NFL Betting Online: The Cardinals were a quarterback away from possibly playing in the Super Bowl last season and now that Carson Palmer has recovered from his knee injury.
Are the Cardinals ready to make the move?
2014 Season Record: 11-5 SU, 11-5 ATS, 5-10 O/U
2015 Regular Season Wins Total: 8.5, -110 O, -110 U
Odds to Win Super Bowl: +2663
Odds to Win NFC: +1397
Odds to Win Division: +601
It’s not how you start; it’s how you finish. And for the Cardinals in 2014 the finish was forgettable. If it was how you started Arizona would’ve been crowned NFL Champions after going 6-0 before losing quarterback Carson Palmer to a torn ACL.
If that wasn’t bad enough, his backup Drew Stanton was also lost with a knee injury, the offense vanished and the team’s defense, so stout through most of the season, showed cracks as the team staggered to the finish line.
Arizona still exceeded expectations winning 11 games and making the playoffs, but with what they had left, a loss in the wild card game was expected.
For the Cardinals to have the same kind of success, the health of Palmer is critical. Head coach Bruce Arians said Palmer is almost completely recovered from the injury that torpedoed his 2014 season and Arizona’s Super Bowl hopes. The dropoff after Palmer was significant and Stanton must develop his game even more to be a reliable backup.
The lack of a running game exposed the Cardinals and their untested crop of reserve quarterbacks late in the season and in the playoffs. Running back David Johnson, a third-round draft pick, has impressed the coaching staff with his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield and could be used the same way Andre Ellington was last season until he got banged up.
The Cardinals bolstered the offensive line signing Mike Iupati and AQ Shipley as free agents, potentially giving them the run game they so badly need. They also re-signed receiver Larry Fitzgerald, who’s been the face of the franchise for 10 seasons.
Defensive coordinator Todd Bowles, who constructed an attacking group that worked so well until they were hung out to dry by an inept offense, left to take over as head coach of the Jets. The Cards went in-house promoting outside linebackers coach James Bettcher to his first coordinator role.
The Cardinals are still talented on that side of the ball, but will have to overcome the loss of cornerback Antonio Cromartie, linebacker Larry Foote and end Darnell Dockett. The team signed linebackers Sean Witherspoon and LaMarr Woodley to strengthen that area and improved their pass rush with Cory Redding.
Jerraud Powers takes over at corner for the departed Cromartie and along with Patrick Peterson gives the Cardinals a solid group on the edge. Free safety Tyrann Matthieu is coming off a devastating knee injury at the end of the 2013 season and a broken thumb late in 2014 to resemble the impact player he was during his rookie campaign.
Without a game-breaking receiver the Cardinals will try to play a possession game and the development of a running attack is key to achieving that. If they are successful with the offensive game plan, the defense will benefit as well. It was apparent last season that the defenders got worn out being on the field too long with an offense that couldn’t possess the ball for any length of time. Having Carson Palmer under center for an entire season also helps their chances in what could be a wide open NFC Western Division.
KEY ADDITIONS: G Mike Iupati, DE Cory Redding, NT Corey Peters, LB Sean Witherspoon, OLB LaMarr Woodley.
KEY LOSSES: CB Antonio Cromartie, C Lyle Sendlein, DE Darnell Dockett, LB Larry Foote, G Paul Fanaika, NT Dan Williams.
Based on BookMaker’s NFL odds to win the NFC West, the Cardinals are projected to finish second in the division. The two-time defending NFC champion Seahawks are the favorite at -463.
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