Kent Somers

azcentral sports

LOS ANGELES – With the 2016 football season over, Larry Fitzgerald’s immediate plans are no different than they have been after his previous 12 years in the NFL.

“Jet-settin’ time,” he said after Sunday's 44-6 victory over the Rams. “Where’s Waldo?”

Fitzgerald will have a bit more on his mind than usual, however, as he travels the world this offseason. He’s contemplating retirement but plans to take at least several weeks before making a decision.

His 2016 statistics suggest he has plenty left. His 107 receptions led the NFL, and he finished with 1,023 yards, the eighth time he’s exceeded the 1,000-yard mark for a season.

Only five receivers have done it more often: Jerry Rice (14), Randy Moss (10), Tim Brown, Terrell Owens and Jimmy Smith (9).

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Fitzgerald has caught a pass in 195 consecutive games, the third-longest streak in NFL history behind Rice (274) and Tony Gonzalez (211).

His fifth and last reception on Sunday was a 5-yard touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter. Prior to that catch, Fitzgerald had spent several plays on the sideline and appeared to be done for the day.

But coach Bruce Arians called for a four-receiver formation and in went Fitzgerald. The touchdown reception was his first since Week 5, and it gave him the overall receptions title over Antonio Brown.

Could that be the last catch of Fitzgerald’s career? Those sorts of thoughts didn’t cross his mind, he said.

“I’m all about staying in the moment,” he said. “The game, it wasn’t over yet.”

MORE: Pass rushers Jones, Golden reach sack milestone

No secret

To cornerback Justin Bethel, it’s no big secret why he’s played better in recent weeks. He’s finally over a foot injury that required surgery in the offseason and bothered him through most of this season.

A few weeks ago, Arians criticized Bethel’s play, labeling him as a “failure in progress” at cornerback.

Bethel blamed the foot, which he re-injured during the summer.

“It’s good to go out there and play the way I know I can play,” Bethel said. “Being able to go through everything and getting those (practice) reps really helped out.”

Bethel took over the nickel cornerback role when Tyrann Mathieu went on injured reserve with a shoulder injury.

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2017 schedule and draft

Tampa Bay beat the Panthers to clinch second place in the NFC North. That’s significant for only one reason: It means the Bucs play the Cardinals in Glendale next season.

The Cardinals are locked into the No. 2 slot in the NFC West and will play the second-place teams in the NFC North and South next year.

The Cardinals will travel next season to play Detroit after Green Bay defeated the Lions on Sunday night to win the NFC North title.

The 2017 schedule looks like this:

Away: Detroit, Philadelphia, Washington, Houston, Indianapolis, San Francisco, Seattle, Los Angeles.

Home: Tampa Bay, Dallas, Giants, Jacksonville, Tennessee, San Francisco, Seattle and Los Angeles.

The Cardinals will have the 13th overall selection in the 2017 draft.