The Arizona Cardinals achieved a 4-13 record during the regular season last year. While winning a championship is far from realistic at the moment, the Cardinals are among a small group of teams anticipated to improve as the new NFL season approaches.
I mean… Improving on four wins feels like a simple task, but will it be as easy as it seems? Let’s dive in!
Could a Strong Finish Equal a Strong Start?
Arizona had a rough start last year, winning only one out of eight games. However, the second half of the season showed improvement, with Kyler Murray leading the team to three wins out of five games, including victories on the road against the Eagles and the Steelers.
The team’s optimism is further boosted ahead of this term by having seven picks inside the first 90 selections of the 2024 NFL Draft. The question at hand is whether general manager Monti Ossenfort made successful selections, although it seems that the franchise is at least moving in the correct path.
Marvin Harrison Jr. was the standout player in the draft class and could quickly become a key player in the offense alongside Trey McBride and James Conner. In addition to the aforementioned three, the Cardinals will rely on Kyler Murray’s mobility to a greater extent in his first complete season following his ACL injury. Furthermore, both Greg Dortch and Michael Wilson have had exceptional summers and are considered strong contenders for a breakout season.
Cardinals Playoff Odds: Can They Do It?
The Cardinals have never looked more prepared to qualify for the postseason. At the very least, the likelihood is much greater than the current sportsbook probabilities suggest.
Arizona’s schedule is ranked as the second least challenging in the division, making it likely to have a favorable improvement in performance compared to the previous year. Last season, they had a 2-6 record in matchups that were decided by seven or fewer points.
As of Week 10, in 2023, Arizona was ninth in EPA per play offensively; however, they ranked 30th in the respective defensive category. Therefore, the primary question regarding Arizona’s playoff potential is whether their offense surpasses an inadequate defense or whether the D has made drastic improvements.
If we take the opinion of legal NFL betting sites in the US, they present a mere 25% probability of the Cardinals reaching the playoffs with a +300 price tag.
Arizona Cardinals 2024 Playoff Potential
The Arizona Cardinals are far from frontrunners to win the Lombardi Trophy. Furthermore, they aren’t given much chance to advance in the NFC postseason standings, much less compete for the top spot in their division.
And sure…It is uncommon to witness a team like the 4-13 Cardinals completely transform their performance in just one season. However, a few recent instances demonstrate that rebuilding a team may not necessarily take 4-5 years, as previously believed. A case in point is the Houston Texans from last year.
Arizona aims to reproduce its success in 2024 with a robust Kyler Murray and an improved offense led by second-year coach Jonathan Gannon.
Nobody is denying this team still has several deficiencies, but it was not anticipated that the Cardinals would address all of them within a single offseason. Although Arizona is currently in the process of rebuilding, significant progress has been made under the leadership of general manager Monti Ossenfort during his tenure.
A few factors must fall in place for Arizona to have a legitimate chance of reaching the postseason.
The secondary and pass rush units must elevate their performance to maintain defensive integrity, and Murray must stay fit throughout the season while showing indications of progressing to a higher level of performance as a quarterback. His weapons must demonstrate their efficacy beyond theoretical promise, as well.
Are you willing to dream?
The Cardinals might astonish the entire league with a postseason run. And the best part? It’s a thought far from as absurd as it has been in previous years.
An Improved Cardinals: Final Thoughts
Despite the increasing difficulty of the NFC, there is still potential for a team to become a contender. Arizona may be that team if its 2024 draft class is impressive. It is imperative to endure a difficult early-season schedule to avoid falling too far behind and losing the momentum established at the end of the previous year.
