Cardinals Improved Pass Rush Not Enough to Get Love From Oddsmakers

J.J. Watt is back on the football field and for the first time in his career it won’t be for the Houston Texans. Watt and the Texans went their separate ways this offseason and Watt ended up in Arizona. He began training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform List (PUP List), but came off the list yesterday. 

Watt was ecstatic to get back on the field. He was placed on the list due to a hamstring injury that occured at the end of July, but is now ready to get to work with his new team.

"Someone asked me how it felt," Watt said. "You're like a dog chasing a tennis ball. Wherever it bounces, you want to get it, you are excited to be out there, and it doesn't matter if you are supposed to be where it bounces, and that's what it felt like."

Despite Watt signing with the Cardinals, the oddsmakers still don’t see the Cardinals as a serious threat to even make the playoffs. WynnBET is giving the Cardinals +160 odds to make the playoffs, while they are -215 to miss. 

The Cardinals are also expected to see regression on the defensive side of the ball. Arizona has the 15th-best odds (+2000) to allow the fewest points in the league. Last year, the Cardinals were the 12th-ranked scoring defense. Nevertheless, Vegas doesn’t think Watt’s presence will help them maintain that success. 

Arizona is one of the few teams that has two players in the top 20 of the odds standings for who will lead the league in sacks. The Cardinals have Watt (+2500) and Chandler Jones (+1400). Jones ended last season injured, but is back healthy for 2021.  

With Watt’s energy and Jones’ health in a good place, expect the Cardinals to have an elite pass rush. Even if the odds aren’t in their favor now, Arizona has the infrastructure to be a big surprise. 

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