Arizona Cardinals

I’m no football pundit or prognosticator, just your average Cardinals fan, but I was among the legion of Red Sea fans proclaiming in September that the 2021 team had all the pieces in place to go all the way. From the addition of J.J. Watt and (later) Zach Ertz, to Kyler Murray’s ability to surprise defenses with a nimble run or by hitting any of a half dozen targets downfield, to the growing excitement as the Cards won their first seven games for the first time since 1974, fan hopes were sky high for a playoff run and even a Super Bowl bid.

Young quarterbacks capturing outsized attention in the NFL is not unique to the Cardinals, but Kyler Murray has a rare combination of powerful arm, explosive speed and agility, and great field vision, not to mention composure that belies his tender age. If he can avoid the injury woes of 2020, he promises to make exciting things happen as he leads the team from turnaround to dynasty.

Arizona is a melting pot of fans who’ve fled colder climates for the warm desert sun, so it’s not unusual to see half the fans at a game dressed in the colors of the Packers, Steelers, or Bears. This puts extra pressure on the Red Sea to suit up, turn up, and make sure they’re always the loudest and proudest supporters in the stadium.