NFL Football – Cardinals Analysis
The Arizona Cardinals will be eager to get back at it this season after finishing 10-6 and OUT of the playoffs last year. The good news is that they won’t face one NFC West foe in the first 10 weeks of the season.
Cardinals Odds [dfads params=’groups=63740&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
Odds to win the 2015 Super Bowl XLIX: 33/1
Odds to win the 2015 NFC Conference: 16/1
Season Win Total: 7.5 wins
The bad news is that the Cards will have a tough stretch drive.
That said the rest of the season is no picnic – Arizona will have to have a good first half of the season or face the prospect of playing spoiler as the year winds down.
Week 1: Monday, Sept. 8, San Diego, 10:20 p.m.
The opener is a tough test for the Cards – the Chargers are a better team than their record from last year. Philip Rivers, Ryan Matthews and company loom to give Arizona a good litmus test where they stand.
Week 2: Sunday, Sept. 14, at NY Giants, 1 p.m.
The Giants were arguably the most disappointing team in the NHL last year but no team had a better free agency period. New York is poised for a big bounce back season – in their home opener expect the G-Men to come out strong.
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Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 21, San Francisco, 4:05 p.m.
Marquee matchup in Week 3 – this should be a terrific game. At the end of the day the 49ers are still one of two teams to beat in the NFL – until the Cards walk the walk, they can’t really talk the talk.
Week 4: BYE
Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 5, at Denver, 4:05 p.m.
At Denver is never an easy chore especially with Peyton and the boys looking to make a huge statement this year. DeMarcus Ware and Aqib Talib make Denver’s defense formidable – the Broncos offense speaks for itself.
Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 12, Washington, 4:25 p.m.
It is hard to know what to make of the Skins heading into this season but you have to love the Cards at home against what looks on paper to be an average team.
Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 19, at Oakland, 4:25 p.m.
Everyone should beat the Raiders this year!
Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 26, Philadelphia, 4:05 p.m.
The Cards almost beat the Eagles in their only meeting last year in Philadelphia – almost. The Cardinal defense is absolutely no joke and with some weapons gone from the Eagles (DeSean Jackson) I like Arizona’s defense to be the difference in this one.
Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 2, at Dallas, 1 p.m.
The Cowboys have had a difficult time winning in their own building and they are one team that may have gotten worse in the offseason. The Cowboys aren’t the juggernaut they think they are – Tony Romo mistakes have the potential to be the difference in this game.
Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 9, St. Louis, 4:25 p.m.
The Rams are a team that the Cards absolutely have to beat if they hope to match or eclipse last year’s win total. Sam Bradford will be back, Tavon Austin should be more effective and St. Louis’s young running game will be out to take the next step. The Rams are a tougher challenge than advertised – this is a make-or-break game for Arizona.
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Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 16, Detroit, 4:25 p.m.
Perennial underachievers Detroit can’t be trusted! Todd Bowles will have his defense primed and ready to terrorize Matthew Stafford. At home it’s hard not to like the Cardinals in this one.
Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 23, at Seattle, 4:05 p.m.
Arizona was the only team to beat Seattle at CenturyLink last season but there is no doubt about which is the better of the two teams. I can’t see any team beating the Hawks at home two times in a row – can you?
Week 13: Sunday, Nov. 30, at Atlanta, 4:05 p.m.
The Falcons 4-12 record last year was the exception – not the rule. Julio Jones will be back and Matt Ryan will be better. Atlanta will be a motivated team – the will likely be in the thick of a playoff spot in Week 13.
Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 7, Kansas City, 4:05 p.m.
The Cards host the Chiefs in Week 14 – a winnable game for sure. That said Jamaal Charles and Alex Smith have formed a balanced offense for the Chiefs and KC’s defense is absolutely no joke. At home give Arizona a slight edge but this is certainly no gimme.
Week 15: Thursday, Dec. 11, at St. Louis, 8:25 p.m.
We’ve already talked about this matchup – the Rams at home will be a tough out. The season series will likely end up in a split – I like the Rams at home to prevail here.
Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 21, Seattle, 8:30 p.m.
The Cards lost at home to the Seahawks last year – the Hawks look just as good on paper this year. Arizona has to hope that Carson Palmer takes care of the ball in this one – I don’t trust him to do so against Seattle’s insane defense.
Week 17: Sunday, Dec. 28, at San Francisco, 4:25 p.m.
The 49ers are terrific at home and although they lost some pieces on defense they are still an elite squad. The Niners will be battling for playoff positioning in the regular season finale – a motivated San Fran team should win this one going away.
Vegas has the Season Win Total at 7.5 – the Cardinals should easily eclipse that.
An 8-8 season would be a disappointment – look for a 9-7 or 10-6 season for Arizona despite their slate of tough games.
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