Categories
NFL

2015 Arizona Cardinals Schedule | Season Handicapping Picks

2015 NFL Football – Cardinals Analysis

For the second year in a row the Arizona Cardinals will enter the 2015 season with plenty of optimism and more than their share of expectations. With Carson Palmer back and healthy and some nice pieces in place, common belief is that Arizona is poised to take the next step.

Cardinals Odds

Arizona Cardinals
2015 Arizona Cardinals Odds to win the 2016 Super Bowl 20/1
2015 Arizona Cardinals Odds to win the 2015 NFC Conference 12/1
2015 Season Win Total Cardinals 8 wins (OVER -110 , UNDER -120); 2014 wins: 11
***2015 BONUSES***
[dfads params=’groups=63740&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]

But I caution you – with 11 wins last year the schedule is tougher this year and with the departure of Antonio Cromartie Darnell Dockett and stud coordinator Todd Bowles on defense, there are some holes to fill in the preseason.

An underwhelming draft also left something to be desired as well!

[dfads params=’groups=63753&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]

So what does it all mean? Can they start 9-1 again this season?

Here is a look at their full schedule and what could happen this year.

Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 13, New Orleans, 4:05 p.m. ET

The Cardinals have a winnable game in Week 1 – at home against the Jimmy Graham-less New Orleans Saints. Arizona’s still stout defense should be able to hold the less daunting Saints in check. Carson Palmer should be able to pick up where he left off last year as well. Gotta love the Cards in this one.

Week 2: Sunday, Sept. 20, at Chicago, 1 p.m. ET

Arizona has a generous Week 2 game too. Chicago’s defense is still terrible and I can’t see the schizophrenic offense doing enough against Arizona’s still-solid defense. Two wins to start the year looks good on the Cards for sure.

Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 27, San Francisco, 4:05 p.m. ET

After Week 3 every analyst in the world will be talking about Arizona’s 9-1 start last year. Simply put the Cards should handle a 49ers team that looks on paper as though they could be one of the least threatening team in the NFC.

Week 4: Sunday, Oct. 4, St. Louis, 4:25 p.m. ET

The St. Louis Rams could be one of the surprises of the NFL this year – the Rams have one of the better defensive units in the game and St. Louis’s rebuilt offense could pose some problems. Arizona will be due for a let-down by Week 4 but it won’t come at home in this divisional tilt.

Week 5: Thursday, Oct. 11, at Detroit, 4:05 p.m. ET

The Cardinals have actually matched up very well with the Lions in the past – they have won five straight against Detroit. I see the Lions talking a step back this upcoming season.

[dfads params=’groups=66501&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]

I like the Lions defense to hold the Lions down and the Cards to exploit a diminished Detroit defense.

Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 18, at Pittsburgh, 1 p.m. ET

At 5-0 the Cards will be a team that nobody takes lightly – former coordinator Bruce Arians returns to his old stomping grounds. Big Ben, Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown will be too much in this one however. Arizona loses a tough one on the road and the undefeated streak to start the season ends.

Week 7: Monday, Oct. 26, Baltimore, 8:30 p.m. ET

A home date on National TV. Baltimore always seems to show up on the big stages and this game is no different. Baltimore has a ton to prove this season and will be out to make a Wee 7 statement. The Cards head into Week 8 at 5-2.

Week 8: Sunday, Nov. 1, at Cleveland, 1 p.m. ET

Short week for Arizona but against an unflattering Browns lineup you have to like their chances to bounce back. My guess is that the Browns are in their typical disarray-mode by mid-season and that the Cards take advantage. Arizona is 6-2 heading into their bye.

Week 9: BYE

Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 15, at Seattle, 8:30 p.m. ET

Yikes – the Cards will have an extra week to prepare but Seattle has a Week 9 bye as well. I pick Seattle to go undefeated at home this year – I can’t see Arizona pulling the upset here.

Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 22, Cincinnati, 4:05 p.m. ET

Arizona will be in need of a bounce back week and I think it comes at home against Cincinnati. Carson Palmer will be amped to play against the team that drafted him and he guides his team to victory and a 7-3 record.

Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 29, at San Francisco, 4:05 p.m. ET

I have little or no faith in the 49ers being able to beat any of the top teams in the NFL – by this point of the season I expect the 49ers fans to be calling for Jim Tomsula’s head!

Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 6, at St. Louis, 1 p.m. ET

The Cardinals have gone 3-1 in the last four years in St. Louis but in a highly competitive division game I like the Rams to take care of business. These two teams will likely be battling for a Wild Card – not much to separate between them but home field advantage.

Week 14: Thursday, Dec. 10, Minnesota, 8:25 p.m. ET

Another short week and another winnable game at home. Minnesota has a ton of question marks – on paper this looks like an easy Arizona win. The Cards should be able to score at will on an inferior Minnesota defense and should be able to minimize, not stop what Adrian Peterson hopes to do.

Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 20, at Philadelphia, 1 p.m. ET

The weather outside will be frightful and the host won’t be delightful. Philadelphia, in the midst of a tight playoff run will use their tempo to take care of home field.

[dfads params=’groups=63752&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]

The Cards drop to 9-5 with two weeks to go.

Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 27, Green Bay, 4:25 p.m. ET

The Packers come to town in the second-last week of the season with the visitors fighting for playoff seeding. My guess is that the Packers are peeking right around then and that the Cardinals defense has a difficult time with Mr. Rodgers. Aaron will likely be in the MVP picture and the Packers will have a top seed in their sights meaning a rough day for the Cardinals.

Week 17: Sunday, Jan. 3, Seattle, 4:25 p.m. ET

Hmmmm. The Cardinals have a ton of pride and could play the Seahawks tough. The possibility exists that Seattle could have things locked up and that they could sit a few guys in this game but I still have to take the Hawks to finish up strong.

That leaves the Arizona Cardinals with a 9-7 record – not bad but not great. The loss of Todd Bowles to the Jets will loom large as will the departure of a couple of their defensive studs.

2015 Cardinals NFL Prediction

Arizona won’t sneak up on anybody this year – they will be the hunted, not the hunter! Although they finish with a winning season, expect Arizona to miss the playoffs but to surpass the eight wins Vegas has set out for the team.

Arizona is due for a step back and I think it comes this year!

More NFL Teams Schedule / Pick Posts

 
Arizona Cardinals Seattle Seahawks New York Jets
New York Giants San Francisco 49ers Buffalo Bills
St. Louis Rams Carolina Panthers New England Patriots
Tampa Bay Bucs New Orleans Saints Indianapolis Colts
Atlanta Falcons Kansas City Chiefs Tennessee Titans
San Diego Chargers Miami Dolphins Cleveland Browns
Green Bay Packers Washington Redskins Cincinnati Bengals
Philadelphia Eagles Dallas Cowboys Baltimore Ravens
Oakland Raiders Detroit Lions Pittsburgh Steelers
Denver Broncos Minnesota Vikings Chicago Bears
Jacksonville Jaguars Houston Texans

The 2015 NFL futures betting season is right around the corner! If you like to bet on the NFL, you are in the best possible place for online betting.

CappersPicks.com has NFL odds up on a ton of futures, and you will also find NFL lines up for early games as well.

[dfads params=’groups=63706&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]

By DaveB

Dave B has been a Fantasy Football writer for us for 10 years. A couch potato wannabe, Dave’s insights have been read by 10’s of people for years. He hope’s for world peace + global relaxation. Enjoy and remember only smoke things that are completely natural.