A look around the NFC West after Week 5 and where the Rams rank

The Arizona Cardinals continue to hover just above the San Francisco 49ers. The Cards were smoked in Philadelphia last week, losing 34-7 and looking every bit as bad as the final score would indicate. Second year quarterback Carson Wentz picked apart the Arizona defense, throwing for 304 yards and four touchdowns.

At 2-3, the Cardinals find themselves in a weird place.

With one win in the division, Arizona doesn’t look to be positioning themselves for anything other than finishing above the Niners. Even the acquisition of veteran running back Adrian Peterson won’t change the equation in the desert. Peterson will relieve some pressure on the aging Carson Palmer. But the Cardinals are again “hoping” that this helps find wins in 2017.

Arizona is a one trick pony. Trading for Peterson doesn’t change that.

It also doesn’t change what is happening in the NFC West.

In defense of the Cardinals, they’ve played only one game inside the division. They get the Rams in London in Week 9, a “home” game for LA. If either is to seriously contend for a West title, that game will go a long way in deciding who’s in best position to do so.

Until then, Arizona still looks to be an aging NFL team, going nowhere fast.