Fansided

NFL Week 9 Winners and Losers: Cardinals, Roethlisberger and the Broncos

By Andrew Garda

Nov 2, 2014; Foxborough, MA, USA; A fan holds up a sign about New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning during the fourth quarter of New England
Nov 2, 2014; Foxborough, MA, USA; A fan holds up a sign about New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning during the fourth quarter of New England /
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Nov 2, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) throws prior to the game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 2, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) throws prior to the game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports /

Winners: Arizona Cardinals

You have to hand it to the Cardinals, now 7-1 and at the top of the NFC West. They snuck up on everyone outside of Arizona (and maybe a few people in that state as well) so I don’t feel too bad.

But as the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers struggle, the Cardinals soar (see what I did there?) and sit atop the NFC West alone.

The West has been a very good division the last few years, so we shouldn’t surprise that a minor hiccup by one of the perennial powers in that group results in a new leader. What is surprising is how consistent this team has been.

Some will write off this win against the Dallas Cowboys as “well the ‘boys’ didn’t have Romo” so it doesn’t mean as much, but the Cards shut DeMarco Murray down.

How many teams have held him under 100 yards this season? Exactly one.

The Cardinals are legit, or as legit as a team gets week to week.

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