2015 Arizona Cardinals Season Predictions
The Arizona Cardinals looked to be on a path toward the Super Bowl last year before a string of bad luck derailed any plans to advance deep into the playoffs. After a 9-1 start, the Cards lost four of their last six games, lost Carson Palmer and Drew Stanton to injury and subsequently fell off the radar.
NFL Handicapping Insight
***2015 BONUSES***
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Arizona Cardinals Betting Lines to win the 2016 Super Bowl 25/1
Arizona Cardinals Betting Lines to win the 2016 NFC Conference 12/1
Arizona Cardinals Betting Lines to Win the 2015 NFC West +400
A number of offseason tweaks and a healthy Carson Palmer could be the difference between merely qualifying for the playoffs and reaching the Super Bowl in February.
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Can the Cards count on Palmer? Will the departure of a few defensive studs hamper the team? Let’s take a look.
2015 Cardinals Season Preview
The Arizona Cardinals are in a good position to take yet another step forward in the AFC this upcoming season. The team has been a sexy pick the last couple of years to exceed expectations and to go deep into the playoffs.
Health is key for this team. The offense should be good and the defense, although losing some key parts has a chance to be one of the more formidable units in the game.
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Let’s start with the offense. Carson Palmer is the player that will determine whether or not the Cardinals are a contender – period. Arizona does have weapons – Larry Fitzgerald, Michael Floyd and second-year receiver John Brown are quietly one of the most impressive pass-catching corps in the league.
Their potency and overall success depends of Palmer, his ability to stay on the field and his coming back strong after a second career threatening injury.
The Cardinals’ running game is still a bit of a question mark, however – one that could keep them from seriously challenging the Seahawks, the Packers and the Cowboys of the world. Andre Ellington has proven unreliable because of injury. Projected change-of-pace back; recent third round draft choice David Johnson is unproven as well.
Arizona did sign guard Mike Iupati away from San Francisco which is a major upgrade along the line and they did draft tackle DJ Humphries in the first round of the draft – those two moves alone will add needed protection for Carson Palmer and hopefully open up some running room for the Cards running game.
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Translation – the Cards should be formidable at very least this upcoming season on offense. They will have to be in order to keep up with the big dogs in the NFC. That said Arizona, at least offensively isn’t anywhere near as well rounded as some of the Heavyweights even within their own division.
Of concern for the Cardinals is a defense that has defined this team the last couple of years. Gone are Darnell Dockett, Antonio Cromartie and Dan Williams – three key cogs to the stout defensive unit. Those losses and the fact that defensive coordinator Todd Bowles is now the Head Coach for the Jets are concerning indeed. Patrick Peterson still exists in the desert and should be better now that his diabetes is under control, Tyrann Mathieu should be able to take another step and hopefully Daryl Washington is reinstated from suspension in time for the season.
Cardinals 2015 Prediction:
Any time that you have a Bruce Arians patrolling the sidelines, your team is going to be takes seriously. That said the Cardinals seem like a team poised to take a step back this upcoming season. Keep in mind that this team started 9-1 last year and finished with 11 wins – far exceeding any expectations. With Todd Bowles out of the mix, with some key figures on defense out gone and with a still-unflattering running game, Arizona looks very much like a 9-7 team to me.
The Cards will sneak up on nobody this upcoming season. Their success last year ensured a tougher schedule this year and a couple more losses. While I expect Arizona to surpass the 8 wins Vegas has set out for the tam, a playoff spot could be too much to ask!
The Cards are still a piece or two away – the 2015 campaign proves that point.
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.
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