The 2018 season dawns a new era for the Arizona Cardinals. Carson Palmer retired after last year’s 8-8 campaign, as did head coach Bruce Arians. Those two brought some semblance of consistency to the franchise, even though the Cardinals had just one playoff win in the last five seasons.
It’s as if the Cardinals are starting from scratch in 2018 with new head coach Steve Wilks. Palmer and Arians were just the tip of the iceberg in terms of roster and coaching staff turnover. That means Wilks has a lot of work ahead of him if he hopes to turn the Cardinals into a playoff contender in his first season as a head coach.
The Cardinals are tied for the longest Super Bowl odds of any team at +15,000. Of the teams that have those odds, the Cardinals may have the best chance, as we don’t know much about this team one way or another. Of course, that doesn’t make them a good bet to win the Super Bowl. The Cardinals are projected to win just 6.5 games this season. Despite some potential, it’s tough to take the over on that with a first-time head coach.
Of course, there is some hope for the Cardinals after they brought in Sam Bradford to start at quarterback. Josh Rosen is no doubt the future, but Bradford could be the present. Obviously, he’s a capable and experienced quarterback who will be an upgrade over Blaine Gabbert and Drew Stanton, who split duties the second half of last season. That being said, Bradford has always struggled to stay healthy for 16 games. At some point, we will likely find out just how ready Rosen is to play.
The Cardinals also have hope with the return of David Johnson. He emerged as one of the best backs in the league during the 2016 season, only to get hurt in last year’s season opener. If he’s able to get back to where he was a couple years ago, the Cardinals should have a steady running game behind an offensive line that’s been rebuilt over the offseason. However, there are questions about depth along the offensive line. Also. Johnson’s backup figures to be rookie Chase Edmonds, who probably isn’t ready to be anything more than a change-of-pace back. If Johnson gets hurt again, the Cardinals could be in big trouble.
At receiver, Larry Fitzgerald has decided to stick around for at least one more year. He can still play after catching 109 balls for over 1,100 yards last season. If Bradford can stay healthy, those two should work well together. However, the rest of Arizona’s receiving corps leaves something to be desired. Brice Butler and J.J. Nelson are decent receivers but don’t create much excitement. The Cardinals need second-round pick Christian Kirk and former third-round selection Chad Williams to take on prominent roles behind Fitzgerald. The game can be said for tight end Ricky Seals-Jones.
Meanwhile, there may be even more uncertainty for the Cardinals on defense. Arizona has been a top-10 defense in recent years, but they have to replace several starters while also switching over to a 4-3 scheme. The good news is that the switch brings last year’s NFL sack leader Chandler Jones to his natural position at defensive end. However, the rest of the defensive line is a question. They need former first-round pick Robert Nkemdiche to grow up fast and become an impact player. They also need Markus Golden to come back from injury and be a nice complement to Jones on the other side of the line.
At linebacker, the potential is undoubtedly there with Josh Bynes in the middle and a pair of former first-round picks in Deone Bucannon and Haason Reddick next to him. But that group still has a lot to prove. The secondary also has some holes outside of Patrick Peterson. The Cardinals still don’t know if they have a second reliable cornerback. At safety, Budda Baker has loads of talent but has limited experience while Antoine Bethea brings plenty of experience but has questions about his age and health.
If it all comes together, it’s not hard to see the Cardinals surprising some people this season. If Bradford and Johnson stay healthy, the offense should be fine. Meanwhile, the defense has the potential to be a solid unit, especially with Wilks’ pedigree on that side of the ball. However, the Cardinals will need to avoid injury and have everything go perfectly in order to challenge for a playoff spot.
| Date | Opponent | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 9 | Washington Redskins | 4:25 PM |
| Sep 16 | @ Los Angeles Rams | 4:05 PM |
| Sep 23 | Chicago Bears | 4:25 PM |
| Sep 30 | Seattle Seahawks | 4:05 PM |
| Oct 7 | @ San Francisco 49ers | 4:25 PM |
| Oct 14 | @ Minnesota Vikings | 1:00 PM |
| Oct 18 | Denver Broncos | 8:20 PM |
| Oct 28 | San Francisco 49ers | 4:25 PM |
| Nov 11 | @ Kansas City Chiefs | 1:00 PM |
| Nov 18 | Oakland Raiders | 4:05 PM |
| Nov 25 | @ Los Angeles Chargers | 4:05 PM |
| Dec 2 | @ Green Bay Packers | 1:00 PM |
| Dec 9 | Detroit Lions | 4:25 PM |
| Dec 16 | @ Atlanta Falcons | 1:00 PM |
| Dec 23 | Los Angeles Rams | 4:05 PM |
| Dec 30 | @ Seattle Seahawks | 4:25 PM |
The NFC West will look a lot different from a year ago, meaning all six division games should be tough. Arizona will also face a challenging, road-heavy schedule the second half of the season, so they need to get off to a fast start to have any hope of contending in 2018
Week 1: vs Redskins – Win
The Cardinals come out of the preseason in good health, enabling them to handle a Washington team of comparable talent at home.
Week 2: at Rams – Loss
The Cardinals actually perform better than the 10.5-point spread would suggest. However, that doesn’t mean they’re able to beat a team like the Rams on the road.
Week 3: vs Bears – Loss
The Bears are too tough defensively, as Arizona’s lack of playmakers at the receiver position makes it difficult for Bradford to move the ball against them.
Week 4: vs Seahawks – Loss
The Seattle defense is able to put pressure on Bradford, whose lack of mobility proves costly in this game, especially compared to the escapability of Russell Wilson.
Week 5: at 49ers – Loss
All Jimmy Garoppolo has to do is keep the ball away from Peterson and he finds success. Meanwhile, the San Francisco defense does a nice job of stuffing Johnson and the Arizona running game.
Week 6: at Vikings – Loss
Bradford’s return to Minnesota does not go well. The Vikings are 10.5-point favorites in this game, and it shows as they dominate the Cardinals in all three phases of the game.
Week 7: vs Broncos – Win
The Cardinals benefit from being able to host a Thursday night game at home. Their linebackers step up to slow down Denver’s running game, keeping the Broncos one-dimensional and doing enough to get the win.
Week 8: vs 49ers – Win
This time around, Wilks has a game plan for how to attack Garoppolo. The Arizona offense is also much better than they were a few weeks ago against the 49ers, giving the Cardinals back-to-back wins heading into the bye.
Week 9: Bye
Week 10: at Chiefs – Loss
Despite the extra preparation time, the Cardinals struggle mightily in Arrowhead Stadium. Rosen comes out for the second, officially taking the job from Bradford.
Week 11: vs Raiders – Win
It could be beginner’s luck, but Rosen has a nice outing in his first career start. Much of the credit goes to Johnson having a big game on the ground. Nevertheless, the Cardinals score a win at home against the Raiders.
Week 12: at Chargers – Loss
Rosen learns the hard way what an NFL pass rush looks like when he faces Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram. Those two get after him all day as the Cardinals fall on the road.
Week 13: at Packers – Loss
Rosen has a nice day against the Green Bay defense. However, Arizona’s defense struggles to contain Aaron Rodgers on the road. The Packers end up winning in a shootout.
Week 14: vs Lions – Win
Back at home, the Cardinals are able to get their running game going, as Johnson is quietly having another outstanding season.
Week 15: at Falcons – Loss
Heading to Atlanta for an early game is too much for the Cardinals. The Falcons are able to create some big plays in the passing game and beat Arizona with ease.
Week 16: vs Rams – Loss
The Cardinals fight hard at home, but they just don’t have the horses to keep up with the Rams, as they lose a close game at home.
Week 17: at Seahawks – Loss
Winning in Seattle is hard enough, but Arizona’s lack of depth makes it next to impossible to beat the Seahawks on the road late in the season.