NFL: Arizona Cardinals season preview

bet365 News Team Oct 17 2022

After a disappointing collapse ended their 2021-22 campaign, the Arizona Cardinals will want to make amends when the new NFL season starts in September.

Kliff Kingsbury's men were 1-4 down the stretch and flopped against the Los Angeles Rams on Wild Card Weekend.

That was a far cry from what seemed possible after Week 9, when his team led the NFC West and were on course to land the Conference's top seed in the playoffs.

What	NFL, 2022/23 season
Where	Across the United States, games also scheduled for London, Munich and Mexico City
When	September 8th 2022 - February 12th 2023
How to watch	NFL Game Pass, ESPN, CBS, FOX, NBC, NFL Network
Odds	BUF Bills +600, TB Buccaneers +700, KC Chiefs +1000, LA Rams +1000, GB Packers +1200

Where did Arizona Cardinals finish last season?

2nd in NFC West (11-6)

What are the Arizona Cardinals' hopes for the season?

The Cardinals will compete in one of the most competitive divisions in football again this year, with the Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams looking like the team to beat once more.

The NFC West was the only one that had three of its teams finish with double-digit win totals with the 12-5 Rams claiming the title.

The San Francisco 49ers will provide stern opposition too - but Arizona beat Kyle Shanahan's team both home and away on their way to posting an 8-1 record after nine weeks.

The ultimate dream for Cardinals fans this year would be to reach the Super Bowl as it is being played in their regular season home - State Farm Stadium.

To do that, Kingsbury's men would need to win the conference, for which they are +1400, but a more realistic goal would be just to make the playoffs again, for which they are rated a +110 chance.

Who are the Arizona Cardinals' opening opponents?

The Cardinals will host the Kansas City Chiefs in one of the glitzier match-ups of opening weekend. Andy Reid's team have made it to the AFC Championship game in each of the past four seasons and looked on course to make the Super Bowl last year until they were upset by the Cincinnati Bengals.

As a non-conference opponent, the teams don't meet regularly, with the Chiefs coming out on top in the last match-up at Arrowhead Stadium four years ago.

The Cardinals have won just three of 13 previous contests as Kansas City Chiefs lead the series with nine victories and one tie from the first-ever meeting between the two franchises in 1970.

When are the Arizona Cardinals' key fixtures?

Facing one of the toughest schedules, the Cardinals must beat the Rams either in Week 3 at home or at SoFi Stadium in mid-November.

A potentially playoff-deciding final stretch looms following the trip to Mexico City's Azteca Stadium for the international series clash with the San Francisco 49ers.

Arizona will host the New England Patriots in Week 14 in another prime-time matchup before facing a tussle with Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looms on Christmas Eve (Week 16).

Who is the Arizona Cardinals' head coach?

Entering his fourth season as Cardinals' coach, Kliff Kingsbury has accumulated exactly as many regular season wins as losses.

Last year was his first winning season in Arizona, but there has been steady improvement throughout his time at State Farm Stadium.

Prior to taking over, Kingsbury was a coach at Texas Tech and before that an accomplished college quarterback for the Red Raiders - establishing 39 school records, 13 Big 12 Conference records, and 7 NCAA FBS records.

Which players have the Arizona Cardinals signed?

OG Will Hernandez (From New York Giants)
WR Victor Bolden Jr. (Birmingham Stallions)

Which players have left the Arizona Cardinals?

WR Christian Kirk (Jacksonville Jaguars)
RB Chase Edmonds (Miami Dolphins)
OLB Chandler Jones (Las Vegas Raiders)
G/C Max Garcia (New York Giants)
TE Darrell Daniels (Houston Texans)
CB Robert Alford
DT Corey Peters
S Chris Banjo
TE Demetrius Harris
DE Jack Crawford

Who are the Arizona Cardinals' key players?

Offensive MVP	Kyler Murray
Defensive MVP	Budda Baker
Top rookie	Trey McBride (2nd round)
Breakout star	Marquise Brown

With DeAndre Hopkins suspended for the first six games of the season, Murray has to step it up again to emulate his stellar 2021 campaign in which he posted a career-best 100.6 passer rating with 24 touchdown passes and 3,787 yards.

The Cardinals traded their first-round pick this year to bring in Murray's former college teammate Marquise 'Hollywood' Brown from the Baltimore Ravens.

Brown had 91 catches, 1008 yards and six touchdowns last season in a run-first offense and should have immediate chemistry with his new QB.