NFL power rankings: Arizona Cardinals' playoff chances take major hit with Week 4 loss
Jeremy Cluff
The Arizona Cardinals were listed at 25/1 in odds to win the Super Bowl by BetOnline last week.
An embarrassing 31-21 loss to the Carolina Panthers on Sunday sure changed that.
Arizona has plummeted in the site's latest odds with the Cardinals now being listed at 60/1 to win the Super Bowl.
Kliff Kingsbury's team was 12/1 to win the NFC entering the Week 4 loss to the Panthers, according to BetOnline.
It is now 28/1 entering its Week 5 game against the New York jets.
In its odds to win the NFC West, Arizona went from 6/1 last week to 7/1 this week.
ESPN's Football Power Index gives the Cardinals just a 17.4% chance to make the postseason now.
The site has the Cardinals down three in its latest power rankings, to No. 16 with Josh Weinfuss writing that now the "postseason seems like a hope and a dream."
Josh Weinfuss writes: "The Cardinals seemed poised for a playoff run -- and a deep one at that -- after starting 2-0. But now that they've lost two in a row to the Lions and Panthers -- whom, in theory, the Cards should have beaten after their fast start -- the postseason seems like a hope and a dream. There might not be enough time for Arizona to rebound for a playoff spot -- even with wins in the next two contests against the Jets and Cowboys -- due to a fairly tough schedule after Week 6. The first six games was the stretch of the season when Arizona could have positively determined its playoff fate."
Other sites also aren't high on the Cardinals, and their playoff chances now, either.
MORE:Bad grades for Cardinals no surprise in loss at Carolina
NFL.com: Cardinals drop two spots to No. 16
Dan Hanzus writes: "The Cardinals have run into some turbulence after a strong start, and problems can be found on both sides of the ball. Kyler Murray finished with a sub-Gabbert-level 4.3 yards per attempt against the Panthers, and we've yet to see proof that this offense has answers if you can take DeAndre Hopkins out of the game plan, as Carolina managed on Sunday. The Arizona defense has been an issue for the entirety of the Kliff Kingsbury era to date, and it's not a good sign when a Panthers team missing Christian McCaffrey is rolling up nearly 450 total yards while holding the ball for more than 37 minutes of game time."
Sports Illustrated: Cardinals down to No. 21
Albert Breer writes: "I may have gotten a little ahead of myself on the Cards through two weeks. I still like a lot of their young talent."
CBS Sports: Cardinals lose five spots to No. 16
Pete Prisco writes: "That was not a good look on the road at Carolina. Two straight losses has changed their outlook in a hurry. But now they get the Jets."
Yahoo Sports: Cardinals drop five spots to No. 16
Frank Schwab writes: "Kyler Murray's improvised runs are a great bonus to an offense, but you can't build an offense around that. The Cardinals had 51 yards on 17 carries from running backs on Sunday, and Murray had 133 passing yards on 31 attempts. Murray had 78 rushing yards, too, but the Cardinals can't rely on that as the foundation of their offense."
Pro Football Network: Cardinals now ranked No. 20
Matt Williamson writes: "Coming in 20th in these NFL Power Rankings are the Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals got down huge early on in Carolina. They came back to make it somewhat of a game. But even in comeback mode, Arizona got very little going through the air downfield and they averaged a paltry 4.8 yards per play on the day. Their run defense and pass-rush were also very poor. This team has dropped two in a row and could be falling back to reality."
Bleacher Report: Cardinals down five spots to No. 15
It writes: "The shine came off the Arizona Cardinals quickly. After two weeks of watching Kyler Murray scramble and DeAndre Hopkins rack up catches, the power rankings slotted the Redbirds in the top 10. Arizona stayed there entering Week 4 despite losing at home to the Detroit Lions. That's not the case this week—not after a listless performance at Carolina in which the Cardinals trailed 28-7 and Kyler Murray averaged all of 4.3 yards a pass attempt. The defense has also been exposed the past couple of weeks, including allowing 444 total yards and 30 first downs Sunday. However, Arizona linebacker Jordan Hicks told reporters there's no cause for panic in the desert."
MORE:What did we learn about the Cardinals in Carolina? That they have a lot to learn
Chicago Tribune: Cardinals drop five to No. 15
Brad Biggs writes: "With wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins hobbled and injuries plaguing the secondary, the Cardinals couldn't play the kind of defense needed to win at Carolina in suffering their second straight loss. The cure looks to be on the way — a trip to the Meadowlands to face the Jets."
USA TODAY Sports: Cardinals down five to No. 16
Nate Davis writes: "No team has more penalties (32). The Cards had ball for fewer than 23 minutes Sunday. And six turnovers so far. Plenty to tighten up here."
Sporting News: Cardinals drop five spots to No. 18
Vinnie Iyer writes: The Kyler Murray Experience continues to be fun, but Kliff Kingsbury's offense seems fully dependent on him in both the running and passing games. The defense should be a lot better than it is and the Lions' and the Panthers' debacles don't inspire."
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