Chandler Jones Joins Defensive Player Of The Year Conversation

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Coach Kliff Kingsbury wishes the Cardinals (5-9-1) had a better win total so Jones could be in the Defensive Player of the Year race. Asked if Jones knocked down that door, anyway, with his performance against the Seahawks, Kingsbury said “he gets my vote. I’m all for it.”


While Jones was the headliner, the Cardinals’ entire defense showed up in a big way. It gave up a touchdown on the Seahawks’ opening drive and then put the clamps down.


The Seahawks only registered one first down in the second and third quarters combined as the Cardinals built a lead, and then held tough late to wrap a victory in a game that quarterback Kyler Murray left early due to injury.


Baker was named a Pro Bowl safety for the first time this week, and looked every bit one of the NFL’s best young defensive backs back in his home state of Washington.


Baker finished with nine tackles and a tackle for loss, although the box score didn’t do justice to the way he attacked the Seahawks skill players from start to finish.


“Budda was a missile out there,” Kingsbury said. “He was on one for the opportunity. He was flying around and made a ton of plays.”


Baker admitted he doesn’t have much regard for his own body.


“That’s a problem,” he said with a hearty laugh, “but I’m good.”


The Cardinals defense has been among the worst in the NFL for much of this season, but put together a second straight strong performance in this one.


“We’re finally starting to develop an identity as a defense,” Baker said.


Kingsbury has heard the criticism of the group and is proud of it for battling through by showing tangible progress down the stretch.


“It’s just the fight, the constant effort to keep going through it, through a tough year at times,” Kingsbury said. “The last couple of weeks, these guys have been playing at a high level, creating turnovers. They’ve had great juice, and it’s just exciting to see those guys are that locked in. Week 16, not going to make the playoffs, and they’re still playing with that type of effort.”

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