2016-2017 Cardinals Preview & NFL Future Lines
Looking for 2016 Arizona Cardinals Predictions? We’ve got your back. The best team in the NFL from last year the Cardinals will try to build upon a terrific 2015 when they went 14-2 as one of the two or three favorites to hoist the Lombardi Trophy at the end of the season. There were very few holes on this team last year – those holes seem to have been plugged during the offseason making the Cards a scary team heading into 2016.
2016 Arizona Cardinals Predictions – Futures Odds
2017 Arizona Cardinals Super Bowl 51 Odds +1200
2017 NFC Champion odds Arizona Cardinals +600
2017 NFC West – Odds to Win Arizona Cardinals +140
Season Win Totals Arizona Cardinals – 9.5
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2016 Cardinals Roster Changes
You can’t make 2016 Arizona Cardinals predictions without examining roster changes. The team lost OT Bobby Massie, G Jonathan Cooper, C Lyle Sendlein, DT Cory Redding, CB Jerraud Powers and S Rashad Johnson.
Not a huge deal considering the three key moves that they did make. G Evan Mathis, DE Chandler Jones and S Tyvon Branch are in – they are the plugs for the aforementioned holes.
The big question mark for Arizona is a longstanding one – will Carson Palmer be able to stay healthy this year. 2014 was a lost year for the veteran pivot and least year’s season was disrupted by a finger injury toward the end of the campaign.
So, assuming that Mr. Palmer stays on the field, is Arizona the team to beat this year?
Let’s break it down.
2016 Arizona Cardinals Predictions: Offense
As previously mentioned the health of Carson Palmer is absolutely key for the Arizona Cardinals in 2016.
It all starts with the Offensive Line and that was seriously bolstered by the signing of former Bronco – one of the best guards in the game Evan Mathis who instantly makes the line better.
With the terrific Mike Iupati, 2015 first rounder DJ Humphries and Jared Veldheer manning the line beside Mathis, Arizona looks to have one of the best pass-protecting lines in the game.
And that line will come in handy for Carson Palmer who will bring back three top quality receiving options in 2016. Larry Fitzgerald, Michael Floyd and John Brown are a legitimate top-tier trio – if Palmer has time one of the three will do damage.
After all, you can’t double-team all three!
Where Arizona improved drastically last year is in the running game – it too took some pressure off of Carson Palmer and did its own damage.
Third-round rookie David Johnson was a revelation for this team last year – he is projected to be one of the top backs in the league this upcoming year after averaging 4.6 YPC last year and catching 36 passes for 457 yards.
Veteran Chris Johnson will also be back in the fold – he proved last year that he still has plenty left in the tank.
The improved O-line will make a difference for the Cardinals this year – the running game should thrive and the passing game should be improved as well.
2016 Arizona Cardinals Predictions: Defense
The Cardinals were one of the best defenses in the NFL last season, bar none – the loss of Tyrann Mathieu was perhaps a bigger factor in this team’s early departure in the playoffs than Palmer’s.
The good news is that Mathieu will be back for the Cards. Along with Patrick Peterson and third-round pick Brandon Williams, Arizona has arguably the best secondary in the game.
There were a couple of perceived weaknesses on the defense if you want to call them that – those weaknesses are no more!
Arizona went out and stole the superb Chandler Jones from the Patriots in the offseason to give them a pass-rush threat that was largely lacking in the desert.
The team also went out and got former Chiefs safety Tyvon Branch who will immediately upgrade the back-end of the Arizona defense.
So with Chandler Jones, the terrific Calais Campbell and first round pick, supremely talented Robert Nkemdiche and the oft-injured Corey Campbell Arizona instantly has one of the best D-lines in the game.
Along with the secondary which I have already discussed and a decent linebacking corp. Arizona is scary on the defensive side of the ball.
2016 Arizona Cardinals Analysis:
Top to bottom there is no better team in the NFL heading into the season than the Arizona Cardinals. Their success is predicated on health only, there is no reason that the talent on this team can’t finish with the best record in the league again.
My guess is that the Cards go 13-3 thanks to a fairly easy schedule that includes a date will the Tom Brady-less Pats.
Getting far in the playoffs is another story! After injuries the past two seasons Carson Palmer is just too tough to rely on.
I have them as another disappointing early exit from the playoffs because of this – an aging, worn-down Carson Palmer is an issue – like it or not!
2016 NFL Gambling
What do you think about our 2016 Arizona Cardinals predictions? Please leave us a comment below telling us how you think they’ll do in the 2016-2017 NFL Season!
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