Cardinals soar to top of the AP Pro32 poll
And then there was one. After four weeks there is only one unbeaten team left in the NFL. To the surprise of many, it’s the Arizona Cardinals.
And those Cardinals have flown all the way to the top of the latest AP Pro32 poll.
Arizona received eight of 12 first-place votes for 378 points in balloting Tuesday by media members who regularly cover the NFL.
The Cardinals moved up four spots after routing the NFC West rival Los Angeles Rams 37-20. The Rams, who were on top a week ago, dropped to No. 4.
“The NFL’s surprise team so far,” Newsday’s Bob Glauber said. “Kyler Murray is off to a spectacular start, helped by an elite group of wide receivers, and the defense smothered Matthew Stafford to give Arizona the lead in the uber-competitive NFC West.”
Arizona will try to remain perfect as it hosts another division foe, the San Francisco 49ers, on Sunday.
The Buffalo Bills earned the other four first-place votes for 366 points as they moved up one spot to No. 2 overall. The Bills switched places with the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who slipped to No. 3 after a hard-fought 19-17 win over the New England Patriots in Tom Brady’s return to Foxborough.
The Baltimore Ravens and the Green Bay Packers, who both have won three in a row, follow next. The Ravens improved two places to No. 5 and will close Week 5 when they host the Indianapolis Colts on Monday night.
“The Ravens are off to a 3-1 start despite playing three of their first four games on the road,” said Rick Gosselin of the Talk of Fame Network.
“The schedule turns friendly at this point — the Ravens won’t leave home for the next five weeks. Their next road game isn’t until Nov. 11. In the meantime, Baltimore will have consecutive home games against the Colts, Chargers and Bengals, then a bye, then another home game against the Vikings.”
Jags owner: Meyer’s behavior ‘inexcusable’
Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan publicly reprimanded Urban Meyer on Tuesday for the coach’s “inexcusable” behavior at an Ohio bar over the weekend.
Khan released a statement condemning Meyer’s actions, which were captured on video and released on social media. One shows a young woman dancing close to Meyer’s lap as he sits on a bar stool, a clip that quickly went viral. A second, more damning video appears to show Meyer touching the woman’s behind.
“I have addressed this matter with Urban. Specifics of our conversation will be held in confidence. What I will say is his conduct last weekend was inexcusable,” Khan said. “I appreciate Urban’s remorse, which I believe is sincere. Now, he must regain our trust and respect. That will require a personal commitment from Urban to everyone who supports, represents or plays for our team. I am confident he will deliver.”
Chiefs adding WR Gordon to roster
The Kansas City Chiefs are adding Josh Gordon to their 53-man roster and the wide receiver, who was just reinstated by the NFL last week, is expected to play in Sunday night’s AFC title game rematch against the Bills.
The Chiefs signed Gordon, who had finished his sixth suspension for violations of NFL policies, to the practice squad last week with the assumption that he would join the active roster when he learned enough of the playbook.
Tomlin: Big Ben is ‘absolutely’ right QB
Mike Tomlin admits Ben Roethlisberger can’t move around and extend plays like he used to. The Pittsburgh Steelers coach doesn’t believe that’s reason enough to move on from his team’s longtime quarterback during a 1-3 start.
Tomlin said he believes the accuracy issues that have plagued Roethlisberger over the opening month of the two-time Super Bowl winner’s 18th season are “fixable” and has no plans to turn to backup Mason Rudolph.
Asked Tuesday if Roethlisberger is the right quarterback to run first-year offensive coordinator Matt Canada’s system, Tomlin replied “absolutely.”
“You know what he does and what he’s done makes me really comfortable in saying that,” Tomlin said.