3	Vikings · Trends	3
	If the playoffs go through their dome, they will be tough to beat. They seem to be getting better -- if that's possible.
	4	Cowboys · Trends	5
	The offense woke up against the Raiders, which is a good sign moving forward. But it will be December the next time they play and we know how they fade in that month.
	5	Bengals · Trends	6
	It wasn't pretty against the Browns, but they went to 8-3. The one concern I have is they aren't passing it that well right now. That has to get better down the stretch.
	6	Chargers · Trends	7
	Momentum seems to be building for this team. As the defense improves, so will their Super chances. We know they can score.
	7	Patriots · Trends	4
	They got ambushed in New Orleans. That defense has not played well when facing good passing teams. Where's the pass rush?
	8	Eagles · Trends	9
	They struggled some against the Redskins and now must go on the road at Atlanta. That won't be easy.
	9	Broncos · Trends	12
	That was a season-saving victory against the Giants. But be careful this week against the Chiefs. They've owned the Broncos in December at Arrowhead.
	10	Packers · Trends	14
	They are starting to have a playoff look about them. The key will be how that offensive line holds up.
	11	Cardinals · Trends	8
	The division race tightened up with that loss to the Titans, and now they have a huge game with the Vikings. They have to be careful of San Francisco creeping back into it.
	12	Steelers · Trends	10
	The questioning of Ben Roethlisberger sitting out by teammates is not a good sign. They shouldn't do that. It could cause problems.
	13	Giants · Trends	11
	This is a team in big trouble. If Eli Manning can't play at close to 100 percent the rest of the way, they can forget the playoffs. Even with them, they could miss out.
	14	Falcons · Trends	15
	Matt Ryan won't play this week, which means Chris Redman will have their playoff hopes on his right arm against the Eagles. Can he play as well as he did last week, now that they know he's coming?
	15	Ravens · Trends	17
	They had a huge victory last week over the Steelers, but now have to go to Green Bay to face the Packers. That will be tough.
	16	Jaguars · Trends	13
	As long as they don't go to the West Coast again, they will be fine. They scored three points in two games there. Ouch.
	17	Titans · Trends	19
	Watch out. They're coming fast. If they can beat the Colts this week, the schedule the rest of the way is favorable.
	18	Dolphins · Trends	16
	Did they blow their playoff chances at Buffalo? If they did, that halfback pass on their opening drive of the game could be the reason why.
	19	Texans · Trends	18
	When they learn to beat the Colts, then we'll take their playoff chances seriously. If they lose at Jacksonville this week, it could be the end of the Gary Kubiak era.
	20	Jets · Trends	20
	They're still alive, but barely. They still don't look close to being the team that jumped to a 3-0 start.
	21	49ers · Trends	23
	Alex Smith has five games to show he is their guy for the future. He looked comfortable against the Jaguars.
	22	Bills · Trends	24
	The team is playing better under Perry Fewell. But he probably has no chance to keep the job.
	23	Seahawks · Trends	25
	It's too bad they don't play the Rams every week. If they did, they might make the playoffs. Justin Forsett looks like the real deal.
	24	Panthers · Trends	21
	It's time to make a change at quarterback. Find out what Matt Moore can do. What do they have to lose?
	25	Bears · Trends	22
	Paging Bill Cowher. Paging Bill Cowher. Is there any doubt they will make a coaching change now?
	26	Chiefs · Trends	26
	That San Diego game was a reminder of how far this team needs to go. They are a long way away from competing.
	27	Redskins · Trends	27
	They're still playing hard, but it doesn't matter. Jim Zorn is still gone after the season.
	28	Raiders · Trends	28
	At some point they have to get a quarterback. There is talent going to waste on this roster.
	29	Lions · Trends	29
	They have some offensive talent. Now they have to fix that defense. Teams do what they want. Green Bay wasn't even challenged.
	30	Rams · Trends	30
	Will they win again? It doesn't look good. Now comes the big decision: Which quarterback do they take in next spring's draft?
	31	Buccaneers · Trends	31
	Who will Raheem Morris fire this week? Is it another loss, another firing? It's time the blame goes to the man at the top.
	32	Browns · Trends	32
	It has to be hard to watch this team, especially for Browns fans. The question now is whether Eric Mangini makes it for a second season.