Following back-to-back losing seasons, is the 2024 NFL campaign a realistic opportunity for the Arizona Cardinals to flirt with a playoff berth for the first time in three years? Despite yet another fourth-place schedule, the oddsmakers in Vegas appear steadfast to the notion that GM Monti Ossenfort’s club needs yet another offseason of additions before taking them seriously.
Per multiple online betting sites, the consensus over/under for win totals for the Arizona Cardinals in 2024 sits at just 6.5.
Keep in mind that if it weren’t for two missed chip shot field-goals off the foot of Matt Prater in Week #18 against Seattle, Arizona would have netted a 4-4 record in the final eight games of the 2023 regular season. Those said outings just so happened to coincide with the return of one Kyler Murray, who is appears poised for a career season under second-year offensive coordinator Drew Petzing.
Murray, who sports a 23-26 record as a starter dating back to 2020, will need to be on his game early as the Cardinals open up 2024 with six of their first eight opponents having reached the playoffs last season.
Then there’s head coach Jonathan Gannon, who despite an 0-6 record within division, netted regular seasons win over eventual playoff-bound Dallas, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. Many around league circles assessed Gannon’s first year coaching efforts as “commendable” and “culture changing”, with the ex-Eagles DC navigating a 53-man roster that was too frequently comprised of undrafted free agents, practice squad players and journeymen castoffs.
The Cardinals were undeniably one of the toughest outs in 2023 but what does that mean for this fall? There’s no arguing the fact that Arizona is dramatically improved especially with the arrival of bluechip draft pick Marvin Harrison Jr. Throw in another year of continuity on the coaching staff and it’s easy to see why folks in the Valley are high on JG’s Cardinals.
Is Arizona poised to be this year’s Houston Texans or are they still another year away from playoff contention?
Bo Brack and I do our best to predict the outcome for all 17 games this season for the Cardinals:
Week #1 – at Buffalo Bills
Johnny – Win
Bo – Win
Week #2 – vs Los Angeles Rams
Johnny – Loss
Bo – Win
Week #3 – vs Detroit Lions
Johnny – Loss
Bo – Loss
Week #4 – vs Washington Commanders
Johnny – Win
Bo – Win
Week #5 – at San Francisco 49ers
Johnny – Loss
Bo – Loss
Week #6 – vs Green Bay Packers
Johnny – Loss
Bo – Loss
Week #7 – vs Los Angeles Chargers
Johnny – Win
Bo – Win
Week #8 – at Miami Dolphins
Johnny – Loss
Bo – Loss
Week #9 – vs Chicago Bears
Johnny – Win
Bo – Win
Week #10 – vs New York Jets
Johnny – Win
Bo – Win
Week #11 – BYE
Week #12 – at Seattle Seahawks
Johnny – Win
Bo – Loss
Week #13 – at Minnesota Vikings
Johnny – Loss
Bo – Loss
Week #14- vs Seattle Seahawks
Johnny – Win
Bo – Win
Week #15- vs New England Patriots
Johnny – Win
Bo – Win
Week #16- vs Carolina Panthers
Johnny – Win
Bo – Win
Week #17- at Los Angeles Rams
Johnny – Win
Bo – Loss
Week #18- at San Francisco 49ers
Johnny – Loss
Bo – Loss
Final Records
Johnny – 10-7
Bo – 9-8
