PFF Week 1 Team Grades: Cardinals graded #1 in pass coverage!

by Walter Mitchell


On a weekly basis, I like keeping track of the NFL team grades in all of PFF's categories. In the case of the Cardinals, I also like to see where they rank at each category among the rest of the league and especially among their NFC West rivals. 

NFC West Standings:

2025-26 NFL Standings: Division | FOX Sports

NFC WEST

W-L-T
PCT
PF
PA
HOME
AWAY
CONF
DIV
STRK
1
49ers
2
Cardinals
3
Rams
4
Seahawks
PFF Team Grades NFC West:

Overall:

* LAR - 87.1 --- NFL Rank: 1
* ARI - 72.6 --- NFL Rank: 10
* SEA - 69.7 --- NFL Rank: 13
* SFO: 66.4 --- NFL Rank: 17

Offense:

* LAR: 77.0 --- #3
* SEA: 68.9 --- #13
* SFO: 68.7 --- #14
* ARI: 62.1 --- #23

Passing:

* LAR: 93.8 --- #1
* SEA: 82.6 --- #4
* SFO: 68.2 --- #17
* ARI: 64.5 --- #23

Pass Blocking:

* ARI: 73.0 --- #5 
* SEA: 69.2 --- #8
* SFO: 61.7 --- #21
* LAR: 33.3 --- #32

Receiving:

* SFO: 74.2 --- #3
* LAR: 71.7 --- #7
* ARI: 65.8 --- #15
* SEA: 59.0 --- #23

Rushing:

* ARI: 67.2 --- #14
* SEA: 64.8 --- #19
* SFO: 53.3 --- #30
* LAR: 51.2 --- #31

Run Blocking:

* LAR: 72.7 --- #2
* SFO: 62.6 --- #11
* SEA: 59.9 --- #14
* ARI: 40.7 --- #31

Defense:

* ARI: 75.8 --- #3
* LAR: 75.1 --- #5
* SFO: 65.0 --- #19
* SEA: 63.2 --- #20

Run Defense:

* SEA: 68.6 --- #14
* LAR: 65.7 --- #17
* SFO: 56.9 --- #28
* ARI: 56.2 --- #29

Tackling:

* SFO: 74.2 --- #4
* LAR: 63.0 --- #12
* ARI: 59.6 --- #16
* SEA: 51.1 --- #27

Pass Rush:

* LAR: 76.1 --- #2
* SFO: 65.8 --- #13
* SEA: 65.0 --- #15
* ARI: 57.9 --- #25

Coverage:

* ARI: 87.0 --- #1
* LAR: 71.2 ---#5
* SFO: 70.8 --- #7
* SEA: 57.5 --- #22

Special Teams:

* ARI: 75.7 --- #7
* SEA: 72.1 --- #9
* LAR: 63.7 --- #16
* SFO: 54.3 --- #28

Summary:

The Cardinals after Week 1 have the best team grades in the NFC West in: (1) Pass Blocking; (2) Rushing; (3) Defense; (4) Coverage and (5) Special Teams.

The Cardinals after Week 1 have the worst team grades in the NFC West in: (1) Offense; (2) Passing; (3) Run Blocking; (4) Run Defense; (5) Pass Rush

High Point:

If you watched the Red Pain Podcast, at the end I was delighted to report that the Cardinals in Week 1 were #2 in the NFL in my "Pass Defense Barometer" (PDB) Index:

PDB = Interceptions + Pass Breakups

For the past two seasons the Cardinals PDB has been one of the lowest in the NFL. In fact, last season the Cardinals total number of interceptions + pass breakups was 35, which ranked #31 in the NFL. (You may have read my recent article about this)

Amazingly, in the Cardinals' 17-10 win over the Sants the Cardinals' PDB was:

0 interceptions (penalty on Will Johnson's) + 9 pass breakups = 9

Week 1 NFL Rankings in PDB:

1. JAC --- 11
2. ARI --- 9
3. CIN --- 8

And to think the defense accomplished this while having the #25 pass rush grade. 

This is such a monumental breakthrough for the Cardinals' defense.

Heck, in one game, the defense garnered over 1/4 of the PDB points than it had for the entire 2024 season!

And most importantly, the Cardinals saved their best pass breakup of the game for last thanks to Jalen Thompson and Budda Baker!













Comments

  1. Fitzfan11September 9, 2025 at 1:02 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Fitzfan11September 9, 2025 at 1:05 PM

      How do the rams have the best passing grade but worst pass blocking grade?

      Delete
    2. NSCardSeptember 10, 2025 at 4:41 AM

      Excellent QB who makes the throws even though he is pressured

      Delete
  2. NSCardSeptember 10, 2025 at 4:43 AM

    I am not sure how we have such a high pass block rating when Kyler had the 4th lowest time to throw in the league this week (2.48). That would seem to indicate that there was poor pass blocking.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Walter MitchellSeptember 10, 2025 at 5:15 AM

      Actually 2.38 seconds was Spencer Rattler's average time to throw, and Kyler's was a respectable 3.13.

      Delete
    2. NSCardSeptember 10, 2025 at 5:35 AM

      I have Kyler at 2.48 and Rattler at 2.52, according to next gen stats.

      Delete

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