Had you told Arizona fans on Oct. 13, after the Cardinals had gotten embarrassed at Green Bay, falling to 2-4, that their team would get on a roll, even the most passionate fans would have struggled to believe. That’s what makes this so remarkable. The Cardinals have won three in a row for the first time since 2021. They sit atop the NFC West. Once maddeningly inconsistent, the Cardinals have discovered a confidence that, given their injuries and lack of star power, didn’t seem possible. Their 5-4 record says otherwise.
In Sunday’s win, the Cardinals outplayed the Bears. They controlled the line of scrimmage. They harassed rookie quarterback Caleb Williams. They made fewer mistakes. No longer do the Cardinals need Kyler Murray to work magic to pull out a win. They don’t even need rookie receiver Marvin Harrison, Jr., to play beyond his years (although it would help). They are more than content to line up behind a beaten-up offensive line and give the ball to James Conner. Or to Emari Demercado, who pulled off a back-breaking 53-yard touchdown run just before halftime.
It’s a development that was hard to predict, from a team determined to never look beyond the present. That’s not easy to do as players, it’s impossible for fans. But the Cardinals have turned into NFC contenders. Few outside the locker room saw it coming.
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