The Cardinals have won four straight and sit in first place in the NFC West as they head into their bye 10 games into the season.
The break still comes at a good time. There is no other way to approach it.
“Whoever thinks it’s an advantage, it’ll be an advantage,” coach Jonathan Gannon said. “Whoever thinks it’s a disadvantage, it’ll be a disadvantage.
“I think it’s an advantage.”
The off time does allow for a reset of what comes next. The Cardinals have seven games left, including four within the division. Both matchups with the Seahawks are within the next three games, with a trip to a good Vikings team in between. A push for the playoffs – and a division title – gets real quickly.
Yet Gannon will hold to his tenets – one-week-only thoughts, one opponent only thoughts. It wouldn’t be for the same reasons, but you can imagine Gannon giving the Jim Mora “Playoffs?!?” reaction at this point in the season.
“I always have confidence in if we keep doing the right things, keep your head down, keep working, stick to your process and improve your process along the way, you should be able to do it to a pretty good standard,” Gannon said.
That doesn’t mean, 10 games in, the Cardinals – and the rest of us – are a mystery. So 10 games in, here are 10 things we’ve learned about this team at the bye:
Kyler Is Surging
In a year when the Cardinals – and Murray himself – counted on the quarterback becoming the best version of his NFL self, he sure seems to be getting there. His comfort level is at an all-time high, his poise in the pocket is trending up, and his legs game looks like his knee injury never happened. He is all in with Jonathan Gannon, and vice versa, and it is apparent.
