Cardinals put faith in Kyler Murray, Kliff Kingsbury
By Scott Allen
After earning the first-overall pick a year ago, the Arizona Cardinals are hoping to rise up the standings behind Kyler Murray.
Best-case scenario
Ten wins. This means everything going right. Very few injuries. Murray and head coach Kliff Kingsbury being awesome from jump. The Cardinals schedule is also beneficial, with three home games in the first quarter of the season.
The tougher non-divisional games seem to be at home as well. The Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns come to Arizona late. Home dates against the Carolina Panthers, Atlanta Falcons and Detroit Lions also provide opportunities to win.
It won’t be easy, but it’s not impossible for Arizona to be in the mix for the final wild card spot in the NFC.
Worst-case scenario
Five wins. Many people are predicting three like last season or even worse. That makes little sense. Last year’s team, with arguably a worse roster, went 3-13 and could have won a few more after blowing numerous fourth-quarter leads.
However, injuries will play a big part. The Cardinals have had horrible luck with injuries over the last few seasons. If Arizona deals with more injuries, it’s tough to see the Cardinals escaping the NFC West basement. The other variable is how well the duo of Kyler Murray and Kliff Kingsbury performs. This team will go how they go.
Confidence level (Low, medium or high)
Medium.
For all the reasons already outlined, confidence shouldn’t be low. Although it is only August, many of the high-profile rookies have looked decent to very good.
Of course, the confidence level may change after the first month of the regular season. For now, medium seems like a safe bet given all the unknowns with the new coach, new scheme, new roster.
The Cardinals are saying all the right things and doing the right things in practice. Now its time to put it into action. Excitement is high in Arizona.
X-Factor
David Johnson and the offensive line. If the line can stay healthy — which is a big if — they can open holes for the running game.
Johnson was OK last season. He didn’t play anywhere near the level he was at pre-wrist injury in 2015 and ’16. Granted, the play-calling was bad and the blocking was bad. If Johnson can get back to finding that burst in the holes and contributing greatly in the passing game being the versatile back he is, things will be looking up for the Cardinals.
Turning point
Week 7 against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. This is when cornerback Patrick Peterson returns from his suspension.
The Cardinals need to tread water over the first six weeks without Peterson. His presence could really solidify a youthful back end, and this propels them to a great second half of the season.
Then again, if the team had been performing better than expected and then they go to New York with high expectations and it all falls apart, it can send them reeling into New Orleans the following week and beyond.
Best moment in team history
They have a really great moment in Super Bowl XLIII against the Pittsburgh Steelers with Larry Fitzgerald. They also have a great one in the 2015 playoffs against the Green Bay Packersin a wild thriller.
However the greatest moment has to be when they won the NFC Championship Game in 2008 against the Philadelphia Eagles the week before the Super Bowl. It was by far the greatest win in Cardinals history. They shocked the world after a 9-7 season when they won the NFC West but played rather poorly down the stretch.
The playoffs were a different story and when the clock hit 0:00 in the fourth quarter, the confetti fell. It was party time in Arizona!