The Arizona Cardinals’ 34-31 win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday night was a showcase in the unmatched depth and talent possessed by Bruce Arians’ highly versatile and vastly productive offense.
Quarterback Carson Palmer threw touchdowns to four different players, veteran Larry Fitzgerald produced two big plays on the game-winning drive and running back Chris Johnson did just enough on the ground to keep Cincinnati’s top-ranked scoring defense honest.
The Cardinals are now averaging 33.6 points per game in 2015, the top mark in the NFL.
“This year we have guys that can get it done,” running back Andre Ellington said, via ESPN. “It just allows us to be that much more explosive. With guys banged up we don’t take any steps back, we just keep it going. Keep it steady. We can put anybody in, and pretty much any guy can get it done.”
Arizoan was without receiver Michael Floyd (219 yards the last two weeks) on Sunday night, but it didn’t matter. Rookie fifth-round pick J.J. Nelson used the opportunity to stage his coming out party, as he caught four passes for a game-high 142 yards and his first career touchdown.
John Brown, who hasn’t been a major factor since injuring both of his hamstrings in late October, played the majority of the game and caught a touchdown pass. Tight end Darren Fells skied high for a 12-yard score from Palmer in the first half, and rookie running back David Johnson toasted linebacker Vontaze Burfict on a wheel route for another touchdown in the second half.
Fitzgerald didn’t score, but he did make catches of 19 and 20 yards to set up Chandler Catanzaro’s 32-yard field goal with one second left to win the game in regulation.
Johnson, who ranks third in the NFL in rushing yards after 11 weeks, carried 18 times for 63 yards.
After a pair of Palmer interceptions and a punt plagued the offense’s start on Sunday night, the Cardinals went on to score on six of their final eight possessions. Arizona scored three straight touchdowns in the second half to take the lead.
“We pretty much can move the ball at any given time,” Ellington said. “And every time we’re moving it we’re capable of scoring every time we got the ball.”
The Cardinals have three players with rushing touchdowns and nine with receiving scores. Both Johnson and Ellington have runs over 60 yards, while 10—yes, 10—receivers have one or more receptions of at least 20 yards. Overall, Arizona has 54 plays over 20 yards this season.
Meanwhile, Palmer is right in the MVP discussion with over 3,000 passing yards and 27 touchdowns. He’s on pace for almost 5,000 yards and 43 scores.
The Carolina Panthers are 10-0 and cruising toward the No. 1 seed in the NFC. But the Cardinals might be the conference’s most dangerous team, largely due to an offense that has more weapons and depth than any other team in football.