Although only 40 percent of our experts and Pickwatch users selected them to win, the Arizona Cardinals are now 6-0. 

The national discourse still seems to be dedicated to phrases along the lines of, “Wait, are the Cardinals really good?” That’s with wins against the Cleveland Browns, Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers in the last three weeks. Looking ahead, after a game against the Houston Texans that should be a chance to rest some players for the fourth quarter, they’ve got a huge Thursday Night Football matchup against the Green Bay Packers. 

I guess, what I’m saying is...if the Cardinals can go 8-0, there’s reason to at least suspect that 17-0 is possible. Maybe that isn’t likely or even probable in today’s NFL, but there aren’t a lot of difficult outs left for them and they’ve come out on the other side of a murderer’s row looking as dominant as any team in recent memory. 

If you’re scoffing (and, I know you’re scoffing...you scoffer), here are two numbers for you: 130.7 and 18.2. Column over. Oh, wait, no...context. 

130.7 is the Arizona Cardinals rushing yards per game average through six games. That puts them at sixth in the league in rushing—ahead of a lot of teams you probably think are higher than them, including the Indianapolis Colts, Minnesota Vikings, Pittsburgh Steelers and San Francisco 49ers. 

The other number, 18.2, is their points allowed per game. That’s tied for second in the league. Only the Bills have a better defense and the New Orleans Saints, Denver Broncos and Cincinnati Bengals are the only other teams in the conversation. If I had asked you, before this column, who had the better defense between the Cardinals and the Rams, you would’ve said Rams...same for the Baltimore Ravens. 

The truth is: The Cardinals are not the bungling Kliff Kingsbury-led, Air Raid passing heavy team you think they are. None of us watch the Cardinals as much as we should, but it’s time to open our eyes and see this team for what it is. This is a balanced team with playmakers on every level of the offense and on every level of the defense. They’ve drafted well. They have an elite quarterback. They’ve made shrewd moves both in trades and in free agency. 

There’s a reason they’re 6-0, and even if they don’t remain perfect, this team has earned a ton of respect. It’s time we all start showing it. 

What We Got Wrong...But Should’ve Gotten Right

If I’m kicking myself for any game this week that I should’ve changed, it is the Jacksonville Jaguars “upsetting” the Miami Dolphins in a game that London did nothing to deserve. The Dolphins were playing without their top two cornerbacks with both Xavien Howard and Byron Jones on the sidelines and the Jaguars are basically at home in London thanks to their numerous trips over there in the past few years. 

It took everything for the Jaguars to end their NFL-long losing streak and for head coach Urban Meyer to get his first win. Only 28 percent of our Pickwatch experts and users predicted it, but more of us should’ve logged on before kickoff and changed our picks and I’m sure I’m not the only one mad at themself for not doing so. 

What None of us Could’ve Saw Coming

With 77 percent of us selecting the Denver Broncos (including 87 percent of Pickwatch Pro users), it was startling to see the Las Vegas Raiders get the upset. What’s more, they did it going right at the heart of a Denver defensive secondary that is widely considered the best in football. 

The Broncos have some troubles offensively, sure, but for the Raiders to basically move past all the drama with former head coach Jon Gruden and come out firing? It’s going to make it really difficult to know how to pick the Raiders moving forward. 

61 percent picked the Los Angeles Chargers to beat the Ravens, which isn’t a huge margin. Pro users were right there, with 60 percent of them thinking it was going to be the Chargers as well. What none of us could’ve predicted was just how lopsided it was in every facet of the game. Chargers QB Justin Herbert had a bad day, but it wasn’t egregious from a turnover perspective. The Chargers limited Lamar Jackson as well. Looking at the stat sheet, it seems like a closer game, but 34-6 doesn’t lie. This was a beat down. 

The Schottey Six: Coaches and Coordinators on the Hot Seat

1. Ron Rivera (HC WFT)/Jack Del Rio (DC)—The defense was supposed to be better in 2021. Instead, it’s falling apart and someone has to answer for that. 

2. Joe Judge (HC NYG)— The hallmark of a former Belichick assistant is not knowing just how terrible your team is right before you get fired. 

3. Josh McDaniels (OC NE)— Once a coaching wunderkind, McDaniels does not seem capable of putting together a gameplan for rookie QB Mac Jones

4. Brian Flores (HC MIA)—Speaking of teams that were supposed to be better...Flores is a terrible game manager and his defense is (somehow) even worse. 

5. Anthony Lynn (OC DET)—No one expected anything from the Lions who are banged up, but Lynn struggled with the Chargers and the Lions offense is barely achieving let alone overachieving. 

6. Matt Nagy (HC CHI)—This isn’t the guy you want managing Justin Field’s career. 

Cleaning Out the Notebook

— Just a quick note on the list above: Should all six be fired today? No, I’m not saying that, but the seat should be getting warm for all of the above. Miami and WFT were supposed to be division contenders, and even though there were no expectations for the rest of those teams, these guys are undershooting even those low expectations. 

— The Indianapolis Colts aren’t one of the scariest teams in football, but I’m not sure I’d want to coach against them in the second half of the season. They’re learning who they are as a team and leaning heavily on Jonathan Taylor who is quickly becoming the “most underrated (so everyone talks about him making him overrated)” running back in the league. 

— The Vikings are 3-3, but head coach Mike Zimmer should probably be on that list above. They have way more talent than their efforts show. If not Zimmer, offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak is a testament to the dangers of nepotism and should be out the door if this team doesn’t score more points. 

— Panthers QB Sam Darnold was the worst QB in football for much of Sunday’s action. Then, he started to heat up. I’ve watched the final few drives a couple of times now, but the only real difference is the urgency with which Darnold was running for his life. Maybe he needs to find a way to play with that urgency for an entire game, or find a new sport. 

— As my co-host (and Pickwatch.com running mate) Ty Schalter pointed out on this week’s Three & Out, it's a little crazy how we went from “When do we fire Mike McCarthy” to “Cowboys look like one of the best teams in football.” 

— It was ugly football, but Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll is finally getting his wish for an old school, run-heavy offense. I think he’s going to be done after this season whether he wants to be or not. 

— My favorite moment of the weekend wasn’t Packers QB Aaron Rodgers going off on the crowd in Chicago, but when someone edited the Bears’ wikipedia entry to list him as owner, that made my day. 

— It was a busy weekend in the Schottey household from a football perspective, my Varsity football team won 32-8 at home on Senior Night. With our starting QB sitting, we rotated three guys in the position and the senior who played the most ran for 100 yards rushing and three touchdowns. Defensively, it was an absolute mismatch and my offensive line didn’t allow a sack for the second-straight week. Also won both youth flag games, so the family was 3-0 on the weekend. 

— Finally put together my Kamado Joe Jr. grill which had been sitting in the entry way for a few weeks and on my “honey do” list. This compact little grill is perfect for apartments/condos like mine and early returns have it making a heckuva burger. It comes with accessories for smoking, so pulled pork is on the horizon. 

Parting Schot

— “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.”—Tim Notke